What once looked like the Tuesday afternoon screening of a foreign film with subtitles has suddenly transformed into opening night for the latest episode of Star Wars. Where there was once plenty of room to spread out has now become standing room only.
Welcome to the Broncos bandwagon, everybody!
For seven weeks, people in Denver have done nothing but gripe and complain about their team, all while Gary Kubiak’s crew had surged to a perfect 6-0 record. But in the Mile High City, where flawless offense had become the norm the past three seasons, undefeated wasn’t good enough; the sky was still falling!
Around the country, the conversation hasn’t been much different. Throughout their winning streak, the Broncos have repeatedly been labeled as the NFL’s “worst undefeated team.” At the same time, so-called experts have at times placed juggernauts like the Cardinals and Falcons ahead of Denver in their weekly power rankings.
Today, everyone is whistling a different tune.
On the heels of a dominating victory over the Packers on Sunday night, only the most stubborn naysayers remain doubtful about the Broncos. In every way shape and form, Green Bay was dismantled in front of a national TV audience, a beat down that caused their head coach, Mike McCarthy, to quip after the game, “I haven’t had my ass kicked like that in a long time.”
Once again, Denver’s defense stole the show, holding the powerful Packers offense to a grand total of 140 yards on the night. From the opening series, they pestered and frustrated Aaron Rodgers, making one of the NFL’s best players look frazzled, disoriented, frustrated and human. When the final gun sounded, the league’s reigning MVP had completed 14 of 22 passes for a measly 77 yards. If not for two penalties that kept scoring drives alive, the D may very well have shut out Rodgers and Company.
But it was the Broncos offense that really opened eyes against the Packers. That group has been much maligned for most of the season; they’ve been picked apart every single day on sports talk radio, in the newspaper and on the web, called out for not carrying their weight during the team’s 6-0 start. On Sunday night, however, they were outstanding.
The creaky old quarterback that everyone wanted to put out to pasture? He completed 21 of 29 passes for 340 yards, leading his team to 29 points. Not bad for a guy that was almost universally determined to be over the hill for six weeks.
The running game that seemed to be stuck in mud? It churned out 160 yards, as C.J. Anderson (101 yards and a touchdown) and Ronnie Hillman (60 yards and two scores) were able to help the Broncos get into manageable down-and-distance situations, move the chains and provide big plays on the ground.
The tight ends that were non-existent for most of the first six games? Owen Daniels (three catches for 61 yards) and Virgil Green (three grabs for 44 yards) became threats in the middle of the field, helping to open up Denver’s passing game.
And the makeshift offensive line that was sieve-like at times before the bye? They opened the holes for Anderson and Hillman, while keeping Manning relatively untouched on the night. A very good Packers defense surrendered 500 yards of total offense.
Of course, those who weren’t busy patting themselves on the back for accurately predicting that Father Time would remain undefeated could see these things coming. The signs were all there, as Denver was making strides the past few weeks.
But it was easier to focus on the negative stats, as opposed to seeing the growing number of positive plays. And it was more fun to take potshots at the all-too-perfect quarterback who suddenly seemed mortal.
As a result, the bandwagon for an undefeated team was sparsely populated heading into Week 8 of the NFL season. But now, on the heels of the Broncos offense finally clicking and their defense taking their game to an even higher level, everyone will be elbowing for a seat aboard the party bus.
And that’s all well and good; everyone is welcome aboard. After all, that’s a heckuva lot better than the silly situation that has existed during the first two months of the season, a weekly gripe fest that will eventually look foolish in hindsight.
Finally, the snarky comments can cease. Thankfully, the idiotic questions at press conferences and hair-brained solutions can stop. And mercifully, the happy-to-watch-him-fall attitudes can be checked at the door.
The Broncos offense answered the bell on Sunday night, proving that they have the championship mettle to match the team’s defense. As a result, the football world was put on notice; Denver’s a title contender once again.
