Broncos building for the playoffs

There are games like those the Broncos won over New England, Dallas and New York that prove a team’s playoff worth.  And then there are those like the one in Indy that reveal how much work needs to be done.

Consider the Denver Broncos under construction for the next three weeks.

After a turnover-drenched, gift-wrapped loss to the undefeated Indianapolis Colts, it wasn’t a question of whether or not Denver was good enough to play with Peyton Manning; it was an early progress report stating that actually beating the Colts is easier said than done.

The Broncos likely need only two more wins to make the playoffs after Jacksonville lost to Miami, and home games against Oakland and Kansas City appear simple enough, but just getting there isn’t the final goal of any team.  So for now it’s time to take stock and use two possible tuneup games to get it right.

Josh McDaniels is right when he says, “(The Indianapolis Colts) certainly set the bar here in the AFC.”

That’s actually encouraging news.  Especially when you consider the accomplishments of last Sunday’s loss.  Forcing Manning into three picks for the first time since November 2007 takes some talent.  Outscoring the Colts 16-14 over the final 45 minutes of a game at Lucas Oil Stadium is impressive.  And watching your starting quarterback put up a 95.3 passer rating against a defense that allows an average mark of only 78.1 is a step in the right direction.

But the first loss in three games for Denver was more about what wasn’t accomplished, and that starts on third down.  The Broncos routinely put themselves into short-yardage situations but failed to move the chains.  Converting only six of 17 tries just isn’t good enough to beat a team that hasn’t been beaten.

Of the 11 missed opportunities, six were from manageable third-and-six or less situations.  The total yardage gained on those downs?  Negative two.  And an interception.  Overall, the Broncos lost two yards on 11 bungled third-down attempts.  Now to be fair, Kyle Orton did throw both of his touchdown passes on third down, but it didn’t matter.

In the end, Brandon Marshall’s record-setting day wasn’t historic enough to be asterisked with a victory.  It might have been if the Broncos had been able to find a ground game.  We’ll mark this down as lesson No. 2, and it fits nicely with the first lesson about third down.  The Broncos need Corell Buckhalter.

Before Buckhalter’s injury, the Broncos were averaging over four yards per carry.  After he went down, that number dropped below three, and it became clear that Knowshon Moreno needed him as badly as Denver did.  The rookie didn’t have the juice to carry the load on his own, and it showed as nine of 23 carries went for less than a yard.  With two games in the friendly confines of Invesco Field against two teams still wading through the NFL’s deep bottom half in talent and production, now might be a good time to find a third option.  Lamont Jordan and Peyton Hillis may not have earned the opportunity yet, but either one has to be a better option than “Moreno stretch to the right, 2-yard loss on the play.”

But still, even with all of the obstacles over the first six games, and then a perfect storm of four teams at midseason that needed a win worse than Denver, it seems that the scheduling gods have smiled on the Mile Highers.  There are three winnable games over a period that likely needs to see only two wins from the Broncos to vault them into the postseason.  And with plenty of kinks to work out, those games can’t be overlooked.  Whether it’s relearning how to convert and stay on the field as an offense, or finding some relief for Moreno late in a close game, or even praying that Tyler Polumbus will suddenly morph into a run-blocking right tackle, there are tasks at hand.

This team, with a savvy secondary capable of turning Manning into a mortal man, is good enough to make the playoffs.  And if this team can stride over only a few more hurdles, in a season seemingly built from them, then they might just be good enough to win once they get there.

Of course, the Broncos know as well as anyone that no one is going to hand them a bye or a free win.  It’s going to take hard work, determination, and if you can believe it, maybe a little more luck than a three-interception day from the NFL’s best quarterback.  Here’s hoping the Broncos rely on making their own luck.

See more from Hunter Ansley at DraftZoo.com.