For those who live outside of Colorado and do not have DirecTV, we present this handy-dandy broadcast map, courtesy of the506.com:

Those of you who live in the yellow areas will receive the Broncos/Bucs game on your local FOX station this weekend.  Kickoff is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. (MT) and we’ll have complete coverage of the game here on the blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter.  See you at kickoff!

Miller was named the 2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year in February. (Joey Foley/Getty Images, File Photo)

Helping the second-year outside linebacker’s candidacy for Defensive Player of the Year, the NFL announced on Thursday that Denver Broncos rising star Von Miller has been named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month of November.

Miller helped the Broncos to a 4-0 record in November, while recording at least one sack and one tackle for loss in all four games.  Totaling 8 sacks and 10 tackles for losses in November, Miller led all AFC defensive players in those two categories.

This marks the first time a Broncos defender has won a monthly award since cornerback Champ Bailey was honored in October of 2006.  Miller’s 24 tackles for losses this season tie a league high and his 14 sacks are the third-highest total in the NFL.

Congratulations to Miller, who has recorded 25.5 sacks through his first 26 career games. Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman has been sacked 16 times this season. Miller will be looking to increase that total on Sunday afternoon.

The 2016 Super Bowl will mark the first time since 1976 that the game’s number does not include the Roman numeral “X”.  In four years, the fiftieth Super Bowl in league history will take place, creating an awkward situation for the NFL in trying to market Super Bowl “L”.

Two years later, Super Bowl LII will be on deck and the Denver Broncos would like to host it, according to the Denver Post.

“One goal that NFL fanatic Denver Mayor Michael Hancock has for his city is to one day bring a Super Bowl to the Mile High City, and steps are being made to do just that.

“The Denver Broncos and Visit Denver in late August submitted an application to the National Football League’s Super Bowl Advisory Committee to bid to host the Super Bowl in 2018, 2019 or 2020.”

‘”We will pursue it along with Visit Denver,” Hancock said in a meeting with The Denver Post editorial board on Wednesday. “I think Denver would be head and shoulders above any other city to compete to host a Super Bowl.”‘

Denver is one of seventeen NFL cities that have never hosted a Super Bowl. Would you like to see Denver host a Super Bowl?  Before answering in the comments below, consider tbis:  Of the 20 teams that have played host to a Super Bowl since the playoffs expanded to its current form in 1990, only three have qualified for the playoffs

If your Christmas shopping list includes a Peyton Manning jersey, you’re not alone.

According to Fanatics.com, a leading online retailer of officially licensed sports merchandise, Manning’s No. 18 Denver Broncos jersey was the second-best seller on Cyber Monday earlier this week.

“Manning continues to impress fans both on and off the field this season,” a Fanatics representative told BroncoTalk. “This list is a true testament to the fact that he is still one of the most popular players in all of football.”

List of the top ten sellers after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

On Saturday, we noted that Keith Brooking was mistakenly listed twice on the Pro Bowl ballot, both as an ILB and an OLB.  On Tuesday, the Denver Broncos updated the ballot.

Broncos have updated their Pro Bowl ballot: Keith Brooking is now only listed as an ILB and Chris Harris has replaced Tracy Porter at CB.

— Jon Heath (@JHeath_DEN) November 28, 2012

Brooking is now only listed as an ILB and cornerback Chris Harris, who has started across from Champ Bailey since Week 5, has replaced Tracy Porter as Denver’s second cornerback on the ballot.  Voting is open through the conclusion of Week 15.

Porter missed several games mid-season due to seizure-like symptoms and Harris has started in his absence.  Harris has played so well (recording 43 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 2 interceptions) that he won the starting job from Porter, who was a healthy scratch against Kansas City on Sunday.

Kudos to Harris for winning the starting gig and being placed on the Pro Bowl ballot.  Vote for him here!

(Image courtesy of Shawn Hubbard/ShawnHubbard.Wordpress.com)

When the Denver Broncos (8-3) face the Baltimore Ravens (9-2) in Week 15, Ray Lewis could be out on the field at middle linebacker for the Ravens.

Lewis tore his triceps in October, but has been recovering well, according to ESPN:

“Coach John Harbaugh now thinks Lewis will play in the regular season. “That’s a best guess,” Harbaugh said, via The Baltimore Sun. “He’s working hard to do that. We’ll see.”  Harbaugh wouldn’t say whether Lewis would practice this week, but the former two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year can return to the practice field as early as Thursday.

“Lewis, who tore his triceps on Oct. 14, would be eligible to play in the Dec. 16 game against Denver. “[J]ust talking to Ray, it sounds like things have gone well,” Harbaugh said. “There have been no setbacks. So there’s a possibility.”‘

Obviously, quarterback Peyton Manning stands a better chance to walk away from Baltimore with a victory if Lewis does not play.  But the Broncos cannot write off Lewis, who many thought would retire after he suffered the injury earlier in the season.

We’ll know more about Lewis’s status as Week 15 draws closer.  A win over Baltimore would help the Broncos’ playoff seeding.  Stay tuned.

(Image courtesy of Donn Jones Photography)

2nd Update (11/28/12. 4:55 p.m. MT):  The Broncos did not place a claim on Babin, and he was awarded to Jacksonville on Wednesday afternoon.

Update (11/27/12, 5:23 p.m. MT):  According to CBS4‘s Vic Lombardi, the Broncos have “no interest” in Babin.  There goes that story.

On Tuesday, the Philadelphia Eagles made a shocking move and announced the release defensive end Jason Babin.

A 32 year-old veteran, Babin (6-3, 267 lbs.) had a breakout season in 2010 as a member of the Titans defensive line and recorded 12.5 sacks. The next offseason, Babin signed with Philly and became a household name when he recorded 18.0 sacks and earned his second Pro Bowl appearance.

This season, Babin has led the Eagles with 5.5 sacks but Philadelphia, struggling on defense, decided to move on, placing Babin on waivers. Against the run, Babin has been a liability, but he could contribute to many teams as a pass rushing specialist.

So, should the Denver Broncos kick the tires on this veteran lineman?

It seems unlikely that Babin would fall all the way to Denver on waivers, but it could happen.  Not every team will be interested in his three-year contract, which owes him over $11 million through 2015.

The Broncos, however, have the cap room and Babin would make Denver’s No. 4 ranked defense even more tenacious against the pass.  NFL.com‘s Dan Hanzus views Denver as one of five possible landing spots for Babin, citing Denver’s Super Bowl hopes as a reason to pursue a veteran that could help them down the stretch.

Would you like to see the Broncos place a waiver claim on Babin?  A pass rush featuring Von Miller, Elvis Dumervil and Jason Babin would be fun to watch on Sundays.  Dish out your thoughts in the comments below!

FOX commentators John Lynch (left) and the seductive Ron Pitts (right).

FOX Sports commentator John Lynch will be very familiar with the two teams playing in the game he will be calling on Sunday.

Lynch will be the color commentator for Denver’s Week 13 match-up against Tampa Bay, joined by play-by-play partner Dick Stockton.  The game, scheduled to kickoff at 2:05 p.m. MT, will mark the first time Lynch has called a game featuring his two former teams.

Drafted by the Buccaneers in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft, Lynch went on to spend ten seasons in Tampa, helping the Bucs to win a Super Bowl (XXXVII) while earning five Pro Bowl selections (1997, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’02).

Following the 2003 season, the Bucs let Lynch walk in free agency due to their salary cap situation.  Lynch was courted by the Patriots but ultimately signed in Denver, where he would finish his career.

During his four years with the Broncos, Lynch was voted to four Pro Bowls (’04, ’05, ’06, ’07) and led a 2005 Broncos defense that helped the team nearly reach another Super Bowl, ultimately losing to Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship game.

The teams playing on Sunday are very different than Lynch’s former teams.  But two of his defensive back teammates—safety Ronde Barber and cornerback Champ Bailey—are still playing.  The trio of defensive backs has earned a combined 13 All-Pro selections since 1993.

Lynch always does a great job of providing insight into both offensive and defensive schemes and has great nuggets to share from his playing days.  It will be interesting to hear what he has to say about the Broncos No. 4 ranked defense on Sunday.

As the bracket from NFL.com indicates above, the Denver Broncos (8-3) would face the Indianapolis Colts (7-4) in the Wild Card Round of the 2013 Playoffs if the season ended today.

Currently the No. 4 seed in the AFC, Denver trails Houston (10-1), Baltimore (9-2) and New England (8-3).   The Texans and Patriots will face off in Week 14, the Colts will face Houston twice before season’s end, and the Patriots face San Francisco (8-2-1) in Week 15.

Those four match-ups, in addition to Denver’s Week 15 game in Baltimore, will likely determine the final seeding in the AFC Playoff picture.  Houston seemingly has the No. 1 seed locked up, while the No. 2 seed is still up for grabs.

If the final playoff bracket ends up as projected above (which is unlikely, but possible), it would be Peyton Mannings vs. Andrew Luck in “The Sheriff” vs. “The Rookie”.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

(AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

Update (11/27, 6:18 p.m.): As was pointed out in the comments, Clady did allow one sack on Sunday, against Justin Houston. Clady was officially credited with the sack on Tuesday.

Yet another week has gone by and Ryan Clady‘s stat line remains unscathed.

On Sunday, the Broncos’ left tackle was faced with the task of blocking Kansas City’s Tamba Hali, who has recorded 32.5 sacks since 2010.  Clady walked away from the game having been credited with no sacks allowed, to Hali or anyone else.

On the season, Clady remains the only left tackle that has started in every game this season without allowing a sack, according to Stats Inc*.  Prior to this season, his best stat line came after his rookie season, in which he only allowed 0.5 sacks (2008).

*Stats Inc. has updated their Week 12 stat totals and Clady was not credited with a sack allowed against the Chiefs, despite fans recalling Clady having allowed one sack on Sunday.  Either Clady was not credited with the sack or Stats Inc. is yet to update their sacks allowed totals.  Either way, allowing one sack through eleven games is still a remarkable feat for a left tackle.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Clady is scheduled to become a free agent following the 2012 season, presumably after being voted into the third Pro Bowl of his career.

The Broncos, and quarterback Peyton Manning, will want to secure Clady’s services moving forward.  With Clady protecting his blindside, Manning has led the Broncos to an 8-3 record while completing 67.7% of his passes for 3,260 yards and 26 touchdowns on the year.

With Clady’s help, Manning can help the team clinch the AFC West on Sunday.