Doug Pensinger - Getty Images
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 08: Demaryius Thomas of the Denver Broncos runs the ball after a catch against the Pittsburgh Steelers to score an 80 yard touchdown in overtime during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 8, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. The Denver Broncos defeated the the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime 23 - 29. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Wow. Was that an awesome game or what? The Denver Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-23 in Overtime for a shot at the New England Patriots next week. This was the 4th Overtime game played by the Broncos this season. I don't know if that is a record or not, but it certainly hasn't been a boring season.
In a first reaction, gut check, knee jerk impulse, I have to give the Game Balls to Quarterback Tim Tebow and Wide Receiver Demaryius Thomas. I don't think I will get any serious argument about it either, but to be sure, I will elaborate on other standout players in my regular Game Ball-Horseshoes post in a few days. For now, we can thoroughly enjoy this heady win.
Tim Tebow passed for 2 Touchdowns and ran for another, to lead the Broncos to an upset victory over Pittsburgh. The Broncos were 7.5 point underdogs at game time. Tebow finished 10 for 21 for 316 yards, a 15.0 average, 2 Touchdowns, 0 Interceptions and a 125.6 QB Rating. He also added 50 yards rushing on 10 carries and a Touchdown.
Demaryius Thomas had another stellar game as well, looking like the 1st round pick that Josh McDaniels envisioned in last year's NFL draft and not the injury prone player of the past 18 months. Bay Bay made 4 catches for an amazing 204 yards, a 51.0 yards per catch average (is that a record?) and a marvelous 80-yard Touchdown catch in Overtime to win the game. That play was the longest Overtime scoring play in NFL Playoff History.
Personally, I felt that the game was won when Safety Quinton Carter Intercepted Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with 9:23 left in the 2nd Quarter. Or rather, I knew we would win. I also had the feeling that Head coach John Fox and Offensive Coordinator Mike McCoy were throwing confusion towards the New England Patriots with their play-calling today. I am betting that they saved a few more wrinkles for the upcoming game as well. I hope so, because New England opens as 13.5 point favorites.
But the best news ever, or at least in the last 6 years is, the Denver Broncos have won a playoff game!
A Mile High Salute to Tim Tebow, Demaryius Thomas, the Broncos franchise and the entire Broncos Country.
SALUTE!
Go Broncos!
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playoff win
it tastes so good
PortlandOrange - January 8, 2012
Winning feels so damn good
It took Shanny a long time to win a playoff game. We got to the playoffs and won with our 1st try with Fox. If they go on to lose at NE, I dont care. This season was a wild success
Calikula - January 8, 2012
exactly
lots to build on. and we did it without our starting safety
PortlandOrange - January 8, 2012
Amen
a wild success no matter what !!!
PAULERBEAR - January 8, 2012
Love the pick
I was jumping and screaming run bay bay run !!! at this very second… Sorry for all the posts I am just totally on cloud nine right now !!!
PAULERBEAR - January 8, 2012
Where was this team the last 2 weeks? It was unbelievable play on both sides of the ball. Despite the zebra’s trying to give it to the Steeler’s by blowing dead the lateral that we recovered. I think we have a good chance at the Patriots since we just had a meltdown on offense, special teams and defense last game. Plus Champ and DJ are going to want to stymie McD’s offense. Go Bronco’s!!
Ambivale - January 8, 2012
Tebow got spanked by brady two weeks ago. He doesnt usually fail twice to same team especially in such short span. He and the broncos will make itva close game and have great shot at winning.
chaucer - January 8, 2012 via mobile
We'll see what the weather is going to be..
Middlesex - January 8, 2012
Brady's good at Foxboro
But if the weather is bad, I think it plays into the Broncos style of play better.
go4broncos - January 8, 2012 via mobile
Friday in Foxsboro
51 and raining… Saturday 45 and clear, will be the same weather as this week here. If we create the turnovers instead of giving them against the Pats we win this one.
JALefor - January 9, 2012
I don't think Tebow got spanked.
The broncos had the pats on the ropes early but lost it with the three straight fumbles I highly doubt that happens again.
tiderfootball09 - January 8, 2012
Actually, Tebow had a very good game against the Patriots.
It was the 3 turnovers in quick succession that lost us the game more than the Patriots won it.
Teboner - January 9, 2012
Dave Loagans' calll was awesome.
AZ.Orange&Blue - January 8, 2012
Love this feeling...let's not let end next week!!!
cfive4Broncos - January 8, 2012
i believe
I honestly believe we got this game, I think the broncos will go to new england and put a whooping on the patriots like the chargers did to the ravens, I’m certain we are headed to at least the afc championship game! Get some!!!
Broncos813 - January 8, 2012 via mobile
C'mon KK this was your chance to say you were r,rrr,rrrr, rrrooo,rrrron ah never mind.
We’re all Bronco fans and what a game to be one!!!!!
GB2 baby!!!!!!
asinsoin - January 8, 2012
Haha
It’s all good in a win.
MakeCents - January 8, 2012
WOW
That was so exciting, I haven’t been this happy after a game in a long time. Did you see Elway jumping and hugging people after the game. AWESOME!!!
PAULERBEAR - January 8, 2012
Thank you Broncos way to ball
bloodwell - January 8, 2012
So glad that playoff rust is gone !!!
No matter what happens next week, this season is an amazing success !!! Go Broncos !!!
PAULERBEAR - January 8, 2012
You weren't quite right about yards per catch....
….he was 10 for 21 for 316 yards, for a 31 yard average…that’s stunning.
bonaire - January 8, 2012
He may have meant per attempt
T.Dot_Bronco - January 8, 2012
His per attempt was huge, and his per completion was massive.
Truly impressive performance by Tebow.
Teboner - January 8, 2012
Ypa was 15. Ypc was 31.
Beave35 - January 8, 2012 via mobile
Yeah, that's what the Game stats said on ESPN.
That is where I transpose the Game thread posts from. Honestly, I am pretty good at math. :)
KaptainKirk - January 8, 2012
Robert Ayers is right there with them....He justified his draft position today!
Broncotodd - January 8, 2012
Very impressed with Ayers.....his first sack.......wow the power.
J-DOG - January 8, 2012
And his second!!
broncofaninIL - January 8, 2012
Ayers looked like a man among boys out there. I went insane when he destoryed that OT
tiderfootball09 - January 8, 2012
Awesome game. I thought we were going to lose once the coaching staff starting playing not to lose in the 3rd quarter but we pulled it off in incredible fashion
Congrats Broncos! Work hard on the short week and show the pats what we didn’t get a chance to show them last time.
BroncoMath101 - January 8, 2012
I'm sure Belicheck has a TV ; )
Tai - January 8, 2012
Fox can't be that conservative next week.
Middlesex - January 8, 2012
Not kicking the 51 yard FG really ticked me off......OT may not have been necessary.
2 weeks in a row on “gimme” FG’s.
Broncotodd - January 8, 2012
I think 54 yards, but I agree
si_ice - January 8, 2012
agree I thought it was a dumb call. I also hated how the defense went to prevent at the end of the 2nd quarter. That's almost like giving them a free TD.
BroncoMath101 - January 8, 2012
Nobody nationally was giving the Broncos a chance in this one.
Nobody nationally will be giving the Broncos a chance next week.
The most dangerous team is one that plays with abandon, because they have nothing to lose.
DE_BroncoFan - January 8, 2012
Except the football
So Brady can score….just saying.
Tai - January 8, 2012
Nicely done, Denver!
Very exciting game. It’s “gunslinger” stuff like that that gives me the willies.
P.S. Belichick just hired McD as an “Offensive Assistant” for the rest of the year. Does it give NE and advantage? Maybe, maybe not. But it can’t hurt.
MaPatsFan - January 8, 2012
Classy Belichek again....
My bad, I thought he was under contract to St. Louis. Oh that’s right, he was.
broncofaninIL - January 8, 2012
St. Louis gave permission
and I’m sure they were glad to. Saves them from having to pay the rest of his cantract after the fire him
T.Dot_Bronco - January 8, 2012
Not at all
Maybe if we still had Orton, we ran the same o. But we run a completely different offense, and a COMPLETELY different D, down to the scheme
Calikula - January 8, 2012
We'll hear excuses galore about how the #1 defense didn't have its leading tackler and lost Kiesel and Casey Hampton.
I don’t care honesty. They are a good defense and Tim picked a great time to step up. Thank you John Elway for challenging the play calling this week and for challenging Tim to pull the trigger and trust himself. It worked wonders and I hope the coaches and Tim continue to do it next week as well.
BroncoMath101 - January 8, 2012
Its not our fault they dont have depth or cant play 'next man up'.
Thats why you have 50 guys on a team, not just 22.
Teboner - January 9, 2012
DT joins TD as the only 2 players in Broncos history (not a QB) to have over 200 yds in a playoff game.
BroncoMath101 - January 8, 2012
How bout Ryan Clady and Franklin
Harrison and Woodley were virtually ineffective much of this game. Not sure how many times Clady and Franklin lined up on them but neither of their names were mentioned all day which is great as an offensive linemen…usually if you are mentioned you screwed up.
knoepke84 - January 8, 2012 via mobile
We had a 6th offensive lineman out there helping them for most of the game. They were getting beat until we sent the 6th man out to help.
They all played lights out in the 2nd quarter though and did well most of the game. Great job by Fox and McCoy to pull the TE and put the additional OL out there though.
BroncoMath101 - January 8, 2012
Clady locked down Harrison.
And Tebow froze Harrison multiple times on running plays.
Teboner - January 9, 2012
Good news
Decker’s knee injury may not be as bad as first thought, probably a strain.
Mee - January 8, 2012
I hope you are right
KaptainKirk - January 8, 2012
Actually a sprain...my bad
Mee - January 8, 2012
Posted by Klis at the Post
Mee - January 8, 2012
I do too, but our offense got less conservative after he went out.....
Don’t know what to make of that. :P
Broncotodd - January 8, 2012
interesting thought. We did play better but that may stem from Elway's push to pull the trigger (with Tim and play calling) rather than Decker.
It may have happened regardless of him being out of the game. No way to tell.
BroncoMath101 - January 8, 2012
I got a hearty chuckle out of Harrison being too agressive and Tebow schooling him.
Heck of a game.
ruralnugs - January 8, 2012
What about Ayers?
He’s disappointed at times this year but what play today! Two huge sacks, especially the one at the end of regulation.
SD guy - January 8, 2012
Oh yes
He will be mentioned in the follow up post
KaptainKirk - January 8, 2012
11 seconds
was it also the shortest overtime in history?
kanfan - January 8, 2012
yep
PortlandOrange - January 8, 2012
I wonder of Brandon Lloyd watched the game. ;)
SD guy - January 8, 2012
Thats how
Mee - January 8, 2012
Thats how Iike my overtimes!
Mee - January 8, 2012
Congrats to Denver
Defying all odds all season….
NJChieffan16 - January 8, 2012
Thanks!
Calikula - January 8, 2012
Classy
Thanks for stopping by.
SFV Bronco Fan - January 9, 2012
I am so proud of our safeties... I was really bashing them before the game
and then I thought they came through and played with really big cajones. But, and I hate to be negative at such a positive moment but, Mays at MLB has to go, I think I would do it before the NE game. Gotta be someone better, or, at the very least simply someone who knows how to play disciplined and not lose control of their gaps, constantly out of position. Look at some of the big runs by the Steelers today and you see him caught up past the gap or unable to navigate through traffic to take care of his responsibilities. I say put Haggan in there, he at least seems able to maintain his gaps…
rubincarterrocks - January 8, 2012
Boy you got that right
Bruton and Carter were top notch today and tackled really well. Mays not so much. He was HORRIFIC. many time he would go running up there and miss the hole he should have been in. He can not get back in coverage to a depth to disrupt the passing game AT ALL. Irving has to be better but I really like the idea of Haggen being in there. Love that guy.
kimbertr - January 8, 2012
Giant massive brass game balls!
Tezcatlipoca - January 8, 2012
Still on Cloud 9!
Really glad to hear Decker’s injury isn’t likely to be as bad as it looked.
CT-BroncoFan - January 8, 2012
Carter deserves a lot of credit.
I almost thought Brian Dawkins or John Lynch was out there with the way he was laying out people. He’ll probably get a fine for what looked like helmet to helmet but oh well. Now only if Moore can step up his game, the broncos then would have a pair of safties for the next decade.
Also Clady and Frankln deserve some love. They shutdown Harrison and Woodly. Frankln has really grown into a fine OT. At this point I’d say his the better OT of last years draft. I’m glad to see the broncos have a good o-line for the next 10 years.
Lastly, Joe Mays needs to be replaced. The broncos need an upgrade at MLB badly.
tiderfootball09 - January 8, 2012
Gameballs to
Tebow
DT
McCoy
Ayers
Bailey
Carter
Entire O-Line
T.Dot_Bronco - January 8, 2012
Doom and Miller ?
asinsoin - January 9, 2012
Really the only 2 Broncos I thought had a bad game were....
….Mays – he was horrible. I bellieve he was instrumental in pretty much every big play by Pittsburg in first 3 quarters. Also, McGahee fumbled early in the 1st and late in the 4th. Not a good game for him. That’s it for guys I don’t think had a good game.
BTW, Harrison is a jackwad. OK he can’t hit heads so he goes for knees. Dirtiest player in the league.
bonaire - January 8, 2012
What did you expect him to do? You can’t hit these guys high so he did the only other option which was to go low. That’s not being dirty. That’s making the play. Injuries happen in football
DDoug - January 8, 2012 via Android app
So only knees and heads are where you can hit people?
bonaire - January 8, 2012
and wrap up tackles are completely out of the question
Calikula - January 8, 2012
quickest way to take a man down is by taking out his legs.
Everyone hits legs. Don’t get on Harrison’s case because of his reputation. He did what he needed to do to take a man down. Are you really trying to limit him to a 16 inch hitting window on a players stomach now?
DaLostBoy4 - January 9, 2012
Steeler fans going on an on about injuries and . . . bad officiating! Really?
Hard to fathom but they must not have watched the same game I watched. They’re complaining about no holding penalties on our O-line. But they ignore the fumble that wasn’t, and I don’t recall any holding penalties on the Steelers’ O-line and I saw 3 face-mask penalties that should have been called on the Steeler D.
Also, we have our own share of injures.
Our O-line dominated starting in the 2nd quarter. Tebow had all day back there to pass or run. If it wasn’t for McGahee’s fumble, the game isn’t even close. But that was a forced fumble, so Pittsburgh deserved the turnover.
On this day, at least, the best team on the field won. Now, somebody put Tom Brady on his Bundchen-whipped arse, please!
Schwerepunkt - January 8, 2012
I agree +1
KaptainKirk - January 8, 2012
Besides Delaware Pennsylvania people are the most arrogant people on the planet...
bfree2bronc - January 8, 2012
Folks from Eastern Penn can certainly be abrasive; I’m in Delaware County. (But you do know Pittsburgh is at the opposite end of the state from Delaware, right?)
MakeCents - January 8, 2012
ahem
I may be overbearing, conceited, and smart, but I never talk down to the little people. Unless I need to learn them something about futbol :P
Sean in Pa. - January 9, 2012
the lateral no-call
would’ve been the game. that’s it right there. but instead the refs gave the steelers a (at least) 10 point swing PLUS momentum shift. yeah, steelerfan, go ahead and cry all the way to out-of-contentionville. oops, wait, you’re already there. well, you can still cry anyway.
oxmouth - January 8, 2012
after scoring on the drive
with the lateral play I don’t think any Steeler fan should complain about the game. That was a free TD and you just cannot deny it!
Sean in Pa. - January 9, 2012
Let em complain...
Let ‘em air their lame excuses…but the fact is…they’ll be sitting on the couch next week watching us play in what the nation thought was their destined spot. So glad they came in all high and mighty, like they were just here to collect their points and advance…and so glad we punched them in the mouth until they surrendered…love how Polamalu gave up chasing DT at the 30 yard line on the last play…go wash your hair Homie!
Brazenwood - January 8, 2012
Steelers fans can spend all week complaining.
I, for one, will be spending this week watching 80 Yards over… and over… and over…
Tezcatlipoca - January 9, 2012
The only team happier than us is Baltimore!
bill2975 - January 9, 2012
I wish
Cinnci had won….. Dammit, that is less than 50 miles for me to go to the game. I would have to sell my truck but I would…. I would!
Sean in Pa. - January 9, 2012
Question
There was a play in the second half where I think it was Quinton Carter hit a guy that looked big like a fullback running in space, and knocked him backwards into the turff. Does anyone remember the play, who it was, and can you send a little clip?
Baghdad - January 9, 2012
The only Q hit that was big like that was on Mike Wallace
who is the opposite of a fullback, granted the hit did stop his forward momentum, but he also slipped and was falling at the time when Q went crown of helmet right into his facemask.
JALefor - January 9, 2012
Big
It was a big guy got decked but it might not have been Quinton did it, They showed a replay, it’s the play that stuck out to me . Wish I had the game on a disk to search for it
Baghdad - January 9, 2012
You're right
Saw the game again and that was the hit on Wallace, but I still liked it,Carter’s an aggressive guy, good draft pick
Baghdad - January 9, 2012
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