Eli Manning #10 of the the New York Giants hands off to team mate Brandon Jacobs #27 against the Atlanta Falcons on November 22, 2009 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Breaking down each week’s Broncos‘ opponent from the Football Outsiders‘ perspective. Recall that lower (negative) percentages are good on defense, bad on offense and special teams.

Pass Offense: 33.6% (10th)
Rush Offense: 0.3% (15th)
The Giants are known for their punishing running game, but their passing game is underrated, and they will try to attack the Broncos in the air. WR Steve Smith entered Week 11 as the league’s 5th-ranked receiver, and Mario Manningham exploded for big, game-changing gains while the Falcons sold the farm to stop Smith. The league’s other Steve Smith — who is making a case to be the Steve Smith this season — still broke free for a 51 yard bomb (he was held to 28 yards otherwise). QB Eli Manning is up-and-down, but the Broncos can’t afford to allow him to have an up day, or it will be a long day. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Injury Report for the Week 12 NFL game between the Denver Broncos and New York Giants to take place on Thanksgiving night, November 26, 2009.

DNP – Did Not Participate; LP – Limited Participation; FP – Full Participation; NL – Not Listed

Changes from Tuesday’s report in bold. Giants report after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

LaDainian Tomlinson #21 of the San Diego Chargers rushes against the Denver Broncos during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on November 22, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Around this time last year, the Denver Broncos were in a three-game slump after a fast start to the season. They held a players-only meeting, and those 4-4 Broncos rolled off two straight wins and four of their next five to take a three-game lead in the AFC West.

Whatever works, right?

“We talked,” safety Brian Dawkins told reporters Tuesday. After a four-game skid knocked the Broncos out of first place in the AFC West, and with another tough opponent on the near horizon in the New York Giants Thursday, Dawkins called a players-only meeting Tuesday.

“What we do as a team, we keep that stuff to ourselves,” Dawkins told the Denver Post. “But if we’re winning and we have that same argument on the sidelines, does anybody report that? If they do, they say it’s our passion. But because we lost that game, and guys were a little emotional, then it’s a bad thing. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Darrent Williams

A man by the name of Shun Lamar Birch has been convicted on a federal weapons charge.  Birch has known ties to Willie Clark, the suspected murderer of Darrent Williams.  Once sentenced this upcoming February he could be given up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

In the Aurora gun case, prosecutors said that on Nov. 19, 2008, police found two shotguns, a .45-caliber pistol, and numerous rounds of ammunition in Birch’s townhouse in Aurora. Birch had been convicted in Adams County in 2007 of marijuana possession with intent to distribute, a felony. The jury deliberated for less than an hour following a three-day trial before reaching their guilty verdicts, prosecutors said.

-Aurora Sentinel

Of more importance to the Darrent Williams case is that Birch has a pending trial for the murder of Kalonniann Clark who was killed before being put on the stand to testify against Willie Clark.  Accused accomplice Brian Hicks also has yet to stand trail in that case.  All three defendants pleaded not guilty.

Our weekly perusal around the Interwebz for water cooler fodder.

ESPN: 13th
Remember when things were going very well early and all the doubters said how things would turn?

CBS: 12th
Was their start a fraud? It sure looks like it. They aren’t playing well on either side of the ball, but especially on offense.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

• The Broncos have had a players only meeting.  The change we like to see.  [DPO]
• How the team is not regaining its composure after a four game slide.  [Boulder Daily Camera]
• The goal is to put together a “fiery” team that can keep it’s cool when needed.  Is that pronounced like wiry? [DPO]
• Not the players, it’s time for the coaches to play to their strengths.  [Longmont Times]
• It is Brian Dawkins‘ plan to play on turkey day.  [DPO]
• Jason Elam is having to compete for a job position for the first time in his career.  [BroncoTalk]
• The game of NFL intimidation is broken down.  Sounds they shouldn’t have asked Champ Bailey or Daniel Graham.  [DPO]
• D.J. Williams plays his heart out but does so in the shadows.  [Longmont Times]
• Broncos fans appreciate Kyle Orton and guess what?  It fires the offense up.  [CS Gazette]
• Some Thanksgiving news on Darrell Reid’s Food Fest charity.  [Mile High Report]
• Audio from Josh McDaniels‘ Tuesday presser.  [850 KOA]
• Is McDaniels solely to blame for the Broncos recent losing streak?  [Broncos Zone]
• Were Alphonso Smith and Richard Quinn overrated?  Jeff Legwold breaks it down.  [DPO]
• I know we keep hearing this but the Buffalo Bills are getting serious about Mike Shanahan.  [Boulder Daily Camera]

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

One of the most controversial moves of the 2008 offseason was breaking off contract talks with star placekicker Jason Elam.  Elam had been looking for a healthy contract to finish out his career in the mile high city and Mike Shanahan offered what he deemed a very good incentive package to stay.  It ultimately ended up being Shanahan’s philosophy that divided the parties.  Mike felt that a handsome salary had been offered for an aging kicker that required two roster spots.  Denver had been employing the services of a 3rd kicking specialist for the sole purpose of kickoffs.

Talks with the Broncos finally stopped and  Elam received the contract he was looking for back in his home state of Georgia from the Falcons.  That following season, Denver struggled mightily with then replacement and current kicker Matt Prater.  The 2nd year kicker completed only 73.5% of his field goals and even missed an extra point.   Jason proved to be what the Falcons paid for, the kicker with shoes in the hall of fame.  He was Mr. Accurate completing a career high 93.5% of his field goals.  Some of that can probably be attributed to playing in a dome, but he kicked brilliantly nonetheless.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels (R) runs onto the field to get a play to Denver quarterback Kyle Orton in the second quarter of their NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers in Denver November 22, 2009. (REUTERS/Rick Wilking)

Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Kyle Orton and Brian Dawkins meet the media midweek.

HEAD COACH JOSH McDANIELS

On QB Kyle Orton’s status

“He should do everything we’re doing today and tomorrow. (There is) not going to be a whole lot of tempo in terms of physical (work) today and tomorrow. It’s a lot more mental today and the same thing with Wednesday. He should be able to do everything we’re doing. We expect him to be healthier on Thursday than he was last week.” Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Tuesday Injury Report for the Week 12 NFL game between the Denver Broncos and New York Giants to take place on Thanksgiving night, November 26, 2009.

DNP – Did Not Participate; LP – Limited Participation; FP – Full Participation; NL – Not Listed

Changes from Monday’s report in bold. Giants report after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Record: 6-4
Streak: Won 1
Series vs. Denver: Giants, 5-4
Last time: Giants, 24-23, 2005
The Line: Giants by 6.5

Who’s hot: WR Mario Manningham. The second-year wideout had several crucial catches in the Giants’ big win against the Falcons Sunday, none more impressive than his 29-yard grab in overtime that put the Giants in field goal range. He “flashed his great athleticism on a number of key catches, including a 27-yard reception along the sideline on a third-and-one to keep (a fourth quarter) drive alive.” [New York Times] He finished the day with whopping numbers (six catches, 126 yards, 21.0 avg.). Click here to read the rest of this entry »