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Published on 09/09/2007 at Sun Sep 09 13:37.
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Special Teams Play Major Factor in 15-14 Win over Buffalo

Posted Sun Sep 9th by

[Week 1 Game Action]Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler (6) passes to Broncos’ Travis Henry (not shown) during the first quarter of the NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. (Photo Courtesy AP/David Duprey)

If you were looking for last minute drama in the NFL Week 1, you got it. The Denver Broncos beat the Buffalo Bills off the last second field goal of Jason Elam seconds after quarterback Jay Cutler got them in field goal range.

The stats for the game don’t indicate the score behind it – the Broncos were behind every minute of the game after Buffalo’s Roscoe Parrish returned a punt for 74 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.

Statistically, though, the Broncos offense dominated the Bills in everything but scoring. Jay Cutler threw for 304 yards compared to Bills quarterback J.P. Losman‘s 97 yards passing.   While Bills rookie running back Marshawn Lynch looked impressive (19 carries for 90 yards and a 4.7 average), Travis Henry showed he was worth the money the Broncos paid him, carrying the ball 23 times for 139 yards and a 6.0 average.

But this game would be decided by Special Teams.

Jason Elam missed two field goals in the second half, both of which would have gotten the Broncos the lead.  But (in what I would call the best 20 seconds of football I’ve ever seen in my life) the Broncos gave Elam a third chance to put the game away.  With less than 20 seconds on the clock, Cutler completed a pass to Walker.  With no timeouts, the team’s field goal unit took the field in under 10 seconds, got the snap, and Elam was clutch when it counted.  I can’t ever remember seeing a field goal unit come onto the field so quickly and get the snap off in such a hurry – literally with NO time left on the clock.

Before this, the Broncos special teams had struggled.  The Bills were enjoying solid kickoff and punt returns, while their coverage units were keeping the Broncos far from their end zone.

Offensive MVP – This one was easy.  Javon Walker’s clutch catches, moments after he limped off the field with an apparent neck/shoulder injury, helped Cutler through some bonehead mistakes to win the game.

Defensive MVP – D.J. Williams led the team in tackles with 9, and he also registered a sack in the first quarter.  He wasn’t always in the right place at the right time, but no one really stood out either so I’ll give him the nod.

I’ll have MUCH MORE in the coming hours and days, but I’ve gotta sign off for now.  Post your own thoughts here!!

  • blackhillsboy

    What a good game. Cutler make some “boneheaded” plays, but the slat to walker was open EVERY time. Henry looks nice, too. Really, just an excellent effort. The D looks good. Preseason was an anomoly.

    Here’s looking forward to McCLOWN next week. GO BRONCOS!!!!!

  • TustinBronco

    PHEW!!!!!!!!!!

  • blackhillsboy

    Sorry, “Slant” to Walker. God, he’s a stud. Oh yeah, so is Marshall. What a catch. I am really excited about the offense this year. If Culter can eliminate some mistakes, we’re talking playoffs Baby!!!!!

  • blackhillsboy

    What, am I the only bronco fan aroud. Lets get this thing started. Cutler, betterthanplumber looks good. Eliminate the mistakes we’ll be talking. D looks fine. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • nate_dogg

    Keep it up Broncs….”D” looked pretty good at times. Cutler needs to stop throwing off of his back foot. But good overall game for the youngster!!

  • Evergreen Bronco Fan

    Broncos looked solid – confused, still, why they didn’t put up the points. True, a 12-point swing between 2 missed field goals and the Bills’ special teams return for the TD. Donkey’s still struggled getting it into the endzone, and Cutler’s interception at the end of the first was another example. Defense was solid, DJ stepped up and did a great job — all over the field (Urlacher-esque performance).

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

    I think — at least, I hope — that our endzone problems were largely a factor of the team needing to gel a little more. Walker had a drop here, Jay had a misfire there, we telegraphed what play we were running too well there.

    Certainly next week, against a team with a better defense, I’m hoping we see the endzone a little more to show we can shore up that weakness.

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