Time for another win streak

Orange Slush. Incapable Stable. Glue Factory.

The headlines from the preseason are back in full force.

After three straight losses, I thought we’d come full circle. Apparently, the circumference was longer than I wanted to believe.

But now, after stumbling, fumbling and audibly mumbling words of discouragement to the tune of four losses in a row, the Broncos are once again the scourge of the NFL, and the delight of pessimistic pens.

And why not? The talk of the town following a Six-and-O start, Denver has seemingly lost that “it factor.” The grit and determination that fueled the most improbable of opening acts have gone the way of leather helmets and two-way players. Or have they?

Those forgotten facets of football past were fitting images of the Denver Broncos in October. They were tough. They were relentless. They were “old school” from the tops of their ancient uniforms to the bottoms of their hearts. And here’s the bright side – those underdog psyches weren’t molded by gushy writing and cheery public opinion. They were forged through adversity. My advice to the suddenly sheepish Broncos: Relish it one more time.

When the Twitter pages and news tickers crackle with tales of Brandon Marshall berating Knowshon Moreno, find new motivation. When a certain Chargers’ linebacker mocks the accomplishments of your head coach, defend him with disciplined play. When everyone around you is begging you to lose your heads and turn on each other, band together. And when all the world has closed the book on a once-magical season, prove them wrong. Again.

It’s a fine line, there’s no doubt. It’s a high-wire balancing act that has seen Denver slip and plummet toward the hard Earth with no safety net in sight. Over the past four games, the Broncos have pressed. They’ve been undisciplined in their search for the next highlight play while winning teams have stayed home and minded their responsibilities. If there is such a thing as trying too hard, the Mile High Miracle Workers have epitomized it during the month of November.

Instead of plugging gaps, they’ve missed assignments. Instead of securing the ball to set up second-and-goal from the 1-inch line, they’ve reached beyond their grasp and given it away. When the ground game churns 42 yards out of only seven carries on the opening drive, they’ve panicked and gone to the air on all but 10 plays the rest of the way. When you’re on the high wire, you don’t look up, and you don’t look down. You fix your gaze straight ahead. And Denver, November Denver, hasn’t done that.

The team that roared out of the depths of nowhere to shock the world is stuck in limbo for a second time. The world sees underdogs. Long shots. Losers.

And there’s the key. The 6-0 start didn’t come when the spread was favorable. It came in this situation. The current one and the past. The same circumstances that bore the best we’ve seen from Denver since the Elway days are back and stronger than ever. There are no more second chances. It’s a now-or-never plot that is more palpable today than it was in August. And we’ll all watch, hopeful that Denver never lost “it,” that the Broncos just needed four losses to find “it” again.

The Broncos have to believe that 6-0, too, is possible a second time because no one else will.

Prove them wrong. Again.

Read more from Hunter Ansley at DraftZoo.com