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Published on 10/25/2010 at Mon Oct 25 10:00.
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Members of the Denver Broncos offense look on in the final minutes of the team's 59-14 loss to the Oakland Raiders during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Members of the Denver Broncos offense look on in the final minutes of the team's 59-14 loss to the Oakland Raiders during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

A fascinating piece by Andrew Mason of MaxDenver.com, exploring the remarkable statistics surrounding Sunday’s game. Perhaps “fascinating” and “remarkable” aren’t the words Broncos fans prefer after a loss like this, but, like a horrific traffic accident, it’s hard to look away.

It’s a must-read. Here’s one stat:

5: Number of home losses since 2007 by at least 20 points, dating back to the 41-3 defeat to San Diego on Oct. 7 of that year. The Broncos have endured five of these losses in their last 26 home games; that’s as many as they had in their previous 263 home games, dating back to November 1975.

This, more than anything, is evidence that the Broncos have completely lost any notion of home field advantage. The problem is deeply rooted — more deeply than any pouting quarterback, punting wide receiver, or entrenched head coach allegedly content with mediocrity. What the hell has happened to the home field fortress that once was Mile High Stadium?

Raiders 59, Broncos 14: By the Numbers [MaxDenver.com]

  • http://twitter.com/dxmanning Joshua Manning

    I can answers that one for you Kyle, because the Pat Bowlen sell his soul to name it “Invesco Field” instead of “Mile High Stadium” and when he did that, the Broncos sucked at home since 2001. Hell, we can't even put Broncos fans in OUR OWN STADIUM (Just looked at the Steelers game in October 2009 or the AFC Championship Game in 2006). We have more Steelers fans than Broncos fans in the stadium. BTW, we also had more Raiders fans than Broncos fans since Invesco Field opened up. That not home field advantage.

    This won't physically happen but…………. BUILD “OLD” MILE HIGH STADIUM BACK!!!!!!!!!!

  • areferee

    Home field advantage is a blend of enthusiasm, love and mutual respect between the fans in the stadium and the team on the field. It manifests itself in noise and commotion, but most of all solidarity and a oneness of purpose.

    Mile High Stadium stood for all of that at a time when we were united with a sense of identity and pride. Were we the Broncos; the Denver Broncos, but we were MORE than that. We were “Mile High”. We were the Rockies. We were the Mountain West. We were unique.

    At the same time, we became the “Orange Crush”. Not just because of a dominant defense, but because we had the attitude that this was OUR house and we could crush all comers. (Even though we didn't have all the talent to back it up.)

    It was attitude, identity and a sense of pride. And it was John Elway!

    Little by little, Pat Bowlen has removed all of that.

    He took away the “D” for Denver. We survived that because we were a regional team at heart anyway.

    Then he took away the “Orange Crush”. And we became “blue”. Why? Was that his mood? No one ever addressed why he did it.

    Then he took away Mile High Stadium. That's OK. We needed/wanted a new home. But then he sold out to corporate sponsors and we gave away the regional identity with an Invesco identity that no one cared about then, and no one cares about NOW.

    Then he summarily canned “our guy”, who had come up through “our” ranks to become a Super Bowl winner. A Bronco guy. Then he brought in “their guy”. A newbee from the hated Pats, who proceeded to get rid of more of “our guys”.

    Through all of that, we have supported them. Carried the banner, Supported the team. Spent the money. Stood behind them. Loved and respected them.

    It's THEIR turn now!

    It's time for Mr. Pat Bowlen to step forward and contribute something back to all of us to give us back the sense of pride, identity and solidarity that he took away. It's time he give us all back our home field advantage.

  • OG

    One thing you forgot to add that was subtracted from the Broncos: Bowlen let McDaniels take away our RUNNING GAME. Zone blocking out, power scheme in, but where's the power? To me, the running game the past decade or so was the Broncos identity if anything, even with the controversy over whether the cut-blocking was legal. It worked! You'd get tired of commentators saying the Broncos could plug in any back and they'd be successful, but it was true to a point. I prefer to think Shanahan had an eye for overlooked running talent. Last in the league? Who would ever think we'd see that day.

  • areferee

    Excellent point. You're absolutely correct.

  • areferee

    Excellent point. You're absolutely correct.