Gut Reaction: Week 13 - Broncos @ Chiefs

Peyton Manning completed half his passes, ended the game with a QB rating of 85.3, and turned the ball over once.

The Broncos won going away.

That’s not how they usually hunt up in Dove Valley. Big game hunting usually requires high caliber weaponry in the form of Manning’s right arm and high-precision scoping in the form of Manning’s mind.

Sometimes, though, you’ve got to go primitive. You’ve got to do things with your bare hands.

Running the ball isn’t pretty. It’s not fun. It’s not going to set records.

But it might just be the way the Broncos are going to win this year.  

The Positives

1. The key to this entire game was what the Broncos did on third and long, which is to say, they got the friction on. I wouldn’t recommend it as a career path, but sometimes, getting off on 3rd-and-11 does wonders for the football libido.
2. My, oh my—when the Broncos run like that, their play action is as head spinning as that time your wife let you hit the strip clubs in Vegas. Or Atlanta. Or Los Angeles….
3. Dwayne Bowe is rubber, Chris Harris, Jr. is glue. Whatever bounces off Dwayne Bowe sticks to…well, Chris Harris, that’s who. This is especially true if Alex Smith is throwing passes.
4. I like this new version of Jack Del Rio—you know, the less predictable one. The Chiefs had negative total yards in the first quarter.
5. Ryan Clady and Louis Vasquez were mauling dudes in the running game like a pair of wild dogs. And when Orlando Franklin or Manny Ramirez pulls on trap plays, the Broncos become Cerberus, the baddest dog you’ve ever seen.
6. C.J. Anderson breaks tackles, ankles, and dudes off!
7. It was Invasion of the Body Snatchers with John Fox in this game. Not only did he allow a fake punt, but he went for it on a critical fourth down early in the game. Check that guy’s brain.
8. You can’t stop Mitch Unrein, you can only hope to contain Mitch Unrein.
9. Is it possible that Will Montgomery just needed a few weeks of seasoning before making kick-ass line calls?
10. It’s like the concussion just made Brandon Marshall mad.

The Negatives

1. Couple of horrible underthrows by Peyton Manning in this game. In fact, Manning’s completion percentage was unusually low. Thankfully, Emmanuel Sanders could double as a defensive back if he had to.
2. Steven Johnson and coverage aren’t exactly a cocktail mixer made in heaven.
3. Jacob Tamme and Demaryius Thomas dropped consecutive passes, either of which would have been a touchdown.
4. As great of a player as Von Miller is—and he is one hell of a player—I wish I he was more Ray Lewis and less Jeff Spicoli. It would be righteous, of course, but it would also give the defense a toughness that’s always missing when your best player is not your vocal leader (As I wrote this, Miller was called for a roughing the passer penalty).
5. Britton Colquitt should not be the punter for the Broncos at this time next year.
6. Wes Welker—lost at sea or valuable decoy?
7. Not excited to see Julius Thomas and Aqib Talib miss this game, no matter the outcome.
8. C.J. Anderson makes more money than you and me combined ($495,000), but a lot less than running backs in the NFL should.
9. Von Miller’s sack dances are getting so bad, they’re good.
10. Since I take a lot of heat for never criticizing Peyton Manning, let me repeat: he had a very average game. If average means severing the Chiefs’ spinal cord like he did tonight, I’ll take it each and every game.

The Who The Heck Knows

1. Omar Bolden did his best imitation of David Bruton on special teams. Given the state of special teams lately, I’m not complaining.
2. Connor Barth made good on the Broncos’ decision to sign him by making each of his field goals. The problem? Anyone could have made those kicks, including Brandon McManus or Tom Dempsey. And Dempsey is 67.
3. Was that a Cody Latimer sighting?
4. San Diego inched by Baltimore, and the Ravens got jobbed—not the good kind, either.
5. The Oakland Raiders were steamrolled 52-0 by the Saint Louis Rams. Why should the NFL add a new franchise when they can just take one away from Mark Davis for sucking so badly?
6. Have to admit it was a joy to watch the Packers take down the Patriots this afternoon. If only Peyton Manning was as mobile as Aaron Rodgers, the Broncos would be in business. Seeing Tom Brady screaming “f@#$!” on the sideline on multiple occasions was definitely a thanksgiving.
7. Oh my—RG3 has tumbled from the mountain so fast, even Tim Tebow’s head was spinning.
8. Anyone realize Kevin Vickerson played for the Chiefs tonight?
9. Sure, the Broncos’ defense totally dominated the Chiefs’ running game, but if I’m the Chiefs, I give Jamaal Charles a few more touches.
10. If Virgil Green becomes a pass-catching option, duck and run.