Denver Broncos: Week 12 State of the Franchise

Newsworthy notes from the Broncos’ weekly press release. View the full document here (pdf).

The Denver Broncos (6-4) will host a Thanksgiving game for the first time since 1963 on Thursday against the New York Giants (6-4). Kickoff at INVESCO Field at Mile High is set for 6:20 p.m. MST, and the game will be televised nationally on NFL Network (Bob Papa and Matt Millen).

QUICKLY:

• The Broncos, who are looking to snap a four-game losing streak, will host their first Thanksgiving game since 1963 and are set to play on the holiday for the 11th time in club history. Denver will play on Thanksgiving for the third time in the last five years.
• Denver is set to play on a Thursday for the fifth consecutive year and joins only Dallas and Detroit with that distinction. The Broncos’ five scheduled Thursday games in the last five years tie for the third most in the NFL.

OFFENSE:

• QB Kyle Orton’s 27-15 (.643) career record as a starter is the seventh best among active passers. His 18-3 (.857) career record at home as a starter is the best in the league since the 1970 NFL merger.
• Second-year WR Eddie Royal’s 122 career receptions tie for the most by a Bronco in his first two pro seasons. He is only the ninth Bronco in club history to post at least 1,000 combined yards in each of his first two pro seasons with Denver—He leads the team with 1,003 combined yards this year.
• RB Knowshon Moreno leads all NFL rookies in rushing yards (600) and yards from scrimmage (677). During the last two weeks, he is eighth in the NFL in rushing yards (177) and second in yards per rush (6.3).

San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson (R) catches a pass for a gain in front of Denver Broncos Champ Bailey (L) and Elvis Dumervil (92) during their NFL football game to decide the AFC West title in San Diego December 28, 2008. (REUTERS/Mike Blake)

DEFENSE:

• Led by long-time NFL defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, the Broncos are the only team to rank among the league’s top seven clubs defensively in yards per game (7th, 297.8), points per game (7th, 18.3) and sacks (T- 4th, 29). Denver also is fourth in the league in yards per play allowed (4.8).
• OLB/DE Elvis Dumervil ranks first in the NFL with 12 sacks and is looking to become the first Bronco in club history to lead the league in sacks. His 12 career multiple-sack games, including five this year, tie for the seventh most in NFL history through a player’s first four seasons.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

• Since signing veteran P Mitch Berger on Oct. 26, the Broncos’ net punting average has shown the fourth-most improvement (+3.3 yds. / 34.5 to 37.8) in the NFL.
• Veteran OLB/DE Mario Haggan and rookie S Darcel McBath are tied for the team lead with nine special-teams tackles. They are two of eight Broncos with at least five special-teams stops this season.