Broncos: Baby TO grew up

He faded past puberty and past Dallas cornerback Terrence Newman and found the endzone.

So what do we call Brandon Marshall now?  There’s no precedent for an adult species of Terrell Owens.

How about winner?  How about undefeated?  How about teammate?

How ‘bout them Broncos?

This was the big test.  The wins over Cleveland and Oakland were laughed at as easy victories that proved nothing.  The win over Cincinnati was credited to God.

In most eyes, Denver was 0-0, not 3-0.  So what now?  What do you say when a revamped Denver defense held the explosive Cowboys’ offense to ten points?  Maybe being one of only five remaining undefeated teams in the NFL isn’t a fluke.  Maybe it’s an omen.
The Denver defense that was supposed to be exposed by a more talented, bigger, and faster Dallas scoring machine held up pretty well.  After allowing ten first quarter points, the veterans that no one else wanted, shut the Cowboys down.  Tony Romo was held to 11 of 24 passing for 121 yards in the second half.  For the game, he threw zero touchdown passes.

But his second half could have started better.  Knowshon Moreno fumbled on Denver’s first play from scrimmage in the third quarter giving Dallas the ball at the Denver 27.  Romo picked up a first down, but on 3^rd and 11 from the 16 yard line, he hit Champ Bailey with a perfect pass towards the Broncos’ sideline.  Dallas drive over.

That’s been the modus operandi for Josh McDaniels’ Broncos so far – don’t give up.  When the media is adamant that the first round pick you traded to Seattle will end up becoming the first overall pick, just keep playing.  When Brandon Marshall’s practice footage becomes more watched than any preseason game, just keep playing.  When Cincinnati has the game sewn up and the clock is waning towards an ugly 0-1 start, just keep playing and praying.

And when Dallas, the “better” team, has you on the ropes late with the breath of so many naysayers warming the backs of your necks, just keep playing.

Denver did keep playing, and on Sunday, they kept winning.

The Broncos played like a unique professional team.  Scratch that, they played like a college team.  A band of brothers, all with one goal, one mindset, and for now, one perfect record.  There was heart on the field.  There were grown men striving through pain, circumstance, and adversity for the love of the game and the desire to win.  It’s the kind of thing that’s uncoachable in the NFL ranks, right?  Wrong.

It is coachable.  It’s just hard to do.  Winning ain’t easy, but it is possible.  Ridding a team of players who are too strongly tied to personal glory isn’t popular, but it’s necessary.  Finding leaders who will give their bodies to the turf for one miniscule shot at victory is tough, but Denver has them.  Champ Bailey, the veteran corner who had to laugh at Romo’s decision to throw his way twice on the Cowboys’ penultimate passes, is one of those guys.  Brian Dawkins has been that guy during his entire career in Philadelphia, and he brought his mindset with him.  Elvis Dumervil is an unblockable scythe of opposing quarterbacks, and he too is one of those players.

Of course, there’s some decent talent here too.  Dropping Cutler and keeping Marshall may prove to be one of the most absolutely vital coaching moves ever made in the Mile High City.  No. 15’s determination to score matched his ability to scintillate on one perfect Denver play that was tipped off by a less-than-perfect pass from Kyle Orton.  Knowshon Moreno benefitted from the same type of throw, but the best rookie running back in the NFL made the play.  When it comes down to it, these men will do anything, impossible or not, for their quarterback.  It’s a welcome sight.

Now it’s time for the Broncos to switch gears.  The underdog status that has fueled this team is starting to fade.  Or at least it should be.  How many games do you have to win before luck becomes a dirty word?

While “experts” may be poking at their servings of crow, no one’s been forced to order seconds just yet.  The schedule only gets tougher from here.  There will certainly be as many Dallas doubters as Denver devotees after this win.  They’ll turn the Cleveland and Oakland arguments towards Texas and say that maybe Dallas isn’t that great either.  But it won’t matter.

This is what McDaniels has been quietly hiding behind his confidence – the fact that his confidence is founded.  The fact that a rare event is going largely unnoticed on a stage that would seemingly prevent that kind of oversight.  An NFL team that is watched by millions every week is pulling off the impossible, and more people are scrambling for excuses than enjoying the show.  But it doesn’t matter what anyone says.  Denver is playing for something greater than glory or accolade or media-driven love affairs.  They’re playing for each other.

Words don’t make tackles.  They don’t complete late game passes that should have never been.  They don’t run hard when the game is on the line.  And they don’t make it any easier to start 4-0.  Teams do those things.  This is a football team.

Dallas News:  CB Newman says Denver WR Marshall grabbed his jersey on winning TD catch