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5 Things I Think About The Broncos, Week 2

1. Jay Cutler is a stud.
Ask the first 10 teams of the 2006 draft if they could have a do-over, would they take it - they would and they would draft Cutler. Except the Raiders. They’d draft a corner again. Because Al Davis is a lot of things that can’t be printed here.

But I digress…Cutler had 2 turnovers that could/should have cost the Broncs the game. He overcame that and instead threw two lasers to Eddie Royal for the win.

2. Marshall, Marshall, Marshall.
The only thing keeping this guy from breaking all kinds of records is his own maturity. He’s the real deal.

3. Shanahan’s moxy has returned.
I remember the days when Shanny would call any play from any place on the field on any down. I remember 4th and 1’s and 2’s being attempted at midfield. I thought it was the wrong call to go for 2. Then I heard his explanation after the game - “I didn’t want to rely on the coin flip.” Which is a not-so-subtle hint to the defensive coordinator to not completely unpack. It meant - if the Chargers got the ball, they score.

4. The special teams will cost the Broncos 2 games this year.
As giddy as I am about the offense, the special teams and defense (I’ll get to them later) causes heartburn. It’s a sad commentary when your starting corner and tight end have to play on kickoff coverage AND they still gave up a TD. Sloppy, sloppy, play.

5. The Broncos defense will cost them at least 3 games. Maybe more.
If Karl Paymah is the answer to a team with as many weapons as the Chargers (see Colts, Patriots), the Broncs are in deep weeds. Chris Chambers completely abused the 3rd and 4th DB’s. Sproiles ran through the gut of this defense like it was practice. Our safeties were NOWHERE to be found on deep plays.

Bailey got beat on a long pass to Chambers today. First time in two years I’ve seen that. Then I saw from a wide angle shot what our team has asked Champ to do - cover half the field. It made things worse for me. How bad are the other 10 guys if Champ is already covering half the field? Most teams would die for that kind of corner. Put Champ on the Titans or Pittsburgh defense and you’ve just created a defense that could compete with the ‘85 Bears.

Free advice for the DC - keep the rental, don’t buy.

Overall, 2-0 is awesome. Wins over division opponents are precious. Winning the AFC west, while a long way off, now looks like it is in the realm of possible.

Other random NFL thoughts:
Yes, it was a fumble. Yes, the Chargers should have gotten the ball. They didn’t. Broncos took advantage of it. Chargers didn’t.

Somebody please explain to me how Marvin Lewis still has a job.

The Vikings and Chargers are two franchises I would not want to play next week.

Someone ought to tell Herm Edwards that if he would run the ball more than 12 times a game, he’d probably wouldn’t be 0-2 and playing with his 3rd string quarterback.

How scary is Carolina going to be WITH Steve Smith?

Memo to Bears: you have the same need you’ve had for 3 years and done nothing about. Get a QB.

Lane Kiffin - love the honesty, I even think you’ll one day be a great NFL coach. But none of us feel sorry for you because you accepted the job and Al Davis hasn’t changed in 79 years. None of the drama is surprising.

What’s with all the ex-Raiders being broadcasters? Are networks that desperate?