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I have to start this week by saying thank you to all the CSU fans that took the time out of their day to send some lovely emails to me to let me know how “pathetic” my last article was and that the Rams would “rip (the Buffs) a new one.” The delightful email ended, “I believe Sat. will prove my point.” Well, actually it proved my point, but we don’t have to talk about that.
Things to look out for this week:
University of Colorado wide receiver Nelson Spruce will break the career receiving yardage record for Colorado football this week vs. Nicholls State. Also, look out for CU’s run game with Christian Powell being the only one at 100 percent in the backfield. Patrick Carr and Michael Adkins II are both listed as questionable for this week’s game after leaving the CSU game with injuries, while Phillip Lindsay injured his ribs in the Rocky Mountain Showdown, but still finished the game. The Buffs have moved wide receiver Donovan Lee to running back for this week’s game just in case he’s needed. This week is the perfect week to have injury problems, with a winless FCS team coming to town.
Because of the fact that the Buffs are playing a lackluster opponent this week, we’re going to turn our attention to the NFL.
The Broncos are throwing it back to the days of the Orange Crush. This is no longer the Peyton Manning show. This is the year of the defense, and so far it’s been pretty special.
Peyton Manning is still a wonderful quarterback to have — he just isn’t going to put up amazing numbers or have the accuracy or arm strength of years past. Yes, he’s old, but that doesn’t mean he is worthless. He is still PFM and he will always make whatever team he’s on better.
Keeping that in mind, this Broncos team is different than the previous years. They have the second best defense in the NFL terms of yards allowed, and the number one pass defense giving up an average of 135 passing yards per game and 18.5 points per game.
This defensive unit has forced four fumbles and has four interceptions thus far, giving the Broncos a turnover margin of +5. Both games so far this season came down to the defense needing to making a play, and they came through, twice.
In the game against Baltimore, safety Darian Stewart intercepted Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco’s pass in the end zone to preserve the Broncos’ 19-13 lead with 28 seconds left in the game. By the way, the defense scored Denver’s only touchdown of the game on an Aqib Talib pick-six.
The following week, playing at Kansas City on Thursday Night Football, the defense once again showed out. Denver cornerback Bradley Roby returned a fumble for a touchdown with 27 seconds left in the game to give the Broncos a 31-24 win (thank you, Jamaal Charles).
What I’m trying to say here is, Peyton Manning doesn’t have to be Peyton Manning. And, so far, he’s been far from Peyton Manning with a 58.8 completion percentage and 74.2 passer rating.
Denver needs better production than that, but he doesn’t have to put up any eye-popping numbers. He just has to limit his mistakes and not try to do too much. Aqib Talib, Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Chris Harris and the rest of the crew will take care of business.
The only questions that come from this situation are how much can the Broncos lean on their defense this year, and will this play continue throughout the season?
From what I’ve seen so far, I think this play is going to continue and the Broncos can lean on this defense heavily. But things don’t always go as planned in sports. Manning needs to be good, not great. The run game needs to be good, not great. Both facets of the offense have shown glimpses of being good, but overall haven’t performed up to par. This type of play isn’t going to work all season.
I see Manning and this offense figuring things out, and when that happens this team is going to be a downright SCARY contender in the AFC.
Peyton is on his last legs and everyone knows it, but don’t count him out. Especially with the dazzling defense in Denver this year.
Contact CU Independent Copy Editor Cannon Casey at cannon.casey@colorado.edu and follow him on Twitter @cannon_casey.
