Broncos Appear Playoff Bound and more Saints Post-Game Notes

vs.
Broncos (3-0) vs. Saints (1-2)
Denver 34 – New Orleans 32
LIVE BLOG
INVESCO Field at Mile High
Attendance: 75,713
Sun, Sep 21, 2008

3-0 START

* – NFL FACT: Since 1978 when the 16-game schedule was instituted, 78 percent of NFL teams that started at least 3-0 have made the playoffs, including all five teams who started at least 3-0 in 2007.

* – The Broncos are 3-0 for the 10th time in franchise history and for the first time since 2003. In only two instances have the Broncos started 3-0 and failed to make the postseason (1970, 2002).

3-0 Starts in Broncos History

* – With the win, the Broncos improve to 7-2 (.778) all-time against the Saints, including 4-1 (.800) at home.

* – The New Orleans Saints played their first regular-season game at INVESCO Filed at Mile High. The Saints played the Broncos in the very first game played at INVESCO Field at Mile High, a preseason game in 2001(31-24 Broncos win). The last time the Saints played a regular season game in Denver was on 12/24/94, a 30-28 New Orleans victory at Mile High Stadium.

PLAYING WITH THE LEAD

* – The Broncos have led for a total of 158:43 of a possible 180:00 during their first three games in 2008. Below is a breakdown of the Broncos’ time spent while leading, tied and trailing:

ORANGE JERSEYS

* – The Broncos wore their alternate home orange jerseys for just the third time in the regular season and the first time since losing to Oakland 25-24 on 11/28/04. Denver improved to 1-2 in games played wearing the orange jerseys. In their first game ever played wearing the orange alternates, the Broncos lost to Indianapolis 23-20 (OT) on 11/24/02.

ROOKIE STARTER AT FULLBACK

* – Broncos FB Peyton Hillis became the first rookie to start at fullback for the franchise in a regular season or postseason game since FB Melvin Bratton started the 1989 AFC Championship game vs. Cleveland (1/14/90). Bratton also started three regular season games at fullback for the Broncos in ’89 while FB Jeff Alexander, another rookie that season, started the regular season opener vs. Seattle (9/4/89) and five other games during the year.

CAPTAIN WOODYARD

* – Broncos rookie LB Wesley Woodyard served as special teams captain and accompanied QB Jay Cutler, TE Daniel Graham, CB Champ Bailey and LB D.J. Williams for the opening coin toss.

MARSHALL SCORES AGAIN

* – With his 35-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter, WR Brandon Marshall scored his second touchdown of the season. He has now scored a touchdown in his last three games dating to last season. He finished with six receptions for 155 yards (25.8 avg.) and a touchdown. His 155 receiving yards marks the sixth 100-yard receiving game in his career and his fifth in his last six games (after only one 100-yard receiving game in his first 27 career games).

* – Through two games, Marshall has 24 receptions for 321 yards (13.4 avg.) with two touchdowns. His 24 catches mark the second most by a player through his first two games of a season in NFL history (Atlanta’s Andre Rison had 26 receptions through the first two games of the 1994 season).

JAY CUTLER

* – With his 9-yard completion to RB Selvin Young on the Broncos’ opening drive of the first quarter, Broncos QB Jay Cutler passed QB Steve Tensi (5,153) for sole possession of eighth place in Broncos history in career passing yards. Cutler finished the game completed 21-of-34 passes for 264 yards with two touchdowns and one interception for a 93.3 passer rating. He now has 5,412 career passing yards.

* – Denver’s victory evened Cutler’s career record as a starting quarterback at 12-12.

NATE WEBSTER TOUCHDOWN

* – With his fumble recovery and subsequent 34-yard return for a touchdown in the second quarter, LB Nate Webster scored his second career touchdown. He returned a fumble 17 yards for a touchdown at Kansas City (11/11/07) with that play marking Denver’s last fumble recovery for a touchdown. The Broncos now have 41 fumble returns for a touchdown in franchise history (10 in the Shanahan era, 1995-current).

MICHAEL PITTMAN

* – With his 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, Broncos RB Michael Pittman has scored a TD in three consecutive games (4 total), the longest such streak of his career. He became the first Bronco to rush for a touchdown in the first three games of the season since RB Terrell Davis had a touchdown in each of the first three games of the 1997 season.

MISCELLANEOUS GAME NOTES

* – With his first quarter sack, Broncos DE Ebenezer Ekuban had his first quarterback takedown since registering a half sack of San Francisco QB Alex Smith (vs. S.F., 12/31/06). It was his first full sack since taking down Cincinnati QB Carson Palmer (12/24/06). Ekuban has recorded at least a half sack in four of his past six games.

* – WR Eddie Royal had the longest punt return of his career, a 22-yarder in the first quarter that set up the Broncos at the New Orleans 45-yard line en route to their opening touchdown drive.

* – With his 1-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter, TE Nate Jackson posted his second career receiving score and first since he had a touchdown vs. Jacksonville (9/23/07).

* – With an opening-drive touchdown against the Saints, the Broncos have scored a touchdown on their opening drive in two of their three games this year (vs. Oakland, 9/8). The touchdown drive, which lasted 10 plays and 3:29, is the Broncos’ fifth touchdown this year on drives of 10 or more plays.

* – For the third consecutive game to open the season, the Broncos held their opponent without points on their opening drive.

* – With Cutler’s first-quarter touchdown pass to Jackson, the Broncos extended their scoring streak to 248 games dating back to 1992. It is the longest active streak in the NFL and fourth longest in league history. In the impressive run, the Broncos have scored on their first possession 98 times.

* – WR Clifford Russell made his Broncos debut after being signed by Denver on Wednesday.

* – K Matt Prater was 2-for-2 on field goal attempts (27, 34 yds.), bringing his season total to 5-of-5. He placed six of his eight kickoffs into the end zone and had four touchbacks.