Mile High Salute

Broncos Offense:



The Broncos will be asking Josh Freeman, 23 year old QB and the first offensive player the Broncos selected, to control the offense. His weapons will include Stevie Johnson, veteran Lance Moore, burner Antonio Brown, rookie Randall Cobb as well as TE Dustin Keller.

The ground game will feature Matt Forte for the majority of the snaps; however, rookie Kendall Hunter will most likely see significant time on the field as well this season.

The offensive line which will protect Freeman and block for Forte will include three rookies: Anthony Castonzo, Danny Watkins and Will Rackley. Hopefully veteran center Kyle Cook will be able to keep the youngsters in check. Michael Oher is the most famous of the oline but his ability will only take the Broncos so far if the rookies can't hold up.

Broncos Defense:



The Broncos went early in the draft on defensive backs with Eric Berry as their 1st pick and then Aqib Talib in the top 5. The secondary members accompanying them include veterans Darren Sharper and Chris Houston as well as rookies CB Aaron Williams and FS Chris Conte.

The linebacking core will be primarily led by Rolando McClain with veteran Julian Peterson on one side of him and Gary Guyton on the other. Rookie MLB Colin McCarthy will back up McClain but could see time at OLB in the future.

The defensive line will be anchored by rookie DT Phil Taylor and veteran DT Alan Branch. Alan Branch will likely battle for playing time with rookie DT Jerrell Powe in the future. Young DEs Derrick Morgan and Lamaar Houston will take on the outside, both big strong players that can get off blocks and make plays.

Raiders @ Broncos Week 1 - Raiders 27 - Broncos 21:

It was a 3-0 Raiders lead until 3:32 remaining the half. Josh Freeman connected with Lance Moore for 18 yd TD at that point. On the ensuing possession Raiders QB Matt Flynn threw an INT to Darren Sharper. Josh Freeman quickly went to work hitting Stevie Johnson for a 14 yd TD with 1:39 remaining. The Broncos got the ball back again on an INT to Chris Houston. Making quick work once again Josh Freeman found Antonio Brown in the back of the end zone for a 12 yd TD with 1:20 remaining. However, the Raiders undeterred drove the field in the 2 minute offense and scored on a Matt Flynn 5 yd TD run making the score 21 - 10 in favor of the Broncos going into halftime.

The 2nd half played out ugly for the Broncos offense as Matt Forte could not find any room to run and Stevie Johnson fumbled a catch for a 1st down. The Raiders were not able to score either though and the score remained 21-10 going into the 4th.

The 4th quarter was filled with Bronco failure including a Freeman INT to Brian Urlacher and 17 unanswered points that allowed the Raiders to take the lead and win the game.


Notables:
Josh Freeman- 15 for 26 for 140 yds with 3 TDs and 1 INT.
Stevie Johnson- 4 rec for 44 yds, 1 TD (below celebrating after TD)
Lance Moore- 3 rec for 38 yds, 1 TD
Antonio Brown- 2 rec for 15 yds, 1 TD
Darren Sharper- 1 INT
Chris Houston- 3 tackles, 1 INT
Eric Berry- 5 tackles, 1 sack
Alan Branch- 3 tackles, 1 sack

Bengals @ Broncos Week 2 - Broncos 27 - Bengals 10:

The Broncos D started off the game by allowing the Bengals to kick-start their offense, drive the field and knock a field goal through to make it a early 3-0 lead.

Matt Forte took the load on for the Broncos finding room and capping off a Broncos drive with a 7 yd TD run to start the 2nd quarter. The score remained 7-3 until halftime mostly thanks to 2 interceptions by Aqib Talib.

The story of the third quarter was the Broncos running game and defense. Matt Forte and Kendall Hunter each split time and scored a 3rd quarter TD a piece. The defense didn't allow a score and Aqib Talib got his 3rd INT of the game.

The fourth quarter saw the Bengals first TD of the game on a 12 yard pass to Greg Jennings. The Broncos were able to hit 2 fgs and had 2 more INTs to seal the game.

Notables:
Matt Forte- 18 carries for 140 yds with 2 TDs and 2 rec for 5 yds.
Kendall Hunter- 6 carries 28 yds 1 TD
Dustin Keller- 6 rec for 68 yds
Rolando McClain- 7 tackles, 1 sack
Aqib Talib- 1 tackles, 3 INTs (pictured below celebrating after the win)
Chris Conte- 1 tackles, 1 INT
Eric Berry- 1 tackles, 1 INT

Broncos @ Titans Week 3 - Titans 35 - Broncos 30:

The Titans started the game off with a 66 yd TD run by Chris Johnson and that was the beginning of a very long game for the Broncos run defense. The Broncos offense was able to answer with a long methodical drive capped off by a Kendall Hunter 2 yd TD run.

The game stalemated at 7 after that until 3:37 left in the 2nd when Chris Johnson ran in his 2nd TD of the game. The Broncos answered with a drive of their own but feel short of the end zone having to settle for a 19 yd FG which cut the lead to 14-10, Titans, with 43 seconds left in the half. The Titans scored in those 43 seconds with a 53 yd pass to Julian Edelman making the score 21-10, Titans. Josh Freeman tried to answer but heaved a INT on a hail mary with 0 seconds left to bring to halftime.

The third quarter was slow moving until a drive finished off by 5 yd TD run by Matt Forte. The score going into the 4th quarter now 21-17 in the Titans favor.

The Broncos run defense shit the bed again as Chris Johnson broke 2 of the 5 bagillion (rough estimate) tackles he broke this game for a 36 yd TD. The score now at 28 - 17. Josh Freeman led a long drive in just under two minutes finishing it with a 14 yd TD to Lance Moore. The score at 28 - 23 with 4 minutes to go.

The Broncos run defense couldn't finish sure wrap up tackles and Chris Johnson repeatedly broke free (more of his 5 bagillion broken tackles, again rough estimate) for his 4th and final TD to put the game away at 35 - 23 with under 2 minutes remaining. Freeman led one final stand with long receptions by Stevie Johnson and Antonio Brown then finished off with a 2 yd TD pass to rookie Randall Cobb. Score 35 - 30 with 37 seconds remaining. The Broncos onside kick was unsuccessful and the Titans ran the clock out.


Notables:
Josh Freeman- 18 for 28 for 278 yds with 2 TDs and 2 INTs.
Matt Forte- 11 carries for 97 yds with 1 TDs and 2 rec for 20 yds.
Kendall Hunter- 6 carries 27 yds 1 TD and 1 rec for 16 yds (pictured below dejected after the loss)
Stevie Johnson- 5 rec for 90 yds
Lance Moore- 4 rec for 58 yds 1 TD
Broncos Run D- Hit Chris Johnson, fall down, and play dead. Solid game plan.

Broncos @ Packers Week 4 - Packers 29 - Broncos 17:

The Broncos started the game off well with a drive that finished with a diving Dustin Keller 3 yd TD. It remained 7-0 throughout the first quarter but at the beginning of the 2nd quarter Woodhead finished off a drive for a TD to tie the game. With a minute left in the half Zach Miller, the main target on the day for the Packers, caught a TD. The Broncos answered with a field goal with 20 seconds left to make 14-10 Packers going into half.

The game turned ugly for the Broncos in the 2nd half as Woodhead scored on a long TD run. Then the Broncos got sacked twice in a row because DB blitz with press coverage (the press was used the majority of the game by the Packers to help the Packers get 6 sacks), the second sack for a safety. The score 23-10.

Stevie Johnson was able to find a good matchup on a LB in one on one coverage due to yet another press coverage DB blitz and went to house for a 73 yd TD making the game 23-17. The Packers were then able to seal the game with 2 fgs.


Notables:
Josh Freeman- 9 for 21 for 281 yds with 2 TDs and 1 INTs. (pictured below trying to explain to the press why he was sacked 6 times)
Dustin Keller- 3 rec 23 yds 1 TD
Stevie Johnson- 2 rec for 86 yds, 1 TD
Lance Moore- 2 rec for 104 yds
Julian Peterson- 5 tackles 1 sack
Rolando McClain- 4 tackles 1 sack