The Holiday season is in full swing but the Broncos season is winding down. It's time for the boys in blue to either hang up the stalkings or keep the menorah lit for a few more weeks because the most important question for them this week isn't which kind of Mercedes they will be giving their wives for Christmas, it's determining what kind of football team they are going to be in these final two weeks.
The Grinch showed up a little bit early and ruined Christmas for the Broncos when non-other than the Oakland Raiders slid down the chimney of Invesco Field and delivered a last second loss to the naughty Broncos. Yes, it was a pathetic display of execution and the Broncos ultimately gave away that game but I'm not really that mad. Disappointed? Sure. Mad? Not really. I didn't want the Broncos to get a free pass into the playoffs just because they (supposedly) had two easy victories due to the Raiders and Chiefs being the 2 of the last 3 teams the Broncos faced. I didn't want them to barely beat the Raiders, get steam rolled by the Eagles and then get a default win against the Chiefs. I want the Broncos to face some diversity and earn their way into the playoffs because if they can't hold onto the Wild Card than honestly, I would rather have them miss out of January football and get a better draft pick. Seriously, I'm not kidding. I'm in it to win it and I am not satisfied with just limping into the playoffs and getting steam rolled by the Colts because I have been through that many times with Mike Shanahan.
So, if the Broncos want to make the playoffs than they need to beat the Christmas-red hot and green jersey Eagles this week in Philadelphia. Not an easy task at hand but if the Broncos want to be known as one of the best than they must beat one of the best. The Eagles have proven to be one of the best December teams throughout the past 5 years and the Broncos have proven to be one of the worst December teams throughout the past 5 years so the odds are clearly against Denver. But like shown in last weeks game winning drive that was orchestrated by non-other than the 3rd string, all time NFL draft bust JaMarcus Russell, anything is possible on any given Sunday. If JaMarcus Russell can look like John Elway than the Broncos can look like a championship team for at least one week. Right?...
Players to Watch
Brian Dawkins
Who else? Every eyeball in Lincoln Financial Field will be affixed to Dawkins when he makes his first appearance in Philadelphia since leaving for Denver last off-season. Dawkins, of course, spent the first 13 seasons of his career with the Eagles, going to seven Pro Bowls and helping lead his former team to five NFC Championship game appearances. Dawkins is also the Eagles' franchise leader in games played (183) and is tied for the franchise lead in interceptions (34). Fans will recall "Weapon X" for his physical style of play at the safety position, and he will likely be employed close to the line of scrimmage, in an attempt to stifle his former teammates. It is sure to be an emotional afternoon for Dawkins, his former teammates and the fans alike, but the bottom line is that both teams need Sunday's game and there won't be any lack of effort on the field.
It's also a game for Dawkins to show up his old team and show them the mistake they made for letting him go. I get what the Eagles from office was thinking. Well kinda. They didn't want to commit a lot of money into a guy that is 36 years old because frankly, 36 year old's are on the downside of their careers. Well, not according to Brian Dawkins who is having one of, if not the best season of his career. He already has a career high in tackles (100) and now he is putting together a year that mirrors some of his best Pro Bowl seasons. Not to mention all the other emotional intangibles and fan support that the Eagles are missing out of. In a season of giving, I just want to thank the Eagles front office for giving us Brian Dawkins. Merry Christmas.
Knowshon Moreno
Dawkins isn't the only former Eagle returning to Philadelphia of course. There's also Correll Buckhalter, who has run for 582 yards at a 5.2 yards-per-carry clip. But Buckhalter has been hampered by an ankle injury and Moreno has had to carry the load over the past few weeks. Moreno needs to guide this running game like Randolph was forced to guide Santa's Slay as in he needs to bounce back from his, dare I say, pathetic game against the 30 ranked rushing defense in the Raiders. Rushing for 2.2 yards per carry and accumulating a mere 3 yards of 12 carries after the first quarter just isn't going to cut it against a stout Eagles' run defense – 10th in the league – that allowed its first 100-yard rusher in 21 regular season games last week. Buckhalter looks like he will be healthy enough to play but if he can't stay healthy than Know-show Moreno needs deliver a present. Or maybe, McDaniels is feeling the Holiday spirit and finally unwraps his gift by using his best kept secret weapon in Peyton Hillis. But I think that is asking for too much this Christmas from McDaniels.
The Broncos Offensive Line
The whole Broncos offensive line has really played bad these past few weeks. Besides Ryan Clady, the rest of the lineman would all receive coal from me this year if I was Santa. Tyler Polumbus has been getting destroyed, Chris Kuper is clearly not what he was a year ago, Russ Hochstein is proving why he is a career backup and Casey Weigmann, well maybe those talks of retirement in the offseason should have been a little but more serious. Once a strong point for this ball club, the O-line needs to make a serious push (hehe) if the Broncos want to get back into the playoff race.
Winston Justice and Jason Peters vs. Elvis Dumervil
The Eagles' offensive line has finally had time to play together on a consistent basis and the results are showing. Peters has played up to his All-Pro level despite being hampered by a knee injury and he headed to the playoffs for the first time in his career. After shutting down a 49ers pass rush that was coming off a four-sack game against the Arizona Cardinals, Peters now gets to take on the league's leader in sacks. The 5-11, 248-pound Dumervil fell to the fourth round of the 2006 Draft because of size concerns after a productive career at Louisville. He's proved his detractors wrong with 41.0 sacks in his four years, and the switch to linebacker has taken his game to an extra level. Dooms Day Dumervil needs to come up big in this game because if you give McNabb and wide out DeSean Jackson some time, they will make you pay. There is a reason why DeSean Jackson has already set an NFL record with eight 50+ yards touchdown plays.
Brandon Marshall vs. Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel
Brown and Samuel are both playing at a Pro Bowl level and they've combined for more interceptions (13) than any other duo of cornerbacks in the league. They're also the perfect foils for each other. Samuel is a gambler who breaks off coverages to read the quarterback and go for the big play. Brown is the fundamentally-sound, physical cornerback who rarely misses a tackle. Because Samuel and Brown don't switch sides of the field, they will both have their hands full this week with Marshall, who is second in the NFL with 93 receptions. Marshall is a physical marvel and beast in the open field. At 6-4, 240 pounds, he can run with any quick corner while bullying them down to the turf when the corner comes up to make a tackle. Marshall has finally put a complete season together this year and is looking to finish the year with another 100+ catch season. What better present to give yourself than to break Rod Smith's franchise mark in catches over 3 seasons and also lead the league with 3 straight 100+ catch seasons? Oh, not to mention adding a few more zero's onto your pay check in the offseason....
'Tis the season of giving right? Well give the Broncos fans a real Christmas gift and make the playoffs.
