Denver’s game balls go to …

By Os Davis  |   Sunday, November 11, 2007  |  Comments( 0 )

Denver Broncos
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Big win for the Denver Broncos on Sunday, big win ... and a nicely played second half, too. Though topping the divisional rival Kansas City Chiefs moved the dark horses up to just 4-5 on the season, Mike Shanahan has got his guys right in the thick of things in the weak AFC West.

The victory gives Denver the advantage in the tiebreaker over Kansas City in addition to Oakland. Come Christmas Eve, the Broncos gallop into San Diego for a Week 16 matchup. Right about now, Denver's fans are surely conjuring up pictures of that showdown as a battle between 8-6 teams and a golden opportunity to serve up a little revenge for the 41-3 shellacking in Week 5. If this scenario does come about, the Broncos will be able to look back on the 27-11 victory as a key turning point, the team's first truly decisive win of 2007.

So, game balls to some guys who helped turned things around ...

On offense, who else but Selvin Young, who had a day of firsts on the field, including his first 100-yard game and first NFL TD? After a pair of respectable performances in losing causes (eight carries for 81 yards against Indy, 18 for 71 against Green Bay), Young enjoyed a breakout game against the Chiefs and at times appeared to be the sole Bronc awake on the 'O' in the first half. Portis, Droughns, Anderson, Bell, Henry ... Young? Bronco backers sure hope so. Game ball.

Toss one Brandon Marshall's way as well. Among his half-dozen catches, Marshall twice kept drives alive with leaping receptions. Ever wonder why Jay Cutler is so good on the run this season? The nicely intuitive Marshall is among the reasons. Game ball.

Defense. This game showed some of the best 'D' Denver's seen since Shanahan perhaps ill-advisedly had Larry Coyer canned, so kudos to many. Bronco-backing land likes Dre' Bly for marking the Chiefs' beginning of the end with his third-quarter pick, Hamza Abdullah for leading Denver with eight tackles, Elvis Dumervil for his constant presence, and naturally Nate Webster for bringing back the fumble for the TD; acknowledge each of them with a game ball.

Ian Gold (wasn't he a James Bond villain?) also impressed, though, with his second-quarter sack of Damon Huard and in his role as a disruptive force throughout the game. Tim Crowder chipped in two sacks; that's worth at least one game ball. DT Antwon Burton showed flashes of excellence, too, looking like a linebacker dropping back into coverage on big Tony Gonzalez a couple of times and making Gold's takedown possible. Game balls, all.

Special teams. Though a last-second effort wasn't needed, Jason Elam looked great again, kicking a 50-yarder that eked inside the crossbar - take that, Sebastian Janikowski! Add the personal best to his remarkable highlight reel of this season, which includes a couple of game-winning strikes as well as one game-knotter, and Elam may well be Denver's MVP.

Rounding up the game balls all year long at RealFootball365.com
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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's ...
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