As we continue our new weekly series, Between the Numbers (BTN), we will be evaluating where some of Denver’s biggest stars stand in comparison to the rest of the NFL. Today, we’ll look at WR Eric Decker.

Decker has led the team in catches (46) and scores (7) this season. Here’s a look at how he stacks up against the rest of the receivers in the NFL:

WR Eric Decker	Rec	Avg.	Yds/G	TD	20+
Receiving:	46	17.4	72.9	7	7
League Rank:	12th	N/A	Mid-100s	T-2nd	28th

 

Decker has scored a touchdown in five consecutive games — finding the end zone seven times off of Peyton Manning passes.  If Decker catches a touchdown pass in Week 10, he’ll match a six-game streak set by Anthony Miller in 1995, which would tie a franchise record.

What have you thought of Decker’s performance through the season thus far? Has he lived up to your expectations?

The Denver Broncos on Friday released their injury report for Sunday’s Week 10 match-up against Carolina.  Offensive guard Chris Kuper (ankle) and cornerback Tracy Porter (illness) were the only players ruled out for the game.

Full injury report provided courtesy of the team below —

PLAYER Kuper Porter Decker Green McGahee Stokley Thomas Leonhard

INJURY Ankle Illness Thigh Hamstring Knee Knee Knee Calf

WEDNESDAY DNP DNP Limited Full Full Full Full –

THURSDAY DNP DNP Full Full Full Full Full Full

FRIDAY DNP DNP Full Full Full Full Full Full

STATUS OUT OUT Probable Probable Probable Probable Probable Probable

No surprises this week. The Broncos are near full strength. Panthers‘ injury report can be found here.

As part of the NFL’s November Salute to Service campaign, the Denver Broncos will wear decals honoring the United States Marine Corps when they take on the Panthers in Carolina this weekend.

Through the month of November, teams will designate one home game to honor the military (the Broncos’ designated game is Nov. 18 vs. San Diego).  For every point scored during the NFL’s 32 designated Salute to Service games, the league will donate $100 to each of its three core, military non-profit partners — the Pat Tillman Foundation, USO and the Wounded Warrior Project.

Before boarding Denver’s flight for Charlotte, offensive lineman Ryan Clady, the only left tackle who has started in every game this season without allowing a sack, posted an image of his helmet honoring the Marines on Instagram.

“Representing the Marines this Sunday on the helmet.  #Salute,” said Clady.

The Broncos and Panthers will kickoff Week 10 at 11 a.m. (MT) on Sunday.  A broadcast map can be found here.

Awesome stuff.  To all veteran, serving, and reserve members of the U.S. Military, Thank You from the entire BroncoTalk staff.  We give you a Mile High Salute!

As we continue our new weekly series, Between the Numbers (BTN), we will be evaluating where some of Denver’s biggest stars stand in comparison to the rest of the NFL. Today, we’ll look at OLB Von Miller.

Miller has recorded seventeen tackles for loss this season, tying for the most in the NFL (along side Houston’s J.J. Watt).  Here’s a look at how he stacks up against the rest of the pass rushers in the NFL:

 

OLB Von Miller	Tkls	Sacks	TFL	FF	PDF
Totals:	33	9.0	17	1	1
League Rank:	N/A	T-2nd	T-1st	N/A	N/A

 

As is evident from Miller’s statistical standings above, Von has frequently found his way into opposing team’s backfields this season.  Just 1.5 sacks behind J.J. Watt, Miller could put himself into Defensive Player of the Year conversations by increasing his sack and tackle for loss totals in the second half of the season.

What have you thought of Miller’s performance through the season thus far? Has he lived up to your expectations?

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 red areas will receive the Broncos/Panthers game on your local CBS station this weekend.  Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. (MT) and we’ll have complete coverage of the game here on the blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter.  See you at kickoff!

Following Denver’s 31-23 victory of Cincinnati, Broncos‘ return specialist Trindon Holliday has been named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, the team announced on Wednesday.  Holliday (5-5, 169 lbs.), the smallest player in franchise history, is a second-year specialist who was claimed off waivers by the team in October.

Holliday’s 105-yard touchdown return against the Bengals was the longest play in franchise history and was Holliday’s first score in regular season play.  This is the second time a Broncos player has won a weekly special teams award, after kicker Matt Prater was honored in Week 4.

A Broncos player has won a weekly accolade following each of Denver’s five wins this season, marking the most weekly awards won by one team this season (5).  Cornerback Tracy Porter (Wk 1, Defensive),  kicker Matt Prater (Wk 4, Special Teams), quarterback Peyton Manning (Wk 6, Offensive), linebacker Wesley Woodyard (Wk 8, Defensive), and  Holliday (Wk 9, Special Teams) have all been honored for their efforts this season.

Fans can vote for those five players — and many more of Denver’s starters — for the 2012 Pro Bowl at NFL.com/ProBowl.  Vote early and often!

Congrats to Holliday.  He’s made some mistakes commonly seen from young returners, but he has a lot of potential.

The good news for Denver’s offensive line is that the injury sustained by guard Chris Kuper on Sunday is not as bad as it could have been.  The bad news is that he’ll likely miss a month of football due to a severely sprained left ankle.

This is not the first time Kuper has had ankle woes, as a dislocated left ankle abruptly ended his 2011 season in January, causing him to miss the Broncos’ playoff run. After recovering from his ankle injury, Kuper suffered a fractured forearm injury in training camp and he missed the first four weeks of the season.

Unable to catch a break, Kuper has had an injury riddled season, which is something for which his teammates, coaches, and fans give sympathy.

“(Kuper) is such a great guy,” Coach John Fox told the Denver Post on Tuesday. “He’s well liked by his teammates. They voted him captain. He’s had a bad streak of some luck lately, but it’s good to see it’s not as serious as the other injuries he’s had this season.”

Meanwhile, tight end Jacob Tamme and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who both left the field on Sunday with respective injuries only to return later in the game, will “both be fine,” according to Fox.  Tamme’s suffered a “hip bruise” and Thomas’ a “knee bruise,” per the team.

In addition to Kuper, Tamme, and Thomas, the Broncos are also monitoring the status of cornerback Tracy Porter, who has missed the past three games due to seizure-like symptoms which are being evaluated by the team’s medical staff.  Other than Kuper, the Broncos could potentially be back to full strength when the team travels to take on Carolina in Week 10.

John Fox spent eight seasons in Carolina from 2002-10, coaching the Panthers to five post-season victories and a Super Bowl appearance (XXXVIII).  On Sunday, Fox will be back on the sideline at Bank of America Stadium — this time coaching the opposing team, Denver.

“I have a lot of great relationships there,” Fox told the Denver Post.  “It was the place that gave me my first opportunity as a head coach, so I’ll always be indebted for that.  I still have a home there.  My sons live that way.  It will be good to be back.  But again it’s the NFL, this game’s only fun when you win.”

During his time in Carolina, Fox enjoyed ground game dominance and defensive success, but ultimately finished with an 85-82 career record with the Panthers.  In Year 1 in Denver, Fox saw similar results, leading the league in rushing and improving Denver’s defense.  The team was able to squeeze into the playoffs with an 8-8 record and win a playoff game thanks to an impressive running game and unorthodox offense which was complemented by a stout defense.

This season, the Broncos have found their man in quarterback Peyton Manning and are leading the AFC West with a 5-3 record.  A win over the explosive Cam Newton and Fox’s former team, Carolina, would help the Broncos’ chances of finishing better than .500 this season, which Fox was only able to do three times with the Panthers.

“Right now we’re 5-3, and the only guarantee we have is 5-11,” remarked Fox. “So, you know, it will be just like any week from the standpoint of it’s the Denver Broncos against the Carolina Panthers at their place.”

The Broncos and Panthers will kickoff action at 11 a.m. (MT) on Sunday.  The game will be broadcast on CBS and we’ll have complete coverage on Facebook, Twitter, and here on the blog.

The Denver Broncos defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 31-23 on Sunday, below are video highlights courtesy of NFL Network:

The Broncos will be on the road again this week when they take on the Panthers in Carolina. Denver has now won three consecutive games and will be looking to extend that streak against the 2-6 Panthers in Week 10.

Denver Broncos News

• There were a few ups and downs for the Denver Broncos as they played the Cincinnati Bengals, but overall it was another solid offensive output and though the defense came up short at times, they came up big when they needed too.  The Broncos stand at 5-3 and halfway to the tournament. [DenverBroncos.com & Denver Post]
• Are Peyton Manning and the Broncos the class of the AFC?  I don’t think they are yet, but anything can happen in the playoffs. [NFL.com]
• This just in – Von Miller is a star!  Duh. [Rant Sports]
• Peter King barely had anything to say about the Broncos, so he won’t be getting a link today.  However, they did have a nice box score that highlighted how the Broncos won another game… [SI.com]
• Someone also needs to key me in on how people track 4th quarter comebacks, because since, when I was just becoming an adult in 1998 John Elway had 47 4th quarter comebacks, yet now he has like 35 or some bullcrap. Stupid whiny Dolphins fans seem to think regular season greatness is more important than Championship game greatness.  I have a book in print that shows each of Elway’s comebacks, so Dolphins fans can keep on whining. I’ve digressed, the story here is that Peyton Manning has achieved his 48th comeback of his career. That is, unless you ask a Dolphins fan. [USA Today]

Be sure to follow me on Twitter for more Broncos updates throughout the day.