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Published on 09/12/2008 at Fri Sep 12 12:00.
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One of the best films to come out in the last five years is Man on Fire, directed by Tony Scott and starring Denzel Washington and Christopher Walken. There is a moment in the film when, as to not give any spoilers away, Christopher Walken’s character Rayburn is speaking with the Chief of Police of Mexico City, Manzano, played by Giancarlo Giannini. In reference to Denzel Washington’s character Creasy, Rayburn says this:

         RAYBURN
He'll deliver more justice in a
weekend, than ten years of your
courts and tribunals. So stay
out of his way.

After a few well placed, straight to the jugular questions by Manzano, Rayburn ends with this incredibly short, but poignant monologue:

            RAYBURN
A man can be an artist in anything.
Stone, paint, words. Food. Anything, if
his soul is true to it. Creasy's art is
death. And he's about to paint his
masterpiece.

Truer words have never been spoken in a film.

Men on Fire:

“There’s no such thing as tough. You’re either trained or untrained,” Denzel Washington’s character Creasy says in Man on Fire. Either trained or untrained. That would alleviate the quote/unquote luck factor all together then wouldn’t it? Meaning Monday night wasn’t lucky at all, the Denver Broncos have been training to perform at that level for quite some time.

They executed on offense, very well. The Broncos are currently rated fourth in the NFL in total offense. They are rated 15th in total defense, tenth against the pass and 25th against the run. We did forty one points in Oakland, but last time the San Diego Chargers played at Mile High they did forty one as well.

The bottom line is that, this game will decide everything.

It’s so early in the season, too early to be saying anything like that, but I said it and most of all, it is true. On any given Sunday a team’s entire season can turn for better or for worse. If the Broncos can manage to come out on top Sunday afternoon, they will have won one game that they weren’t expected to. Against a team that many had (and still do) considered a Super Bowl contender.

Putting together the puzzle and the pieces fit perfectly, this season is different. Look at Monday’s game– we’re twenty-one points ahead and still running trick plays, do you feel it? We’ve got that old thing back… It’s as if the world is not enough, as if winning is not enough. There’s fight, ambition and pride at stake all of a sudden. Denver’s been waiting for this game since December 24, 2007, and finally there’s something in the heir… Jay Cutler is here, and Mike Shanahan’s about to paint his masterpiece.

  • sirsam

    God I love your posts!

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    Look at Monday’s game– we’re twenty-one points ahead and still running trick plays, do you feel it? We’ve got that old thing back… It’s as if the world is not enough, as if winning is not enough. There’s fight, ambition and pride at stake all of a sudden.

    I feel it, man. Sunday, the Chargers will feel the other end of it, too.

    BTW, sirsam, that’s just about the nicest thing someone can say to a blogger. Kudos Ian.

  • http://broncos-denver-broncos.blogspot.com/ Ian Henson

    Yes it is, thank you very much, I appreciate it Sam and Kyle, as always, thank you as well.

  • http://81trucolors.livejournal.com/ Truman

    “Denver’s been waiting for this game since December 24, 2007, and finally there’s something in the heir… ”

    Great line, Ian.

    I’m really excited for this game. One issue though, and this is why I’ve been a shannahan hater since Griese… Why the hell is Jay Cutler in the game late in the 4th quarter when we’re up by 700 points? These are the kinds of decisions upon which seasons are lost.

  • BH

    Great post as well. I haven’t heard people talk enough about the x-factor, which in my opinion, is “want to.” That is, “want to” on the part of Shanahan and Cutler. Shanahan was personally embarassed by last year’s performance and seems to be coaching as hungry as ever. Jay Cutler seems to be maturing into a franchise QB, who not only is good at playing football, but is motivated to do it. As we know, the motivation doesn’t always seemed to have been there with Plummer. It isn’t hard to understand, many of us go to work every day and work at jobs that we may be good at, but don’t necessarily like. For Cutler, desire and skill seem to have lined up, and that is a beautiful thing to see. The post is right on, I think that they are on fire.

    On why Shanahan never puts in the backup QB, I have wondered the same thing. During the two SB years with Elway, he never did put in the QB, even in situations when I was sure that he would. My best guess is that he is trying to play out the game with the least amount of risk to performance, which, also can lead to unnecessary injuries. Even though it does involve accepting some risk to the QB. Elway was very good at protecting himself, hopefully, Cutler will be too. That one plaby by Asomuhwa (sp?) had me worried.

  • http://broncos-denver-broncos.blogspot.com/ Ian Henson

    The only possible reason that I could conceive of is that Patrick Ramsey may still have been a bit iffy… He didn’t get to play in the final preseason game either. Or maybe Shanahan wanted him to feel what it’s like to have a performance like that.

    Regardless, in my opinion, Mike Shanahan is the best he is at what he does. I’m sure he had a reason a full game like that can really be an ego boast and he’ll need whatever he can get for this weekend’s game.

  • http://broncos-denver-broncos.blogspot.com/ Ian Henson

    BH- I know, I linked to Kerry’s post over at Predominantely Orange in the last Daily Links (“Slide Jay, Slide…”). That’s all we need is some badass cornerback making himself known notoriously as the guy who took out OUR quarterback. (Looking in Kansas City’s direction) Of course I know that Nnamdi Asomugha is already a great corner, but what do you think he’d be known for if he sniped Cutler in the first game.

  • http://mrherculesrockefeller.blogspot.com hercules rockefeller

    Dude, Man on Fire was a terrible movie.

    Otherwise, nice job.

  • http://broncos-denver-broncos.blogspot.com/ Ian Henson

    Herc- You’re nuts, what do you have against the greatest actor of our time? Dakota Fanning, throw Marc Anthony that equation equals Box office gold, my friend.

  • HogBlog

    Ian,
    Would you please insert a disclaimer to go along with your Def. ranking. The yards given up by the defense for both running and passing were done during “Garbage Time” in the 4 th quarter. So 15th may sound like a nice improvement from last year. However, it by no means tells the real story. When your up by 27 in the 4th, you don’t want to get key players hurt? right? Just food for thought…next time. I know, everybody’s a critic…but it’s a sensitive area for us bronco fans. That’s all we read about in the media!

    thanks Ian

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    HogBlog, I love your point, I’ve heard it a few times from a few different people. The problem is – unless your full-time job is covering the NFL, and even then, it’d be hard – we really can’t use that disclaimer without giving every other team the same benefit-of-the-doubt.

    How many other teams were up, and up big, in Week One? Shouldn’t we discount their 4thQ stats too. No, really the only way to objectively look at it is just the stats, no strings attached. That’s my feeling anyway.

    (I do agree with you though).

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    lol, Herc. I wasn’t a big Man on Fire fan, either. The only thing I really remember about it is Denzel Washington taking names… and fingers.

  • http://broncos-denver-broncos.blogspot.com/ Ian Henson

    Shanahan was just as disappointed that we gave up so many yards in the fourth. We were doing well, but the end of the season the first game stats are going to count, you are correct though– it is not a good indication of where our defense is at right now. McFadden and Fargas had like 60 combined yards going into the third (if I remember correctly, Earl might remember better).

  • Aerobronco

    Great post as usual here Ian! Ok a little off topic but i was wondering who you guys felt will have a bigger day Young or Hall Sunday? (ok i’ll admit its for fantasy football reasons lol)

  • http://www.TheBandCeleste.com Stranger

    dude, I’m sorry, but Man On Fire is absolutely INCREDIBLE. One of my favorite movies of all time. DW is awesome and Walken is legendary..

  • http://broncotalk.net Kyle

    Aerobronco – stay tuned. Jonathan’s Thoughts and Predictions post will drop at 4:30 pm MDT, and he talks about Young/Hall at length!

  • http://broncos-denver-broncos.blogspot.com/ Ian Henson

    Aerobronco- in my opinion, I’d be icy on picking either of them. Me, myself, I own both of them in one league and either one in the other two leagues. I’m not starting either of them…

    There’s still some time before I can trust Andre Hall or Selvin Young with the yardage… However, I do feel eventually Andre Hall will be starting for the Broncos, over Selvin Young.