Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater has been named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September, the NFL announced Wednesday. It’s a first for the third-year player and the first time a Bronco has won the award since punter Todd Sauerbrun drove drunk with it won it in October 2005.

Prater’s nod came after he posted AFC bests in touchbacks (7), touchback percentage (46.7) and kickoffs reaching the end zone (13). He went 7-of-9 in field-goal attempts but nailed all three attempts from beyond 40 yards.

In other words, Prater kick ball far. Very far. Combined with good special teams coverage, the Broncos lead the AFC and rank second in the NFL in average opponent drive start after kickoffs (20.6-yard line).

I have to admit I was pretty surprised when I read this, but the positives (touchbacks, 100% beyond 40 yards) obviously outweigh the negatives (two missed FGs). Congrats, Prate. Press release after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Kyle Orton #8 of the Denver Broncos is rushed by Gerard Warren #61 of the Oakland Raiders on September 27, 2009 during an NFL game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Quotes from Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Quarterback Kyle Orton and Safety Brian Dawkins from the Denver Broncos‘ Wednesday press conference as they prepare for their Sunday match against the Dallas Cowboys. Thanks as always to the awesome Broncos PR staff! Enjoy!

HEAD COACH JOSH McDANIELS

On if hard work builds confidence

“I think that is how I have always approached pretty much everything, whether it be school, being a father or a husband or a coach. You put in a lot of hard work and time and effort. Usually, you get results to show for it.”

On if he pays attention to media criticism

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Injury Report for the Week 4 NFL game between the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, October 4, 2009.

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

Daily notes and Cowboys report after the jump. Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Five Denver Broncos players were held out of practice Wednesday. Four were as a result of injuries sustained during the team’s 23-3 victory over the Oakland Raiders Sunday, while one continues to rehab a longstanding ailment.

Starting offensive linemen Ben Hamilton (LG) and Ryan Harris (RT) both missed practice with hamstring and shoulder injuries respectively.  Russ Hochstein and Tyler Polumbus filled in their respective spots during Sunday’s game and will likely continue to do so during practice (although rookie G Seth Olsen was inactive Sunday; it’ll be interesting to see if he gets any work at LG in practice).

FB Peyton Hillis (head) and starting nickel CB Alphonso Smith (ankle) also missed Wednesday’s workout due to injuries suffered Sunday.  LB/FB Spencer Larsen continues to nurse a shoulder injury he suffered in the Bengals locker room Week One.

Head Coach Josh McDaniels wouldn’t comment on any of their statuses into the week or for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, although he had hoped Harris would participate today on a limited basis.  Check back for a full Broncos-Cowboys injury report later today.

Kyle Orton #8 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after Knowshon Moreno scored a touchdown in the second half against the Oakland Raiders on September 27, 2009 during an NFL game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Can’t you just hear the “See?!  I told you so!”s coming after this Sunday’s game?

If the Denver Broncos lose, they’ll be coming from the mainstream media.  “Like I said all along, the Broncos are an average team that had yet to be challenged this season.  Their 3-0 record was a result of their competition, not their talent.”

If the Broncos win, the “I told you so”s will be coming from a lot of Broncos fans who never jumped off the Josh McDaniels bandwagon.  “Like I said all along, the Broncos are an improved team under McDaniels.  They’ll be better than their 8-8 record last year, and beating a good Dallas Cowboys team proves it.” Click here to read the rest of this entry »

• John Elway gives the Broncos‘ offensive line some much-deserved praise.  [CBS4 Denver]
• Ryan Clady leads the unit’s praiseworthy efforts.  [Skinny Post]
• Week to week, McDaniels‘ game plan changes so dramatically that neither the players nor opponents know what they’re going to get.  [Colorado Springs Gazette]

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Dallas Cowboys running back Felix Jones suffered a PCL injury Monday that will keep him out of the Week 4 game at the Denver Broncos. (REUTERS/Pierre DuCharme)

While the Denver Broncos rushing attack is taking off, their Week 4 opponent’s ground game may have trouble even suiting up Sunday.

The Dallas Cowboys have the top-ranked rushing unit in the NFL through three weeks, but their depth at running back is becoming precariously thin. Starting tailback Marion Barber sat out the Cowboy’s 21-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers Monday night with a strained left quad injury, and backup Felix Jones‘s right knee forced him out of the game in the third quarter.

Adam Schefter reports that Jones could miss the next two weeks, while ESPN colleague Calvin Watkins confirms that Jones will miss Sunday’s tilt against the Broncos.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Buckeno metamorphosis in progress... (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey )

Heading into the season, it wasn’t clear how the Broncos were planning to use running backs Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter.

That picture has come into focus. While Buckhalter has gotten the start three straight games, Moreno has gotten the bulk of the carries (46 to 31). Both have played very well, with Buckhalter breaking open some huge runs and both scoring one touchdown. What’s more, this tag-team method has led the Broncos to the NFL’s fourth-ranked rushing attack, averaging over 150 yards per game.

So, naturally, it needs a nickname. We hear “Smash and Dash” is taken, but something along those lines is certainly appealing. We could get clever and use the real-name-hybrid technique: Corrshon Buckeno, Knowshell Morhalter, KnowBuck, etc. etc.

So we ask you, BT Reader, for your clever Buckhalter-Moreno nickname suggestions. Leave them in the comments, “Like” the ones you like, and be sure to vote for both (players) at NFL.com for their respective weekly award nominations!

You see that stiff-arm? Knowshon Moreno did that for you. If you can't lift your finger to vote for him for Rookie of the Week, shame on you, Broncos fan. Shame on you. (REUTERS/Robert Galbraith)

Just like the scholar P. Diddy has so eloquently put it, vote… or die.

Seriously though, rookie Knowshon Moreno and vet Correll Buckhalter are both up for awards.

Knowshon is up for Pepsi Rookie of the Week (because Pepsi makes you a good rookie) and Buck is up for Fed Ex Air and Ground player of the week as a ground player obviously.

Click here to vote for Moreno.

Click here to vote for Buckhalter.

Do it… or P.Diddy will find you.

• Dallas, Denver and Buffalo all started the season 3-0 last year, and none of those teams made the playoffs.  [NFL FanHouse]
• Front page of Yahoo! Sports: are Broncos for real?  [Yahoo! Sports] [via]
• Mike Florio wonders aloud the same thing.  [ProFootballTalk]
• Tom Cable‘s case gets going… y’know, that “textbook case of felony assault.”  No, not what the Broncos did to him this weekend silly…  [Y! Sports]

Click here to read the rest of this entry »