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Published on 10/12/2008 at Sun Oct 12 18:22.
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Blown Opportunities Lead to Broncos 24-17 Loss to Jaguars

Posted Sun Oct 12th by

Peterson nearly sacks Garrard (Getty Images)
Broncos DT Kenny Peterson nearly sacks Jaguars QB David Garrard. The Jaguars would hold on for a 24-17 win in Denver. (Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos (4-2) came into this game against the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3) full of confidence. Last year, these two teams squared off for a game in which Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan said the Broncos were “manhandled.” The Broncos were hoping their improved squad would fare better in 2008.

They weren’t manhandled this time, but they blew opportunity after opportunity. QB Jay Cutler had another shaky performance, RB Maurice Jones-Drew scored two touchdowns, and the Jaguars got a little help to hold on to a 24-17 victory in Mile High.

With the loss, the Broncos’ league-leading six-game winning streak at home comes to an end.

The defense did its part; I place the blame on another lackluster offensive showing… and, hate to say it, awful officiating. Let’s break down where the opportunities were blown.

THE OPPORTUNITY – The Broncos were enjoying a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when LB Nate Webster delivered a huge hit on Jags RB Fred Taylor, knocking the ball to the ground. Broncos recovered, with the opportunity to go up two scores on the Jaguars.

THE MELTDOWN – Cutler fumbles the ball right back, and the play the defense just made is negated. Jaguars would score three points.

THE OPPORTUNITY – The Broncos are threatening deep in Jaguars territory in the second quarter. This offense is clicking after the early Cutler fumble, ready to make amends and go up 14-3.

THE MELTDOWN – WR Brandon Marshall fumbles the football at the 5-yard line. The Jaguars would march down the field 75 yards in 6:29 and take a 10-7 lead.

THE OPPORTUNITY – Huge third down play for the Jaguars, and the Broncos defense makes the stop at the Jaguars’ 28-yard line. Broncos should get excellent field position.

THE MELTDOWN – The refs caused this one. Out of nowhere, the yellow flag flies. Illegal contact on Dre Bly. Replay after replay shows how bogus this call really is. Bly was literally tackled by a Jaguars “blocker.” The late flag didn’t help any, either. The Jaguars extended their drive to take a commanding 24-10 lead.

THE OPPORTUNITY – Down by seven with a few minutes left, the defense was asked to step up again. Garrard throws to double coverage, incomplete.

THE MELTDOWN – The refs are just making stuff up now. Pass interference call on Marlon McCree, leaving everyone scratching their heads. Just bogus.

Personally, I’m livid at this officiating. Most will brush it off as a ref karma, but I’m still disgusted. These weren’t missed calls or bad calls – they were plain made-up calls. Out of thin air. The officials closed their eyes and pointed at a random penalty on their cheat sheets then threw the flag.

That being said… this loss is on the Broncos. They didn’t play well enough to overcome bad officiating, especially on offense. Brandon Stokley joined Eddie Royal and Tony Scheffler on the sideline after a first half injury, and the offense never quite recovered from its lack of weapons.

The Broncos will face the Patriots on Monday Night Football, who play the second place Chargers tonight. Let’s regroup and pull out a win in Foxboro. Go Broncos!

  • Broncos4life

    So true. Even though the refs made some of the worst calls I have aver sen in an NFL game, the Broncos offense still did not play well enough and had enough opportunities to take a lead back.

  • DaveMoore

    That’s a good point about the refs calls, at least the Hochuli one was a judgment call, he got it completely and totally wrong, but he knew it afterwards and said he did. The McCree one, although awful, I suppose I can put down to an error if the ref just misread the flight of the ball or something (clutching at straws), I cannot understand how you can call illegal contact on Bly though, there’s nothing about the incident that suggests Bly was the wrongdoer.
    However, I think that as much as the refs screwed up, the Broncos screwed up more. Both fumbles by our two star players I put down to over confidence, as especially Cutler showed no intention of tucking the ball away despite the heavy pressure. After Cutler’s comments in the press I’ve been worried about arrogance, and I think he has that. You can only say those sort of things if you back it up on the field, and he hasn’t yet.
    The ball game was close, the defense played well enough for our offense to win, special teams was excellent today, those are the positives to take from this game. I don’t feel nearly as bad as after the Chiefs game, because this was always going to be tough, and my hope is that Cutler really learns something from this game and becomes a better player from it.
    Bring on New England!

  • pwsbronco

    Oh well, here we go again, sure hope we don’t have to hear how we were not communicating very well and this and that.
    Looked to me as far as offense goes we sure missed royal,and shef but the 3 turn overs sure as hell cut our throats.
    Now the Defense or should I say the lack thereof, maaaaaaaaannnn they really sucked today but then again if they don’t give up 400 plus yards they are having a great game as last week.
    Other than not having any sort of pass rush, and a very old and slow looking set of safeties, mr bly giving a 20 yard cushion man it hurts to go on about this squad. a couple played good but as a unit they are if not the worse in the NFL so no use on beating the crap out of a defense that lacks any hope for this year.
    If the offense does not score 30 plus pts a agame we are doomed with the loss. So lets hope we get the offense back and get them rolling again because we can not depend on the defense to help us in any way. When you can’t put pressure on the QB, defend the run or pass there is not much left but the offense. Nice try and all but that does not help us any and not much else to critic, they are just bad……
    game ball goes to special team, never thought I would be saying that, it could even go to Pittman.
    Lets go offense because you are our only hope ………………………..pathetic

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    Well put Dave. I actually disagree with you on the calls though. The Bly play is the one I could forgive, he did impede the pattern of the receiver, but it probably should’ve been a no call and did look more like offensive pass interference than anything. The McCree play was ridiculous. Both players didn’t touch the receiver before the ball go there. What I don’t understand is how Shanny left that one unchallenged. We would’ve been better off burning a timeout to challenge that play than to hope for another stop.

  • BroncoFan18

    I don’t think you can challenge a penalty (at least on pass interference)…but i don’t know for sure. The Bly call and the penalty on McCree were both terrible calls for sure.

    But the fact remains that the Broncos lost this game, not the refs. A dropped pass in the endzone by Nate Jackson when the Broncos were down 24-10 (granted the ball was a little overthrown), a fumble when we were inside the ten about to go up 14-3, and another big run against our defense by the opposine running back for a TD all add up to the loss.

    When you turn the ball over like we did, you lose. End of story.

    Side Notes:
    –Marshall makes some great plays after the catch, but he needs to learn to secure the ball better.
    –Cutler needs to understand why you have more than one wide reciever on the field. When the first option is covered, you make to the second and so on. He needs to stop locking on to Marshall all the time. I don’t know how many plays Cutler has locked on to Marshall for an incomplete pass when he has a TE wide open in the middle or a RB in the flat. Look at the whole field Cutler!
    –If we don’t get a pass rush soon, we are in trouble. Garrard had all day to throw the ball.
    –By the way, anybody else agree Pittman should start every game?

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Josh Temple

    Jay does seem to have a bad habit of overlooking his TEs. Today he had Graham wide open for an easy 40 yards and tried to tread it into coverage on the sideline to WR.

  • Tim Francia

    Basically, the Broncos seriously sucked tonight. Period. After being a fan for 30 some years, I am dissapointed in this team. We suck and we’ll keep on sucking. I’m used to it. Thanks number 6 for nothing.

  • http://merlinofchaos.livejournal.com E. Halsey Miles

    As far as I can tell, the only illegal contact Dre Bly made was with the ground. If he was impeding the receiver’s progress, it’s pass interference.

  • jcampb72

    we got jacked by the officials, plain and simple.

  • T-Money

    Injures, bad offense, bad refs. Enough said

  • Scott

    In all honesty, I am seriously looking at a team that may very well end up 9 up and 7 down. My reasons for this are simple. Games are and will continue to be won in the trenches, and our D-line is not getting any pressure on a QB without bringing the house. Garrard at one point was 24 of 28 and finished 25 of 34 for 276. Count the QB’s who have done a similar job. Rivers 21-33 for 377. Brees was 39-48 for 421, Damon Huard was 21-28 for 160. Subtract Griese from the Tampa game and Garcia came in and was 13-17 for 93 and a scary late touchdown.

    Looking at our schedule, I see us potentially losing to New England, Atlanta, New York Jets, Carolina and San Diego.

    Winning Miami, Cleveland, Oakland, Kansas City and Buffalo.

    Until our D-line dominates a game only then will you see the turnover ratio go in our favor. We need identity and a nasty disposition damn-it! I see free agency and the draft as future solutions to this deficiency.

    On offense, Jay has to stop himself from the foolish rookie mistake that only one target can get him out of trouble. Brandon Marshall is awesome, but far too often he is rolling the dice and stopping drives forcing the ball to B-Marsh. Bates and Shanahan have to hammer the point home that on any given passing play, there is at least 3 to 4 options, and if I see another tight-end going down the middle of the field wide open in critical situations only to see the ball being forced into double coverage, I am going to shoot my television with a gun!

    I may sound cynical, but I love them boys and know this team is too talented to piss away another 500 season. The similarities to seasons past is rearing it’s ugly head this year and I fear we may start losing the mental confidence we need going forward in 2008.

  • BroncoFan18

    Well put Scott. Our d-line has got to step up. I wouldn’t say 9-7 but the division is surely in jeopardy with the Chargers right behind us and the way we are playing. I think the playoffs are a sure thing just the question is whether its a wildcard road game loss or a home game win. We need to play like champions and put teams away when we have the chance (see Marshall fumble inside 10 yd line when we lead 7-3) and get some sort of pass rush (Garrard had ALL day).

  • Scott

    Thanks Broncofan18. Also to note, I thought I saw Crowder and Moss in the rotation. My feeling on this is too many cooks spoil the soup. Find your guys, stick with them and let it ride unless they are injured. Crowder and Moss need the reps game in and out to get better with live bullets and real first string talent. Head games with the big boys up front only makes them question their goods as players and their overall standing as professional athletes.

  • http://broncotalk.net Joe

    We lost, and i’m disappointed. But then again, I’m only really mad about it, and not pissed. I’m not pissed about this game because we did lack 4 of our offensive starters today. Thats a huge-ass rediculous amount. If we had them, it would have been domination. I’m loving what Webster is bringing to this defense. And on the offensive side of the ball, Pittman is still the man. He should be our starter all the time. He had a 100+ game. He is 33, and still has great speed, endurance, and power. I think the worst offseason move we did this year was sign Darrell Jackson. HE SUCKS. PLAIN OUT. HORRIBLE. HE’S A HAS-BEEN. I wish we would have kept Colbert and just got rid of his worthlessness. Next week we are going to kick the crap out of the Pats with all of our starters back.

  • Matt

    Turnovers kill a team. Our 1st drive was spectacular and those 2 fumbles eliminated all momentum. This could have been a different game and thats what pisses me off the most. I agree the safety play was suspect aswell as the D-line but on the positive we need to let pittman have the rock. He turns his shoulders and heads up field. He is a great presence in the backfield. My only hesitation is that he is great on short yardage plays too and he might be too tired when we need him on the goalline. As disappointed as i was with Marshall’s fumble i still love his passion on yac. He fights for every yard and thats all you can ask of your superstar. He has got heart and talent and i love him for it. To be an elite team in the AFC which we can be we have to eliminate these costly turnovers/mistakes. We need to draft a quality Safety next year (william moore, mizz). As many stated it would be hard to pull a W with Stokely, Royal, and Shef all out. Thats a tall order for the offense which is why i would have liked to see the defense step up a bit more. Our opponents cannot continue to rack up 400+ yds. Something will have to change.

  • http://birty.blogspot.com mikebirty

    I had a bad feeling going into this game. But that’s easy to say now.

    The two half calls by the refs – i think on another day we may have got one or none but still without them and this is exactly what SD fans heard, They still could’ve won that. Which i think makes the bad calls seem worse. Still props to shany for not crying about it like some other coaches.

    I thought the defense played ok. But were still frustrating, in that they’ll do 80% well and then just make a complete fool of themselves.

    Maybe marcus thomas can teach Marshall about ball protection. I can’t be the only one shouting, just fall down – every time he runs 80 yards for a three yard gain.

    Still on to next week and bring on the pats.

  • Mark in Carolina

    this is a defense that makes great QB’s look other-worldly (Brees), good QB’s look great (Rivers), mediocre QB’s look good (Girrard, Garcia), and poor QB’s look mediocre (Huard).

    When this D does not bring pressure and instead drops into coverage, they still leave someone wide open. How can you have 7 guys in coverage watching at most 5 receivers, and allow such wide open completions? It’s been like that all season. When we blitz, that has been effective, but I think we’ve blitzed maybe 10 times all season. This D has got to either be more aggressive, or figure out how to cover.

    and the fumbles have got to stop. Ball security had better be a top priority this week in practice.

    Refs/Karma> we’re even.

  • flbronc

    here’s a question… will our defense hold anyone else this year to less than 21 points? oakland, maybe?

    personally, i think that the turnovers killed us and is mostly the reason we lost. that being said i dont think that you can say that the defense played well enough to win by giving up 24 points. I havent looked into the leagues defensive stats this year, but i would imagine that the top half of the defenses arent giving up an average of 24 points per game… i love watching our offense, and we are bound to get turnovers from time to time- 3 in a half stinks. but i absolutely cringe when an opposing qb drops back… i know he wont have pressure and there is a great chance someone is wide open down field.

    i actually turned off the game halfway through the third quater, i just couldnt take it any more- so i cant speak to the officials hurting us- other than to say if we dont turn the ball over and convert two of the three into a td and fg, we win by 3 (actually 10 because they scored a td off bmarsh’s fumble right?).

  • Aerobronco

    I’ve noticed that every time our D actually steps up for us and causes a fumble or interception Cutler and the offense finds a way to turn the ball back over, weather a fumble or a pic of our own right after getting the ball back. The momentum swing back in forth is killing us!

  • Matt

    Defense has to get better. I cant afford to replace my tv every week because im launching everything in my house at it because the defense looks like swiss cheese.

  • LorDog

    Cutlers love affair with BMarsh MUST end. As many have stated, there have been others wide open and he tries to force it to Marshall. Come on, Jay…TEAMS win championships.
    Many will probably disagree with me here, but we need a new MLB. Webster simply isnt’ cutting it. He’s slow, often over pursues when he does have good position, and takes HORRIBLE angles to the ball. I like him, but not as our starting MLB. Niko’s probably no better. 1st pick of the 2009 draft = MLB. 2nd pick of the 2009 draft = DT. Picks 3&4 = Safety.

  • jchase8410

    Wow, reading all these comments kinda Makes me glad I didn’t get to watch this game. That would be too much stress to handle after my pop Warner team had a win stolen by the refs. As excited as I was about Denver having a good team with potential of going deep into the playoffs, I am losing excitement with each game. Even the wins this year could have easily been losses. To take one outta the raider. Fans book…here’s to next year!