Good Friday evening, Denver Broncos fans. If you’re new here, welcome to our daily Broncos Insider newsletter, which we’ll publish daily as long as the Broncos remain in the playoffs (and then step back to once-per-week). Here’s the latest and greatest from Broncoland.
COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: 2 days
That Broncos defense has been forced to overcome attrition this regular season and the playoffs, writes Joan Niesen. “… the Denver defense has been plugged with replacements, caulked with other teams’ castoffs. There’s a defensive end who doubles as a rapper and was cut by the flailing Jaguars in November. There’s the NFL’s lone remaining XFL player. There’s undrafted players and rookies, and there’s [Brandon] Marshall.
“By the numbers, the Denver defense — ranked 19th in yards allowed this season — doesn’t even deserve to make the playoffs, except that these playoffs are teeming with poor defenses throughout the AFC: the Patriots, the Chargers, the Colts. The Broncos have a chance. In fact, the odds are in their favor — even if the numbers aren’t quite.” http://dpo.st/19jnZ51
Derek Wolfe out again … writes The Denver Post’s Irv Moss from practice on Friday. He hasn’t played since suffering seizure-like symptoms before a game on Nov. 29.
Quotable “We’ve been talking about it this whole week. That was the last team to come in and beat us. Basically, they did everything better than we did,” says Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. But Wesley Woodyard adds: “I guarantee we’re going to be ready this week.” http://bit.ly/1cMw54n
Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey (John Leyba, The Denver Post)
Kiszla talks to Champ Bailey, who says in Kiz’s column: “I’ve listened to the radio. I’ve read the newspaper. And I’ve heard all these things: ‘He’s done. He’s lost a step. Yada, yada, yada,’ ” Bailey told me Thursday. “It’s funny. Because those people don’t know me, they don’t understand me, and they don’t know what it takes to play in the NFL. So I took it all in stride. But it’s all motivation. I used every little thing I heard as motivation. Did I ever think I was done? Hell, no.” http://dpo.st/19jojAI
Peyton Manning’s legacy as a player, fair or not, hinges on how he does in this game against the San Diego Chargers, writes ESPN’s Adam Schefter. But… “Of Manning’s 11 postseason losses, seven came in games that if one other player made one other play, Manning easily could have won. But certain Broncos and Colts could not come through, and the loss followed Manning, which is how football works. [...]
“So when people are discussing Manning’s 9-11 postseason record, they need to consider the full body of work, not just the final result. [...] For argument’s sake, let’s just say two had. Then, with a winning postseason record, the narrative about him is entirely different.”
It all comes down to … that Chargers defense, writes Bill Barnwell of Grantland. “If [San Diego] continues to play at its league-average level, this would essentially be a fair fight, with two league-average defenses and two great offenses. Of course, that undersells Denver’s offense, which has the sixth-best offensive DVOA of the past 25 years, but you get the idea. If the Chargers’ defense is back to its old ways, then it’s a shootout with the best quarterback in the history of football against one of the worst defenses in recent memory. … I suspect that the Chargers will try to run the ball to keep Manning on the sideline and hope that they get pressure … but I don’t think it will work out quite as well for them this time around.” http://es.pn/KbfQDC
Broncos kicker Matt Prater celebrates after his record 64-yard field goal. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)
What does that hop/leap/jump before Matt Prater kicks field goals actually do? Columnist Benjamin Hochman investigates, without trying to pull a hammy in the process. http://dpo.st/1dkD47s
Shaun Phillips is needed now more than ever, writes ESPN’s Jeff Legwold. “In the end, the Denver Broncos and Shaun Phillips find themselves in a need-need situation…
“With the list of marquee quarterbacks left in the postseason — Brady, Luck and Philip Rivers in the AFC, and Drew Brees, Cam Newton, Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick in the NFC — the Broncos have to find a way to make the opposing uber-thrower uncomfortable. Enter Phillips, who led the Broncos in sacks this season after the team’s original plans up front on defense took a few hits along the way.”
Peyton Manning led the Broncos to the NFL’s single-season scoring record. (Getty Images)
Simmons picks the Broncos 48-28 — writing for Grantland on Friday: “Why You Eventually Regretted Taking the Broncos: You didn’t pay enough attention to Manning’s playoff legacy. You ignored how good San Diego’s defense looked these past few weeks, and how secretly mediocre Denver’s defense has looked without Von Miller. You didn’t pay enough attention to that Week 15 game. You forgot how frightening Keenan Allen and Danny Woodhead were. You didn’t remember that San Diego can run the ball and use the Giants’ Super Bowl XLII strategy of “Chew up clock, keep the other team’s offense off the field. … “Why You Eventually Regretted Taking the Chargers: So the Chargers beat Marvin Lewis and Andy Dalton in a playoff game. Wow! Congratulations, fellas! What an impossible task! Now they’re going into Denver and beating a fired-up juggernaut that just scored more than 600 points, and they’re going to be doing that for the second time in four weeks?” http://es.pn/1aP0ewX
Knighton emerges as a leader – Terrance Knighton emerges as Broncos’ defensive leader, by Mile High Report’s Kyle Montgomery. Champ Bailey on the defensive tackle: "I didn’t know him before he got here, but just to be able to come in and figure out where he fits in and know his role, but also understand that he’s a leader on this team. And we need him to be that." http://bit.ly/1cMtMOF
We interviewed Knighton on The Press Box earlier this week:
WILL DENVER OR SEATTLE LOSE? – USA Today’s Chris Strauss writes that Seattle or Denver will lose this weekend because "if recent history is any indication, at least one of the two number one seeds is going down. Since the 2005 season, both the AFC and NFC’s top-ranked playoff teams have advanced to the conference championships just once. In 2009, both the Saints and Colts won their divisional round matchups. Both ended up advancing to the Super Bowl the following Sunday." http://usat.ly/1d9xumR
SCOUT THE ENEMY CAMP
Chargers running back Ryan Matthews misses practice again … listed as QUESTIONABLE
It’s the first time he’s missed a Friday practice since he injured his ankle against Oakland three weeks ago, writes ESPN’s Eric D. Williams. Matthews ran for 127 yards against the Broncos when the Chargers beat them.
Philip Rivers leaves the field in Denver after the Chargers beat the Broncos on Dec. 12. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)
Can the Bolts win? – SB Nation’s John Gennaro examines the three reasons why the Chargers will beat the Broncos: 1. Their 2-0 record again Manning in the playoffs … 2. They’re 5-0 with Melvin Ingram back … 3. Their 8-3 record with King Dunlap in the lineup. http://bit.ly/1lKFhLl
And the three reasons why they’ll lose: Ryan Matthews, Philip Rivers and Mike McCoy. http://bit.ly/1ewECry
Welker won’t be ignored by the Bolts D – The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Tom Krasovic, speaking with Chargers coach Mike McCoy Friday, "He’s one of the best slot receivers of all time. It’s another weapon for Peyton to have. They have plenty of good players, and they’ve had a lot of success without him in there. But his production the past few years speaks for itself." http://bit.ly/1ku8xrE
Believing big – Mike McCoy has Chargers believing big, writes ESPN.com’s Eric D. Williams. "That’s his whole thing — he’s intelligent," said Ron McBride, McCoy’s college head coach at Utah. "He doesn’t get rattled. He’s confident. He knows what to do. Pressure doesn’t bother him. He’s the same way coaching. He doesn’t get rattled. He has the same demeanor throughout the game." http://es.pn/1cMoinc
Keys to the game for San Diego – Chargers.com’s Ricky Henne takes a look at the five keys to the game for the Chargers, including running the ball: "Another key stat from the win in Week 15 in Denver was the Chargers ability to run it effectively. … Whether or not the Bolts go heavy on the run once again will depend on the flow of the game according to Head Coach Mike McCoy, who says the team will do whatever is necessary based on the opponent’s defense." http://bit.ly/1lZwd2s
The Battle On: Broncos offense vs. Broncos defense, with MMQB’s Andy Benoit analyzing: “Yes, John Pagano’s defense stymied Peyton Manning in San Diego’s upset at Mile High four weeks ago. But keep in mind, that was a Thursday game and Wes Welker was out. Manning, who thrives on preparation, had only three days to adjust from a three-receiver based offense that centers around slot option routes to a two-tight end based offense that used more isolation routes. And with Welker out, Eric Decker worked more in the slot, which meant Manning’s No. 2 receiver was out of position.” http://bit.ly/1itIz33
AND … in case you were wondering, the people who were stabbed after the last Chargers-Broncos game at Sports Authority Field are banned from the stadium for a year (even if they did pay $750 for playoff tickets on Sunday): http://dpo.st/1cV4b2O
Have a safe and enjoyable weekend, everyone.
Like what you see? Did we miss something? Tweet us comments, tips, thoughts, and your best Matt Prater acrobatic impressions to @PostBroncos or email sports@denverpost.com. This letter is edited by The Denver Post’s Daniel Petty and Joe Nguyen.
