Orange Colored Glasses: the debut of defense
“Robert Griffin was only sacked a total of three times in yesterdays tilt, but he was whacked a total of thirteen times. The second-year wunderkind was battered, beaten and broken by the Broncos and ultimately told to have a seat”
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I can very distinctly recall looking at the score of yesterday’s Broncos / Bravehearts game in the third quarter, seeing that it was 21-7 bad guys and quietly asking myself why I wasn’t the least bit worried. It used to be panic time when Denver trailed by two touchdowns late in a game like that, but I somehow knew that they were still going to win. I suppose it was mostly because we had Peyton Manning on our side. But Robert Griffin was getting pressured by the Broncos’ defense, too. That was an even more encouraging sign.
Needless to say, Denver would go on to slap up thirty-eight unanswered points, seven of those on a garbage-time seventy-five yard return by the high-stepping Dominick Rodgers-Cromartie of Kirk Cousins’ second interception. Cousins was in the game, of course, because Terrance Knighton had omitted Robert Griffin on a prior knee-rattling sack.
Robert Griffin was only sacked a total of three times in yesterdays tilt, but he was whacked a total of thirteen times. The second-year wunderkind was battered, beaten and broken by the Broncos and ultimately told to have a seat (even though Mike Shanahan would later say Griffin was “fine”). Altogether, Washington turned the ball over seven times. Each of their QBs tossed a pair of interceptions. Griffin also fumbled twice and running back Alfred Morris added one more. As turnover-prone as Denver was (they had four total), the Broncos were plus-three in the category for the first time this season.
Denver’s secondary played exceptionally well in the game despite suffering injuries. This turned up the heat on RGIII who posted a QB rating of 45, which was better than Cousins’ 31. The QBs were hurried. For the first time this season we not only saw Denver’s front four play effectively, but we saw the Broncos blitz the Bravehearts relentlessly. In essence what we saw was the defense make its 2013 debut. The unit is gelling. Von Miller was a presence like he was not in week seven and Wesley Woodyard continued to show that he might be the MVP of Denver’s D.
The key to combating a player like RGIII and an offense like Washington’s in containment. When Griffin is allowed to roll out and threaten defenses with both the run and pass he is capable of looking like a Pro-Bowl talent. But, as we witnesses on Sunday afternoon, when he is forced to be a traditional passer he lacks accuracy and timing with his receivers. Despite the Bravehearts’ good fortunes in establishing a two-touchdown lead it was clear that they could not sustain it.
As far as Denver’s offense it concerned, well … blow the dust off the history books. Peyton Manning already has more touchdown passes in half a season that John Elway ever had in an entire one. He’s just that good. Beyond Manning and his arsenal of receiving options we have seen Denver’s running game become among the best in the AFC behind Knowshon Moreno. The offense is just plain deadly. We are watching amazing things happen on a weekly basis.
The Broncos head into their week nine bye still in second place in the AFC West. The head-scratching Chiefs remain undefeated and, while the Broncos are resting, will play at Buffalo on this upcoming Sunday. Kansas City’s success is the most astounding thing about this season. The Chiefs have performed admirably. They don’t have the horses to hang with Denver, though. It’s a near certainty that the Broncos will sweep the Chiefs in their division series. The two rivals will square off twice in two weeks. I, for one, am really looking forward to it. The Chiefs fans on my Twitter timeline have gotten a little too big for their britches. And that’s saying a lot. They have big britches.