Notice I said dangerous, not best. The reason for that danger is because Tim Tebow is like a box of Forrest Gump chocolates. You just never know what you're going to get. I shared one theory today with the MHR crew that perhaps the playoffs is the only way to bottle up Tebow Time for all 60 minutes. The urgency of playing in an elimination game is bringing out the best in the entire team. It's not just Tebow Time, its Broncos Time.
I'm not sitting here saying we're going to win 40-31 or anything, which I did, but if this Broncos team can come out and play like they did against the best defense in football, then I like our chances. Spreads be damned. No matter the outcome, this has been the most magical year in Broncos history since at least 1977. So many questions were answered about not only Tebow, but Demaryius Thomas and many other positions on this team.
All I care about now is being a witness to the magic continuing another week! That's really all I have to say leading into tomorrow's game. Do most of you feel as good as I do about this game?
3 recs | 57 comments
You bet!!
This game is going to be a must see.
Even if it turns out bad – how much ahead of where we thought we would be at the first of the season!!
GOD BLESS and GO BRONCOS !!!!
83BroncoFan - January 13, 2012
I ive you a thumbs up kiddo...
bfree2bronc - January 14, 2012
Agreed. Win or loose, let's back this group. They've already been exceptional.
oorange blood - January 13, 2012
I'm pretty relaxed.
If we win we win and move on, yeehaw. If we lose, we still win. We won a playoff game last week. It’s been a great run this year. One heck of a lot of fun. We’re going places again now.
Digger24 - January 13, 2012
Agreed.
I’m sure you and I will still both live and die with every play during the game, but nothing will soil what this team has accomplished so far.
Tim Lynch - January 13, 2012
You kidding?
I am going to be going beserk throughout the whole game. My son is not allowed to watch it with me though. He roots for the enemy. Needless to say I want a win bad.
Digger24 - January 13, 2012
Yeah, we were supposed to finish in last place.
Not bad at all. I told a buddy of mine that if we beat the Steelers, then whatever happens after that won’t take the smile off of my face. I remember how I was feeling coming into the season and look at us now…..WOW!!!
weazel - January 13, 2012
Not so sure
I agree with Digger, I’m going to be beserk. It’s been so long that we’ve been in, that all my playoff anxiety from the last 7 years was bottled up and is coming out now. However, couldn’t agree more with Tim’s post. This team deserves so much respect and has exceeded so many expectations, I will definitely be smiling no matter what. But I still hope it’s because of another Lombari trophey! ;)
MTorange&blue - January 13, 2012
FWIW, only 2 teams have ever beaten the Broncos in a divisional playoff game:
Pittsburgh and Jacksonville. And Denver is 2-0 versus the Patriots in Divisional playoff games.
Brian Shrout - January 13, 2012
BTW, Tim,
Nice article and I totally agree with you.
Brian Shrout - January 13, 2012
I never really put much stock in historical data like this
It was a completely different team/coach/etc.
Fools gold… Fools comfort
Trapped in O.C. - January 14, 2012 via iPhone app
Me neither
Remember when all we heard in the 2005 playoffs was that no wildcard team in history has ever made it to and won the Superbowl? Then we watched the Steelers do it with young Ben at QB. I think records are made to be broken and history is meant to be made.
After expecting no more than 5 wins from this team this season, I’m hoping the 2011 Broncos are more like the 2005 Steelers rather than the 2010 Seahawks.
Horsepower - January 14, 2012
Yup. Giants repeated that feat in 07
against the 18-0 Pats
Calikula - January 14, 2012
Actually, the Denver Broncos won Super Bowl XXII as a wild card team
Nine teams have made it to the Super Bowl as wild cards, but only five have won it. As an FYI, the Raiders, Broncos, and Ravens were the other wild card teams that won a Super Bowl before the Steelers did it in 2005.
http://www.ask.com/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXXII
http://www.sportspundit.com/football/teams/184-denver-broncos
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_wildcard_teams_have_won_the_superbowl
9798 - January 14, 2012
That should have read "the Broncos won Super Bowl XXXII"
9798 - January 14, 2012
Well...
the team I love just beat the team I dislike the most (Raiders excluded) in the playoffs. It was kind of like a mini-super bowl for me. I think there is a quarterback for the future and a fairly young team. This year has been agony followed by ecstasy…its the ecstasy that lingers. It has been an awesome ride regardless of the outcome of the game against the Pats. The season has been a joy ride and a success. I am completely relaxed for this one. I hope they go out, cut loose and have fun. The other stuff will take care of itself.
Mee - January 13, 2012
We're playing with House Money, always dangerous
When you are supposed to be where you are, not supposed to be able to do what you do, and nobody thinks you’ll beat who you are not “supposed to.” That makes you extremely dangerous.
In the cold conditions of tomorrow’s game (that favor a team that can run the ball), we’re in a very solid position to Shock the World Part 2. McGahee is going to have a big game. Champ is going to have a key pick. Brady will fumble once (at least), but his bum shoulder in chilly conditions will be a bigger issue. And, Matt Willis is going to catch a home-run ball from Tebow (he missed him last week and will make up for it).
Going to be 3 home losses in a row for Brady et al in the playoffs. The mystique is gone, and their defense isn’t good enough to keep them in a contest where their offense struggles. Tomorrow that offense is going to struggle.
shasta77 - January 13, 2012
right on!!!
couldn’t agree more.
citrite - January 13, 2012
sounds good to me
come on Broncos, let’s get dangerous!
the new Bradfather - January 13, 2012
DARKWING DUCK!
Jon Tollerud - January 14, 2012
suck gas Patriots ERRR Evildoers
the new Bradfather - January 14, 2012
Nice way to put it
the Broncos were not expected to get this far and they’re such underdogs in todays games, that they truly have nothing to lose. Even a loss today is already a win for the season.
While it would have been great to have a top 20 draft position come April, we have lots of cap space for next year and I have more faith in EFX and their future personnel moves than if McD was still here. So despite picking later in the draft, after such a great turnaround in 2011, suddenly, Denver is back to being a desirable place for players and coaches to come.
Horsepower - January 14, 2012
Meant to say "when you are not supposed to be where you are"
shasta77 - January 13, 2012
I'm loving it!
We win if we win, we win if we lose. Hard not to be gleeful at that thought. Sure, the MSM will try to portray it as a epic fail if we (read: Tebow, since they’ll put it all on him) do lose and the haters will go for the throat, but what else is new? Tebow and the Broncos have made their point this year and though they won’t admit it, the rest of the NFL is freaked out about the fact that, try as they might, they can’t dictate where this story will end and cut it off at the knees. Hah!
The Broncos are the definition of dangerous now and going forward. That’s why all the complacent and dismissive media analysts who are taking the result of this game for granted just make me laugh.
So, heck yeah, I’m excited. I’m already watching the clock, feeling impatient for the hours to pass so we can get to game time already!
GB2!!!
dallasdayone - January 13, 2012
I hear ya!
Unpredictable, unconventional and undefinable. That’s the triumvirate of Defensive Coordinator nightmares. How do you plan for what you can’t anticipate, aren’t used to seeing, and what is still evolving? Pick your poison?!
This team is not what you want to see in the playoffs. They make you re-think everything that you do on defense (particularly after the Steeler game) and on defense the Broncos are bring pressure from the outside and the middle—not something a pocket passing QB wants to see.
shasta77 - January 13, 2012
Great point!
I’ve noticed this too. Exhibit A = Merril Hoge. Exhibit B = Stephen A. Smith.
Horsepower - January 14, 2012
I forgot one more
Exhibit C = Chris Carter.
Horsepower - January 14, 2012
As long as we don't turn the ball over, we have a great chance.
We were dominating the first time against the Pats before we started fumbling and the wheels came off.
alacy9513 - January 13, 2012
And we lost McGahee
We have the offense (as it currently exists) intact for 4 quarters, I like our chances.
shasta77 - January 13, 2012
and we are going to tackle Pats TE's better....
and not leave them so wide open…and YES, we will win! Go broncos
Bronco stuck in Florida - January 14, 2012
We also didn't jam their receivers
and let them run their routes just as they’re drawn up. Can’t let them do that and once they do make a catch, they must be brought down with sound tackling. Nothing fancy, don’t go for the big hit, just stop them in their tracks and make them earn every inch of the field that they gain.
Horsepower - January 14, 2012
Wish you guys could borrow CJ, Suh, and Delmas.
Good luck tomorrow
Dtrain81 - January 13, 2012
Louis Delmas is outstanding
thanks Lions buddy!
the new Bradfather - January 14, 2012
So PUMPED!
I want to punch NE in the mouth so bad. I’m so sick of everyone talking about the Steelers injuries and mistakes being the reasons we advanced. No respect for what this team has accomplished. Guess what?? We also had plenty of injuries, but those seem to go unnoticed. Moreno? Kuper? Dawkins? Decker? Larson? The only way to prove them all wrong is to put Brady on his ass and rack up 40 on their terrible defense. GO BRONCOS!!!! Can’t wait :)
MTorange&blue - January 13, 2012
And that could happen
With the weather they are expecting, throwing the ball could be an adventure. We run like we did in week 15 in the first quarter for the whole game and we will own these guys. I see Brady having a performance like the 2009 playoffs, 3 picks and 3-6 sacks. His shoulder has been troubling him more than they’ve let on. It takes him a whole half sometimes to get it warmed up. In this weather that’s just not going to happen—especially if we are controlling the ball with the run game.
shasta77 - January 14, 2012
and traded away, our then, #1 WR
Bronco stuck in Florida - January 14, 2012
What a difference a week makes
Last week posting on BTSC, I was completely objective and didn’t have a feeling either way about the game—-no expectations.
This week, posted over at Pats Pulpit and from the very beginning had an edge on me! I can think of no team other than the Raiders that I hate more than the Patriots! Maybe its McD, or the way that Belichick and Brady are never analyzed outside of three super bowl victories. Whatever it is, I CAN’T STAND THEM and would love nothing more than for our team to raise their arms in victory tomorrow!
The only question I got left is…..Why couldn’t we win? Who are the Patriots that everybody feels the need to fear them? Why are they untouchable? Screw it guys, I’m ready for this game, ready for a statement, ready for our Broncos to play their asses off!
GO BRONCOS!!!
Bronco Mike - January 14, 2012
BTW Brady and his spike in our endzone really rubbed me the wrong way last time
I hope VONDOOM gives that putz several meaty turf sandwiches tomorrow!!!
Bronco Mike - January 14, 2012
AAARRRGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PUMPED UP PUMPED UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bronco Mike - January 14, 2012
I feel ya...
I really dislike the Patriots. Like really really
Trapped in O.C. - January 14, 2012 via iPhone app
they are deplorable
but if we win Saturday, everyone left in the playoffs is class, get rid of the Cheatriots, we owe it to the NFL!
the new Bradfather - January 14, 2012
yes, that girly QB sneak did not deserve a spike like that
Maybe the worst sneak I have ever seen??? Have no idea how he even made it across!
Bronco stuck in Florida - January 14, 2012
who knows more about being a girl QB
than Tom LADY
the new Bradfather - January 14, 2012
With Eric Decker out, we could use Jabar Gaffney in a big way today
I’m thankful that Demaryius Thomas has almost made us forget about Brandon Lloyd though.
Regardless of what happens today though, I will still be all smiles because of how far this team has gotten.
Horsepower - January 14, 2012
The Broncos front office thought they could go forward and get to the playoffs without Gaffney, oh wait we did!
always broncs - January 14, 2012 via mobile
Gaffney is
just like Orton, not a bad guy, he puts up nice stats, but has he ever played in the playoffs since leaving New England, NO, did he ever make the playoffs with Houston before coming to New England, NO…
the new Bradfather - January 14, 2012
Care to rephrase your statement having watched our receivers drop so many passes during last night's game?
Horsepower - January 15, 2012
This has been a Cinderella season for sure and what ever happens, happens.
I’m proud of the Broncos and what they stand for and couldn’t knock them in a rebuilding year…I just hope we don’t regress like the Seattle Seahawks did when they won their division with first year head coach Pete Carroll.
bfree2bronc - January 14, 2012
actually
this year the Seahawks went 7-9 again and were playing well late in the season but I know what you meant, San Francisco took a quantum leap and now that division is going to be much better in 2012, except for the Rams.
the new Bradfather - January 14, 2012
You don't give Jeff Fisher much of a chance?
bfree2bronc - January 14, 2012
Good stuff Zap
I do know this, the last time we played the Pats, I had an uneasy feeling, kind of a nervous anxiety. That feeling lasted me through until the end of the season. That feeling left me after I knew we snuck into the tournament and it hasn’t come back. It was replaced in the first half of the Steelers game with a quiet confidence. Whatever happens tonight, this team has far exceeded my expectations for this season. After that amazing 80 yarder in OT, I teared up and remembered the glory of 97 revenge tour. I felt like I was seeing history happening before my eyes; a feeling I hadn’t really felt since those games in January, 1998. I would love to see “Shock the World” pt.2 tonight. That quiet confidence has not left me yet, I hope it doesn’t anytime soon.
CH74 - January 14, 2012
Can you believe
If we win this game we will be playing in the AFC championship, the AFC championship WOW!
OrangeRhino - January 14, 2012 via mobile
take it all in stride!
the new Bradfather - January 14, 2012
!!!
Mike Clark - January 14, 2012
As Tim said maybe only the 1977 season could top the unexpected we've had this year.
This has been one fun run!!!
Mike Clark - January 14, 2012
The Cosmic Weather for today's game!
http://www.milehighreport.com/2012/1/14/2707854/astrological-influences-of-the-broncos-patriots
Brazenwood - January 14, 2012
I Like it!
Broncotodd - January 14, 2012
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