Taking a look around the Internet, on what the experts, beat writers, soothsayers, and your grandpa are saying about the upcoming game. We’ll give you a snippet, then you can jump through the links provided and read everything they had to say.

Adrian Peterson, the rare rookie Pro Bowl back. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell needs to get Peterson going early to keep the Broncos’ defense on its heels. Guards Steve Hutchinson and Anthony Herrera are road graders who can easily move defensive tackles Marcus Thomas and Alvin McKinley out of the way. Then, with center Matt Birk, chipping downfield to block undersized middle linebacker D.J. Williams, the Vikings can at least keep the Broncos from playing a designated pass defense on every down. [The War Room]

There’s no secret about what it takes to beat the Broncos this season. Run the ball until the final whistle and you’re going to give yourself a healthy chance at winning the game. That shouldn’t be a problem for the Vikes. With Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, Minnesota is well suited to letting their running game do all the heavy lifting. Yet last week against the Redskins they threw the ball 41 times, a dubious idea when the erratic Tarvaris Jackson is your quarterback. Jackson has shown flashes this year but they are almost always because the run game has set him up to make big plays downfield. The Broncos have tried eight and nine men in the box to stop the run, to no effect, and should try the same this weekend. Unless the Vikings pin all of their hopes to the aerial game again, they won’t have any more success defensively. [AOL Fanhouse]

Ideally, the Broncos would like to establish the run. But Minnesota’s run defense is fantastic. The Vikings, however, give up a lot of passing yards. So expect the Broncos to do what everyone else does, which is drop back on a majority of snaps. Their only concern might be keeping quarterback Jay Cutler upright. Cutler has been sacked nine times in two games and has a sore knee. [Broncos Inside Slant – USA Today]

The Washington Redskins became the latest team to put nearly its entire focus on the Vikings’ usually potent running attack and dare quarterback Tarvaris Jackson to beat them via the pass last Sunday. The Denver Broncos are sure to follow suit this weekend at Invesco Field. Whether it works remains to be seen. The 49ers and Bears also focused on the Vikings run game but ended up losing. [Vikings Inside Slant – USA Today]

Picks Around the Web

Mark Schlereth Mike Golic Eric Allen Sean Salisbury Merril Hoge Chris Mortenson Moose Johnston Brian McGovern Pat Kirwan Tim Ryan Gil Brandt Jim Miller Jerry Rice	Seth Wickersham Jerry Rice Bruce Murray Adam Schein Solomon Wilcots Hagen/LeGreca Shannon Sharpe

Picks from ESPN, Sirius…

The Spread – Vikings By 3

• At the age of 36, John Lynch still insists he’s unsure about his future with the Broncos or with football. [Denver Post]
• I love Travis Henry‘s attitude about 2007 and 2008 – yeah we’re all disappointed. We all had high expectations. It’s time to move on and learn from it, and he plans on doing just that as he tweaks his training regimen to stay healthy next year. [Denver Post]
• Denver snowstorm delayed the punter tryouts. Warming up, Elam? [Denver Post]
• Did the revolving door in the locker room lead us to this? [Rocky Mountain News]
• A closer look at the man that will be shredding the Broncos defense this weekend. [Rocky Mountain News]

• With Paul Ernster lasting all of a week, Jason Elam says he’s ready to punt if needed. [DenverBroncos.com]
• Champ Bailey takes it to loudmouth Philip Rivers. [Rocky Mountain News]
• Mike Shanahan says this is the worst season he’s had as the Broncos head coach. [Rocky Mountain News]
• Jay Cutler is a little banged up and seems ready for the physical grind of a 16-game season to be over.  [Rocky Mountain News]
• No NFL Network? No problem, after the league announced that the historic Pats-Giants game will be simulcast on NBC and CBS. [NFL.com]

Most fans, including myself, were pretty livid at Philip Rivers and company jawing over at the Broncos, particularly Jay Cutler, in Monday Night’s game. Video below:

Then I remember that Rivers sucks. Completely carried by the best running game in football and a defense that is returning to form. Rivers is only along for the Chargers’ ride.

To me, he’s all bark and no bite. I picture a Chihuahua (Rivers) barking at a young Rottweiler (Cutler). It kinda makes me laugh, knowing Rivers is just as delusional as that tiny dog who thinks he can back up all his jawing. Just wait until that big dog grows up, Rivers – you’ll be paying for your comments for years to come.

Rivers sucks, he knows it. He can’t back up any of his talk, and in the end, he’ll look all the more pathetic for it.

(Video H/T Signal to Noise)

Jonathan, Earl and I wanted to wish all of our readers a very safe and happy holiday. I’ll be away from the computer until the 26th.

If you want to leave a note on tonight’s game, go ahead and leave it here. I’m trying to stay spoiler-free until I can watch the recorded game on Christmas day. Again, Happy Holidays and Go Broncos!

Alvaro Martin and Raul Allegre at Invesco

Merry Christmas, everyone. As a gift to our readers, I present Alvaro Martin, play-by-play announcer for ESPN Deportes on Monday Night Football. In his second interview with BroncoTalk, Mr. Martin talks about the Chargers, the Broncos in 2007 and 2008, and why he calls Jay Cutler “cara de palo”, which loosely translates to “Stone Face”. Do enjoy.

The Chargers have turned it around, winning 8 of 10 games and are now the division champs. Do you credit Norv Turner or the players for the turnaround?

The coaching staff gets some of the credit. Eight new coaches, including the coordinators, had to adjust. In speaking to some of the Chargers players, you get the sense that the joint lessons learned by the previous coaching staff walked out the door with them. Players told me the play call would be the same, but with a different twist than last year. When the play did not work, the players explained to the new staff why they and the old staff played it differently. Ted Cottrell has a record of being much more effective in second halves of seasons during his stay with Minnesota, Buffalo and the Jets. There is just too much talent on that team to under perform the way they did.

How will the Broncos slow down the Chargers’ offense and Ladainian Tomlinson? If the Broncos stop the Chargers’ rushing attack, can Philip Rivers still beat them?

The Chargers’ offensive line has recovered its zest and efficacy. Pack the box, and hope Philip Rivers does not turn in a sharp outing.

The 2007 season has been a disappointment for the Broncos. Each time the Broncos looked like they turned a corner (like the last time they played on MNF in a win over the Titans), they took steps back in the following games. What do you think attributed to this inconsistency?

How about 11 new starters at the beginning of the season, the injuries and an entirely new defensive coaching staff? How about half the roster having three years’ experience or less? It may be a taboo word, but the AFC West, excluding the Chargers, rebuilt their teams this year.

Click here to read the rest of this entry »

Injury Report for the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers in Week 16 of the NFL, Monday Night Football on December 24, 2007.

Denver Broncos

DOUBTFUL
LB Ian Gold (Knee)

QUESTIONABLE
TE Daniel Graham (Ankle)
WR Brandon Stokley (Knee)

PROBABLE
DE John Engelberger (Shoulder)
C Chris Myers (Ankle)
WR Javon Walker (Knee)

Slant – Neither Daniel Graham nor Ian Gold have practiced since sustaining their injuries against the Texans. It’s likely that neither will play on Monday. Jamie Winborn and Chad Mustard will see increased time in their stead. … Javon Walker has indicated it may take a few more months of offseason rehab for him to be full strength. He was seen going less than full speed in Thursday’s loss, but should play again Monday. … Brandon Stokley said he will try to play against the Chargers after being limited in practice all week.  He’ll be a game time decision.

San Diego Chargers

OUT
FB Lorenzo Neal (Fibula)

QUESTIONABLE
DE Luis Castillo (Ankle)
LB Shawne Merriman (Knee)
RB Michael Turner (Shoulder)
NT Jamal Williams (Ankle)

PROBABLE
QB Philip Rivers (Knee)

Slant – Jamal Williams was added to the team’s injury report on Saturday and is listed as questionable. … When Luis Castillo had ankle surgery midseason, he and the team targeted this game as his likely return. He’ll be a game time decision, along with RB Michael Turner. … After missing last week with a knee injury, LB Shawne Merriman said he will definitely start against the Broncos.

Taking a look around the Internet, on what the experts, beat writers, soothsayers, and your grandpa are saying about the upcoming game. We’ll give you a snippet, then you can jump through the links provided and read everything they had to say.

Feed Tomlinson. Coach Norv Turner is known as an offensive guru, and though the offense struggled early Turner has found the correct mix — a heavy dose of Tomlinson and let everything else work off that. Against Denver, Turner should call running plays to the left to allow Tomlinson can follow fullback Andrew Pinnock as he picks off Webster as left tackle Marcus McNeil blocks down on undersized defensive end Elvis Dumervil. [The War Room]

As good as Tomlinson has been, the four game San Diego winning streak has been spurred by the defense. They’re allowing just under 14 points a game, have clamped down on the run and reestablished the fear for quarterbacks dropping back to pass. They should stop the run, force a turnover or two and then leave it to their inimitable tailback to continue their march to the playoffs. [AOL Fanhouse]

The Broncos will have no chance if they can’t stop the run, no matter who is carrying the ball for the Chargers. Denver has had two poor performances on run defense in the last three weeks. The Broncos gave up a 147-yard performance to RB Michael Turner in the first meeting with the Chargers. Denver should be able to handle San Diego’s passing game, especially with Chargers TE Antonio Gates at less than 100 percent. [Broncos Inside Slant – USA Today]

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: The Chargers pass defense, which leads the league with 27 interceptions, vs. the Broncos passing game, featuring inconsistent QB Jay Cutler. CB Antonio Cromartie leads a ball-hawking defense that has been wearing out opposing quarterbacks of late. Cromartie leads the NFL with 10 picks and is the poster boy for a unit that always seems to be around the ball. Cutler is having a decent year (64 percent completion rate, a 90.8 rating and 18 TD passes) but the Broncos are having trouble finishing drives. In six games, they have scored 15 or fewer points. Denver WR Brandon Marshall is the target the Chargers have to be most concerned with. [Chargers Inside Slant – USA Today]

Picks Around the Web

Seth Wickersham Mark Schlereth Mike Golic Eric Allen Sean Salisbury* Merril Hoge Chris Mortenson Hagen/LeGreca Moose Johnston Brian McGovern Bruce Murray Pat Kirwan Tim Ryan Gil Brandt Shannon Sharpe Adam Schein Jim Miller Jerry Rice Solomon Wilcots

Picks from ESPN, Sirius…

The newest entry of the Rumor Mill comes from Jeff Legwold of the RMN, who wrote an interesting piece about Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor potentially coming to Denver in a trade this offseason.

The reigning defensive MVP might not be having that caliber of a year this season, but he’s still posting great numbers with 10 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and an interception.

What’s particularly impressive is that Taylor is still putting out genuine hard effort on every play, on the worst team in recent NFL memory.

Now the rumors are swirling that Taylor will be out the Dolphins’ door in 2008, as they try to rebuild through draft pick compensation. Legwold says that executives around the league believe Denver will be the frontrunner for Taylor’s services.

The move would also reunite Taylor with Jim Bates if the Assistant Coach were to stay with Denver this offseason.

Do we need a 34-year-old defensive end, as good as he is, as badly as we do so many other positions? Absolutely not. We tried to sign Patrick Kerney last year; when we didn’t land him, we spent our first two draft picks on Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder, both who have shown promise and could be impact players next year.

I like the prospect of Crowder and Moss possibly starting next year as every down types, with Elvis Dumervil playing on sure passing downs in T-Crow’s stead. If the Broncos do follow through with this, I would hesitate to even give a 3rd round pick, considering Taylor’s age.

In the end though, Jason, if you do find your way to Denver, be sure to pack a sweater.

LEGWOLD: Broncos need good Taylor  [Rocky Mountain News]

• The off-field incidents of all these Broncos are a disgrace to Darrent Williams‘ memory. Almost one year removed from the tragic event, the Broncos should know better. [Denver Post]
• Daniel Graham and Ian Gold remain sidelined with the injuries they sustained on Thursday. Neither hit the field yesterday. [Mason’s Morsels]
• Chris Myers has assumed the role of the offensive line’s leader. [Denver Post]
• The Broncos haven’t had a Top 10 pick since 1994, the league’s longest drought of that type. And the debate rages on. [Denver Post]
• Brandon Marshall studied the best to become the best. [CBS4 Denver]
• The Broncos need to build around the incredible 2006 draft class. [Rocky Mountain News]
• The Chargers have an ace returner of their own, who’s heading to Honolulu for the AFC. [Rocky Mountain News]
• Last minute Christmas shopping for a collect-all Broncos fan? Apparently Jason Elam‘s terrorist thriller is getting rave reviews. Hint to any family reading – I am a collect-all Broncos fan.  Wink wink nudge nudge :) [CBS4 Denver]