Top 10 Moments of Denver’s 2009 Season

The 2009 season was as bi-polar as they come. Josh McDaniels actually managed to make the 2008 season seem tame in certain aspects. Now that the season is over we can at least go back and look at some of the bright spots that made it all worthwhile.

10. Jabar Who? Thanks for making the loss look less disgusting.

Thanks to piss poor attitudes, half assing exercises, lack of communication, and disdainful press conferences, Jabar Gaffney became the number one receiver for the season finale. Despite the horrendous outcome of the game Gaffney was the sole bright spot. Jabar finished the game 14 catches for 213 yards, capitalizing on every catch, a total that took 21 for Marshall to achieve. In my opinion Gaffney’s performance out shined Marshall’s record breaking day. However, Gaffney’s career day will be eternally buried by the utter collapse of the Denver Broncos season.

9. Elvis Dumervil’s Cotillion in Cleveland

Elvis Dumervil’s emergence as a pass rushing outside linebacker is just like this iPad hype, it all happened so fast. Everyone, was questioning how Elvis would perform at his new position in the 3-4 scheme. Game one came around and Elvis faced a shutout. Game two, Elvis was the leader a massacre. Derek Anderson hated third and long, not because of the distance to cover, but for the pain Elvis would inflict. This coming out party set the tone for Elvis Dumervil’s season, third down mayhem.

8. Brandon Marshall’s 21 catch game

Before Brandon Marshall stepped on to the field the day of his career game, he knew it was about to happen. That day Terrell Owens 20 catch game record would be edged out by number fifteen. As great as a day as it was for Marshall, the rest of the Broncos offense could not reciprocate. I believe that Marshall’s career day spelled out the loss for Denver. Jim Caldwell and Larry Coyer probably thought, “You want to throw slant routes and bubble screens to Marshall all day? Have at it, at least we know what damage to expect.” This game may have also punched Brandon Marshall’s, “I’m lazy please just let me go into free agency or pay me” ticket.

7. Denver December Dismantling  of the Chiefs

To take a page out of Kyle’s book, The Broncos came into Sunday’s Week 13 game in Missouri boasting a pitiful 1-17 record in Arrowhead in December. Their only such win came in overtime over a decade ago under Wade Philips, who only coached the Broncos for two season. Long-time Broncos coaches Dan Reeves and Mike Shanahan had never won in the Chiefs’ stadium in December. Josh McDaniels is full of firsts.

6. McDaniels Potty Mouth

All he was trying to do is motivate his mother freaking team, and in the process he created a glorious taboo moment in television history.

5. Marshall’s Dismantlement of the Cowboy’s Secondary

Hands down the biggest play of the year for Brandon Marshal was made was in the fourth quarter against the Cowboys. Marshall played the role of the ankle breaker making five Cowboys miss while running 40 yards up field after the catch. Whenever Marshall acts up I force myself to watch this play to remind myself why Denver should keep him around.

4. Eddie Royal’s Monday Night Return Party

Eddie Royal did his best disappearing act this season. Perhaps it’s why San Diego’s special team’s unit let him run amuck on Monday Night Football. Denver fans love nothing more to see the Chargers suffer, and especially when Denver’s the one bringing the pain.

3. Everybody Eat Crow the Broncos are 6-0

Remember Tuesday, October the 20th? You were probably wearing your Brandon Marshall jersey to school or bringing your Broncos coffee mug to work. You were also probably telling everyone to well you know… to suck it. As of that day the Denver Broncos were 6-0, joining the company of the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints as the only undefeated teams in the NFL. Everyone heard from you that Kyle Orton is the most underrated quarterback in the NFL, Brian Dawkins has still got it, and that Broncos defense hasn’t allowed a third down conversion since week two. Those were the good old days… thanks Baltimore.

2. Matt Prater’s Overtime FG against the Patriots

Although we didn’t know it at the time, the Broncos week four game against the Patriots was their Super Bowl this season. This game took years off of mine and many other fans lives. As fans we had to endure watching a new formation, a second half deficit, a 98 yard drive, and an overtime coin flip, and Matt Prater’s leg for the win. This was Prater’s first step in becoming Denver’s franchise kicker, and McDaniels first step in keeping his job.

1. Brandon Stokley’s Tip Drill

“I thought I was gonna have a heart attack. It was the most incredible thing. I’ve seen a lot of great things in sports. I started doing this in 1990, but I’ve never seen anything; not like in that in football. I mean wow.” Gus Johnson on Brandon Stokley’s miraculous touchdown catch week one against the Bengals. You and every other Bronco fan out there Gus. Personally, this was my first year getting NFL Sunday Ticket and that game made it worth every penny.

There you have it, your top moments of the 2009 season. I wish I could have wrote “Broncos Defeat Eagles and Chiefs to Secure Playoff Berth.” There’s always a top ten for next year.

Did I miss any Bronco Nation? Let me know your top moments of this last season? Air it out!