Top 10 Matchups 2007

I’ve already run through the Top 10 Games of 2007 when the schedule was first released… but what about the individual matchups Broncos fans can look forward to as the season approaches in a few months? Player versus player… one side of the field against another… the matchups are what make the NFL fun. The top 10 matchups in 2007 are discussed in this edition of Top Ten Tuesdays.

10) Broncos vs. the Super Bowl Teams (again)

In 2005, we played the Patriots and the Eagles, winning both games against the Super Bowl contenders. Last year we faced the Steelers and Seahawks, going 1-1 against the previous year’s Super Bowl entries. This year we will again face the teams that found themselves fighting for the World Championship in the Colts and the Bears. We’ve gone 3-1 in those games… can we improve to 5-1?

9) Tom Nalen vs. Igor Olshansky

The Chop Block/I’m Gonna Punch You in the Head Debate raged on at the end of last year, and there’s no love lost between our epic, heroic center Tom Nalen and the brash and evil Chargers defensive lineman Igor Olshansky (what, you think I’m biased?). Nalen’s legal block gave him a fine and caused much controversy – like from this blog post, stating the Nalen was dirty for chop blocking on that play and Olshansky had the RIGHT to hit him… yeah… ok… crazy. It’s something to watch whenever Jamal Williams steps off the field.

8) Dre Bly vs. Detroit Lions / Denver Broncos vs. George Foster, Tatum Bell

A mess of players will be facing their former teams when we head into Detroit in Week 9. Dre Bly‘s is the most significant in that he played for his team for so long, unlike the few years George Foster and Tatum Bell enjoyed in Denver. Emotions will be high as these players face the teams that were oh-so willing to trade them away.

7) Mike Shanahan vs. Al Davis

Year in and year out, watching Al Davis sweat as his Commitment to Schmexcellence goes out the window is priceless Denver footage. If only all of my readers could give it to their former boss like this every year….

6) Dre Bly vs. Reggie Wayne

Reggie Wayne destroyed our zone defense last year, and many fans somewhat unfairly pinned the blame on second year cornerback Darrent Williams. Will newly acquired former Pro Bowler Dre Bly be able to keep up, especially now that our new-look defense will focus more on man-to-man coverage than our Cover Two scheme did last year?

5) Mike Shanahan vs. Gary Kubiak

Yoda vs. Obi-Wan, anyone? The Houston Texans have stolen Gary Kubiak, Rick Smith, Jeb Putzier and even Shanahan’s own flesh and blood, his son Kyle Shanahan, away from the Broncos. But the real matchup, similar to the preseason game last year, is where Shanny will face Koobs on the NFL Network on Thursday night late in the year. Both coaches now have the quarterbacks they’ve wanted – it promises to be a classic teacher vs. student matchup I’m really looking forward to.

4) Jay Cutler vs. Vince Young

I’m really stoked to show the entire NFL what a real quarterback looks like…. ok, not that I’ll be doing the showing. Jay Cutler‘s arm will be. It really can be considered The Arm vs. The Legs in this Week 11 Monday Night Football duel of these first rounders. Both show a lot of promise and have their fans thinking Super Bowl – can Cutler advance to 2-0 against his first round draft classmates?

3) Champ Bailey vs. Thin Air

In case you’re wondering what the above saying means… don’t expect Champ Bailey to get many balls thrown his way. BUT WHEN HE DOES… but when a ball does just happen to go within 10 feet of #24… pay attention. You’ll be witnessing magic in the making, as one of the all-time greatest perfectionists at his position goes to work. Just going back to the ole TiVo and watching him perform is simply breathtaking. Champ Bailey strikes fear in the heart of every quarterback, and if offensive coordinators have learned anything, it’s “THROW AWAY FROM CHAMP!”.

2) Jay Cutler vs. Shawne Merriman

The ‘roided-out freak of nature Shawne Merriman will try everything he can to deliver a little Lights Out to Jay Cutler when we face San Diego twice this year. This could be re-worded to be the Broncos O-Line vs. Tainted Supplements, but it’s still going to be interesting to watch how Cutler performs under the heat. No one can argue that, legitimate or not, Merriman knows how to get to opposing quarterbacks. Leading the league in sacks in only 12 games proves that. Will Cutler be able to remain cool under fire through four quarters (not just the third) when the AFC West is on the line? We’ll find out.

1) Ladainian Tomlinson vs. the Broncos Defense

Seven touchdowns against the Broncos. Seven. A holy number in Denver tainted by such a horrible defensive performance. Yet no other matchup will mean as much to our season as Ladainian Tomlinson against our new, hopefully re-vamped defense. Will the changes across the entire defense equal San Diego success? As much as I hate the Raiders… as much as I hated the Chiefs two years back for being one of four teams to beat us (and to do it by the ref’s will, but I digress)… it pales in comparison to how much I CAN’T STAND the Chargers this year and want to beat them so badly. Christmas Eve is my Super Bowl… stopping LT is the only way we can hope to beat the Chargers this season and retake the AFC West.

Sorry again this post is coming so late… blame it on the jet lag, combined with working two 12-hour shifts in the two days I’ve been back (yeck)… I’ll be all caught up by this weekend, I promise!