What to Take From a Loss Like This

The Cowboys and Broncos game airs on the NFL Network real soon. I’m looking forward to taking a look, but I thought I’d post my thoughts on the day’s events (from what I’ve heard).

READY… SET… EVERYBODY PANIC!!

A lot of Broncos fans out there are going a little nuts after seeing the egg we laid yesterday. While I have reasons to be concerned, I also don’t see this as being truly indicative of things to come.

The Broncos had one of the weirdest and most intense travel schedules I’ve ever seen this past week. Right out of training camp in Englewood, in beds that resemble little more than dorm bunks, the team sets off for San Francisco to play in Monster Park. In the next 36 hours they’re on flights to Denver, then Dallas.

They spend a week in the 100-plus degree heat practicing with the Cowboys (whom I’ve heard were more physical in these “low contact” drills all week). They’re stuck in Texas until the game on Saturday. Then, game day arrives and position-by-position, the Broncos struggled.

I’m not trying to make excuses for the team… ok, maybe I am… but asking a bunch of guys to put in a big effort in a game that means nothing after a week of hell is a difficult thing to do. Most players haven’t spent more than a day or two at home, with their families, in bed, over the past month! Even so, just as the players agree, there’s no excuse.

“There’s no excuse for the way we played,” cornerback Champ Bailey said. “If it was the last preseason game I’d be a little more concerned. We have time to make it up. We expect ourselves to get better. It can’t get any worse than it did tonight.”

Champ, I think you’re right, there.

John Lynch had a few words to say, too… but his were directed at Dallas Coach Wade Phillips, who may have excessively game planned for this pre-season game.  Mike Klis of the Denver Post agrees with Lynch.

I think all of these “excuses” are valid – our team was injury-riddled, tired, and lacking focus.  But I DON’T want to hear this coming from the players’ mouths.  We just come off sounding like big crybabies.  Give the Cowboys credit – they came to play, and if that helps them get ready for their season they’re not going to hold anything back at our expense.

I’ll have my breakdown of the game later tonight or tomorrow. Signing out for a little while…