This is an omen to make the tough call, Mr. Elway! Want a Coach that plays to win instead of 'not to lose?'

Todd Bowles will change the mentality of this team to play like it had nothing to lose instead of the other way around. Cannot win playing for the beautiful Lombardi trophy, on your heels, not to make a mistake out of being on the attack. Or? Do you want to play to win the Lombardi in the only way you can. Attacking the other team? John Fox is not your coach to win with all the chips out. Belichick will completely do anything new in order to advance in playoffs. Harbaugh, Paganos. If not Bowles, then Pagano, the +Chargers DC, if not him, then Mike McCoy, who we really want back in the organization would be worth the compensatory picks. Dan Quinn, the +Seattle Seahawks DC.

Love ya Foxy, but two playoff divisional round losses in MILE HIGH and the team played timid, not to make mistakes, instead of putting the inferior team on its heels on the road, the stakes rise and the Broncos seem like they are just trying to sneak it out instead of crushing the team across the line of scrimmage. Bowles exemplifies that perfect!

If Elway is paying attention. He failed on the OL personnel moves (lack of). Exposed in center of line since NE loss. Peyton was always throwing before he wanted to because of the rush, blitzes almost exclusively in the area of 2 gap DT's.

Every coach would line up to have the reigns to this team. +BRONCOS CR3W wants a coach that isn't afraid of losing and plays to win. Not playing games to 'not to lose.' The Baltimore heart crushing loss 2 years ago is another perfect example. 39 seconds left and we kneel on it to go into OT despite having the best record in the NFL and highest scoring offense. Three conservative post season losses and two at home and one in SB, please please go get the Cardinals DC, Bowles or someone with a similar philosophy in regards to getting after the opponent. Dropping Von Miller is great but the fact he wasn't rushing the #1 passing QB this season more often than not, says everything we need to know about JDR and John Fox's approach.

They approached the season with all this talent thinking to not get to fancy with schemes and/or plays because of the talent, but there comes a point where vanilla and 3 and outs effect this club and then they play tight. Need someone that makes this roster play loose and aggressive! Someone to fortify and stop the blitzes that Peyton would burn teams for doing if an offensive line does a great job. Have to expect the defensive holding and pass interference to be overlooked in the playoffs and run the damn ball down the Colts throats. This game should be the end of this staff, as harsh as that sounds. If we want this club to do damage in the post season, there has to be a different coach and mentality...

He is the most promising coordinator in the game. What he does with that defense and going after it. He'd rather foo down paying on the attack than sit on his heels. Sounds like the opposite of the current coach in Denver.

We want an aggressive mentality, like NE or SEA, that pulls it all out when it's all on the line. Defense was trying to keep teams in front of you. Bowles, wants to move the ball backwards, even with his defense.

Coaching and addressing the OL are musts or they'll have the same results. Bless Trevathan, Irving, and Brandon Marshall back to health. That heart, edge, emotion of Trevathan was evidently missed by this unit all year. Similar to Beadles edge playing left guard, Woodyard's leadership was sorely missed. OL was exposed more following the Super Bowl.

Regarding, the Coach, we need a younger gamer that BRINGS IT on gameday. Maybe somebody that relates to the younger players, too? I think the sign is blaring from my take regarding the last 3 losses in AFC Playoffs. Note have seen the pattern 3-straight times. A team timid, and not with it all out on the line. It's the best way to lose big games. Team collapses in the spotlight following their coach into battle.

Need a new message in that locker room. Fox and JDR just kept saying, go ahead Andrew, pick us apart despite are insane size, speed on defense, we'll play on our heels.

Setting this, Elway had no choice not to change the environment at the teams facilities & headquarters.

OL was a bust and Elway thought it would not backfire, but Beadles was missed terribly. Got to get Bowles!!

Only "pro" from losing is that he is still available and interviewing. Not for long. Think of the mindset the Pats play with, while it feels very different under Fox. Great guy but not a playoff coach that will go full assault. He is too conservative. Defense was in prevent from the start. Look what happened when pressure was brought with turnovers. Blown call on fumble in third was huge and those 4 pts the Colts got from the refs. Still, we think this can be a blessing on disguise. Never really felt like Fox was the coach to take team all the way. Always had doubts, regardless of success, with Fox doing the necessary risks and tough calls to go on the aggressive.

Why isn't this team on the aggressive from the opening kick??? This faction of Broncos CR3W doesn't want to go through a full off-season, draft, and great record, playoff berth, only to see them play cautious and on their heels against a team that will take that game because they are there "TO WIN." Bowles is the perfect guy at the perfect time for this team to embrace his traits and concepts.

Todd Bowles, looks to be the former Defensive Coordinator of the +Arizona Cardinals shortly, with an Head Coach position likely to be offered by a number of teams. (Photo Courtesy - +Sports Illustrated - IMG)

Fox, Coordinators Enjoy a Night to touch on all things Broncos

Fox, Coordinators Talk All Things Broncos

Gray Caldwell

Editor, DenverBroncos.com / Team Media

Follow Gray on Twitter

The "A Night with the Coaches" event took place Tuesday night at +Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

Coach John Fox, #Broncos coordinators took part in A Night with the Coaches @SportsAuthField: http://t.co/iYspaAgwNv pic.twitter.com/6TQQYHjt3l
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 14, 2014

DENVER -- On Tuesday evening, Sports Authority Field at Mile High got a little taste of football.

Thanks to +U.S. Bank and +Del Frisco's, Broncos suite holders and sponsors got a chance to spend "A Night with the Coaches."

Head Coach John Fox, Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio, Offensive Coordinator Adam Gase and Special Teams Coordinator Jeff Rodgers each chatted with emcee Dave Logan and took questions from the crowd at the exclusive event. +NFL, AFC West Division, Denver Broncos Coaches and two Broncos HOF Members were all there.

Topics broached included Denver's additions through free agency and the draft, a Week 3 matchup with Seattle, construction at the team's Dove Valley headquarters and even pushing back the extra point. Broncos signed Fox to 3 year extension this offseason.

Original Photo Courtesy & Rights: Denver Broncos (AP)

Below are the highlights from the night's Q&A.

JOHN FOX
Related: John Fox Photo Gallery +Denver Broncos.com

On bouncing back from last season: 

"When you don't win your last game -- there's only one team that gets to experience that, and we want to be that team. That's our goal. That's really our No. 1 goal. It starts the minute that game's over. Whether it was the first year -- losing in the playoffs at New England -- whether it was two years ago losing at home against Baltimore or whether it was losing the Super Bowl -- I know that was a big disappointment for everybody in this room -- but you learn from it and you try to improve from it. We've worked very hard. I think it's probably been the most productive offseason. I think our team is even more hungry than it was the previous two years. Luke Richesson, our strength coach, has told me, 'Coach, I've never in my years as as strength and conditioning coach seen a team work this hard.' So our guys are at it already and have been for the last three weeks. We're in what we call Phase Two. Our coaches have them now, and it's an incredibly good group. I think we've improved the talent level. We've gotten a lot of the injured folks we lost along the way a year ago back, and I think people will like what they see."

On whether the matchup with Seattle is Denver's biggest regular-season game in 2014: 

"It'll be a very important game. I really can't think of a much bigger stage than to lose to Baltimore in the playoff game here at home a year ago and then to open the NFL season on Thursday night in front of the world -- that was pretty big. But they all count the same. I know it sounds like coachspeak, but it's really true. They don't count as two losses; you don't get two wins. It's one game. I don't think that early in the season it's going to define our season. They're all big -- you only get 16 of them. Down the road, they have implications. Just like every year, this year our goal will be to win the AFC West, to win our division, because when that happens you're guaranteed a spot in the playoffs. Again, this year -- just like every year -- we'll try to create home-field advantage, which I think was a huge thing this past season. Then, ultimately, winning and hoisting that Super Bowl Lombardi Trophy, and this year it will be in Arizona, is our goal."

RELATED: A Night with the Broncos Coaches (Video)

JACK DEL RIO
RELATED: Broncos DC, Jack Del Rio on FA additions, Rookie Class

On free agency:

"I had a wish list. I said, you know, if I could make it happen it would be a dominant rush end, a strong safety that will come up and really strike fear in an offense and really be a tone-setter, and a premium corner. I said, that would be my wish list. There's no way we'll get that done, but I'd love to see that happen. Any way you can make that happen, Mr. Elway? But John pulled it off! You've got to be kidding me! That was outstanding! But no, it was a great collection. Our offseason has been one where, as Coach Fox said, as a football team we want to improve. Every year you look to improve. We made a choice to go after a couple star players and made it happen. I'm not sure how we pulled it off, but that was a good get. And that was the beginning, because we obviously had the draft as well. But those free agents coming in here, they're all mature guys, they've all kind of cut their teeth already, they're all proven players in this league and they're going to plug in real well for our defense."

On adding that much talent:

"When you have guys like DeMarcus (Ware) and Von (Miller), if you have just one, they can slide protection to that guy. When you have two, it makes it very difficult to slide protection. And if you're too busy fanning out to protect them both, then you're vulnerable to things up the middle and other places. It gives you an opportunity to put more pressure on the offense. And then from a coverage standpoint, having a guy like Aqib (Talib), he's a premium corner. He's a guy that can go out and match up on the top wideout of any other team. So having that kind of guy on the roster allows you to then put a player of his caliber across from a talented wide receiver and not feel the need to provide a safety over the top all day."

On the defensive scheme:

"The idea is to not let the quarterback get comfortable. What helps a quarterback not be comfortable is to have corners that can cover and defensive ends that can rush. Then they make every design that you have look a lot better -- that's just the way it is. So good coaching goes hand-in-hand with good players, and then you can have great production. We expect to be a great defense."

ADAM GASE

On adding Emmanuel Sanders and the growth of Montee Ball:

"We were extremely happy Emmanuel (Sanders) lasted as long as he did in free agency. We were a little bit surprised -- he was our top guy. It was one of those dialogues back-and-forth with Coach Fox, John Elway -- I'd get a text every once in a while, 'Hey, I think Emmanuel's back in this.' When we signed him, that was a big signing for us and filled a big void for us. We see him being a big contributor. We have four veteran guys at the wide receiver position that we're very excited about, then obviously the young guy (second-round pick Cody Latimer) is coming in. Then with Montee (Ball), he developed probably better than any other player that we had last year as far as making huge strides. Montee came in, it took him a minute to realize what was going on -- that's why Knowshon (Moreno) played so much earlier. We balanced it out, then Montee really came on and was big for us late in the season, and in the playoffs he was really good. He really carried a big load for us."

"We expect big things from him this year."

JEFF RODGERS

On pushing back the extra point:

"They're going to tinker with it a little bit in the preseason. We'll see how it goes. I'm not sure it's going to change the game as much as it may change some head coaches' decision-making in the preseason to maybe try out a few two-point conversions. We'll see if we can an extra period during practice to work on those things. We'll see. I really don't think it will change all that much, but certainly with rule changes, fourth down seems to be a focus."

On the team's returner in 2014:

"There are some guys we have on our team who have done it. Emmanuel Sanders has done it. +Wes Welker has done it. Omar Bolden was our returner at one point. Andre Caldwell went to the house against Tennessee and it got called back. There are some options with guys who have played in this league. (Bradley) Roby, our first-round pick, has done kickoff return. We picked up a free agent that we liked, Isaiah Burse from Fresno State, who had some production. So there are some options. We'll see how it plays out."

"It'll be an exciting battle for us in training camp."

A couple Denver Broncos Icons, Hall of Famers, came by as well. (Floyd Little & "Zim")
Original Photos Courtesy and Rights: +Denver Broncos

Del Rio a Great Thing for all Fronts in Broncos Organization

Del Rio's new deal a win-win on all fronts

Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Teams that make the Super Bowl sit on an odd bridge between the present and the future.

Their coaches and players are concentrating on the moment, getting ready for the title game and all of the trappings that go with it. But the personnel departments are, by necessity of the compressed time frame playing into February creates, on to the draft and free agency.

The scouts make the rounds to the college all-star games -- Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway made an appearance at the Senior Bowl -- as things get pointed toward the draft. Elway usually refers to the change from the in-season business of trying to win games week to week to the offseason business of the draft and free agency as “shifting gears.’’ And the Broncos shifted their first significant gear this week.

They signed defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio to a new two-year deal, and it was a good call on both sides. Del Rio is good for the Broncos' defense and the Broncos are good for Del Rio.

Re-signing Jack Del Rio means maintaining continuity on the Broncos defense.And while there will be changes in the offing during the offseason after a dismal 35-point loss in the Super Bowl, Del Rio’s signing is an indication of a measured, objective approach to trying to be better in the 2014 season than they finished in the 2013 season’s final game. A Super Bowl loss routinely brings all sorts of crater-it hypotheses both near and far, to raze the fort as it were. But the bottom line is objectively, rationally, there isn’t some immense talent gap between the Seahawks and the Broncos. It’s just one team played with discipline, took advantage of opportunities and played to the moment while one team did none of the above. 

No team puts up 606 points on offense in a season and needs to be scraped to the foundation. Overall, the Broncos need a little more physicality and more speed across the roster, especially on special teams.

And overall, because of injuries and the free-agency status of the players on the depth chart, the Broncos' defense will need more big-picture attention in the offseason than the offense. And one of the biggest impediments to the Broncos fielding any sort of consistent defense late in Mike Shanahan’s tenure, throughout most of Josh McDaniels’ brief tenure and even at the start of John Fox’s tenure, was the constant turnover at defensive coordinator.

When Fox hired Del Rio in early 2012, Del Rio was the seventh person in the job in a seven-season stretch. And over that span the Broncos changed the alignment of their base defense. They went big across the board, then went for speed across the board and often lived with inconsistent results because they had difficulty matching personnel to the constant changes in schemes each new defensive playcaller brought with him.

Del Rio’s new contract means the Broncos will have the same defensive coordinator in three consecutive seasons for the first time since the final three years of Larry Coyer’s time on the job in 2004-06. If the plan is good, if the right decisions are made on the depth chart, then that kind of continuity can mean something.

The Broncos, because of injuries throughout the year -- five defensive starters closed out the season on injured reserve -- as well as linebacker Von Miller's suspension for the first six games of the season, the Broncos were never able to find the level of play this past season they had for most of 2012.

But one mark of a defense's potential is being able to take away what an offense wants to do and make them do something else. And camouflaged somewhat by the amount of Super Bowl wreckage is the fact the Broncos did that. The Broncos held Seahawks running back, Marshawn Lynch to 39 yards rushing on 15 carries -- 2.6 yards per carry -- in the game and held Robert Turbin to 25 yards rushing on nine carries in the game.

No, they didn’t tackle particularly well in the game -- something that was an issue throughout the season -- and they didn’t consistently pressure Seahawks quarterback, Russell Wilson. But they did make it difficult for the Seahawks to do what they most wanted to do offensively.

The Broncos will need to dive into the draft to fill in spots in the secondary and at linebacker. The return of Quanterus Smith, a fifth-round draft pick who spent the season on injured reserve because of a torn ACL he suffered in his senior year at Western Kentucky, should help the pass rush.

They found out Danny Trevathan could well be one of the build-around players on defense, and that Terrance Knighton was just what they hoped at defensive tackle, and a guy like Malik Jackson (fifth-round pick in ’12) is just the kind of homegrown contributor the Broncos need to add to the depth chart.

“[Knighton and Jackson], and I would say Danny Trevathan is the other one, that are young players, kind of below-the-radar kind of players, not considered stars by any means, but they played a very big role for us,’’ Del Rio said last week. “They played well all year. Malik in particular, he got his chance … and really blossomed. Terrance we brought over hoping we could resurrect his career and get him back on track, had him previously in Jacksonville. And Danny is a young player, he’s in his second year now with us and he’s really starting to blossom.’’

And with Del Rio back, the Broncos can push for progress in a system that’s in place instead of installing yet another playbook and hoping for the best.

Broncos, Defensive Coordinator, Jack Del Rio Reach 2 Year Extension

Report: Jack Del Rio, Broncos agree to two-year deal

Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio is coming back
after the team’s Super Bowl loss. (Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

The Denver Broncos and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio agreed to terms on a new two-year contract Thursday, The Denver Post’s Mike Klis reported, less than a week after the Broncos’ lopsided Super Bowl loss.

“Jack did a nice job with our defense,” said John Elway, the Broncos’ executive vice president of football operations, according to The Denver Post. “We had a lot of injuries on that defensive side and Jack did a good job holding that side together. Even in the Super Bowl, our defense kept us in the game in the first half.”

Under Del Rio, the Broncos finished 19th in the NFL in total defense, after finishing second in 2012. Del Rio also served as the team’s interim head coach in 2013, after John Fox underwent heart surgery. The Broncos went 3-1 with Del Rio as head coach.

Before coming to Denver, Del Rio was the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003-11. During the NFL season, he briefly interviewed for the head-coaching position at USC, which eventually hired Steve Sarkisian.

Del Rio has Broncos D Primed for Patriots

Del Rio has Broncos primed for Patriots

Jeremy Mincey has no bitter feelings toward Jacksonville for dumping him late in the season, only big thanks. After being jettisoned from the Jaguars for chronic tardiness, the defensive end wound up with the Denver Broncos. He's making the most of his fresh, baggage-free start, playing a big role in getting his new team to the AFC championship game against the New England Patriots (13-4) on Sunday. There's also defensive lineman Terrance ''Pot Roast'' Knighton, who signed with Denver as a free agent, and, of course, defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, fired after nearly nine seasons as head coach in Jacksonville. 

(Continue to read from +Yahoo Sports) Broncos Defense playing its best and with an explosive offense, their objectives are a formula to winning football games. 

Obstacles & Overcoming Them Could be what Broncos, Patriots Share Most with Success (AP)

Patriots, Broncos Overcame Plenty of Obstacles

By ARNIE STAPLETON (AP Pro Football Writer)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) -- Embarrassing headlines. Sidelined superstars. Retooled offenses. Shredded defenses. It's a wonder the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos made it this far.

Bill Belichick's smarts and Tom Brady's tenacity always seems to trump tribulation.

This season, they brushed aside the Tim Tebow distraction and overcame Aaron Hernandez's arrest and the losses of Rob Gronkowski,Wes Welker, Vince Wilfork and Jerod Mayo to put the Patriots (13-4) into the AFC championship for the third straight year.

''I'm sure every team is probably at this point overcome a lot,'' Brady said. ''I know Denver has done a lot of those things, too. They've overcome a lot of things and injuries and so forth. It's just part of the NFL football season.

''To get out there and play 16 weeks and really see where you stand at the end of those 16 weeks, getting to the playoffs, play the best teams and see if you can advance. It's certainly not easy to do. It's very challenging.''

Nobody does it better than Brady and Belichick, the best quarterback/coach combo in history with a record 18 playoff wins.

View gallery

Denver Broncos head coach John Fox
speaks during a news conference
at the Denver Broncos NFL football
practice facility

After last year's stumble against Baltimore in the playoffs, John Fox andPeyton Manning also steered the Broncos (14-3) through a minefield to send Denver to its first conference championship in eight years.

''That shock of what happened against the Ravens contributed to this team being able to be as flexible as it has been and survive the adversity that it's gone through,'' said Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, who led the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowls in the late 1990s and now leads them from the front office instead of the huddle.

After losing Elvis Dumervil in the infamous fax fiasco when his renegotiated contract didn't reach team headquarters in time, Elway hit the jackpot in free agency by signing Welker and Louis Vasquez on offense and Shaun Phillips, Terrance Knighton and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on defense.

They helped the Broncos weather an injury epidemic that claimed Von Miller, Kevin Vickerson, Rahim Moore, Derek Wolfe and Chris Harris while rendering captains Champ Bailey and Wesley Woodyard backups for most of the season.

Fox overcame his own heart operation that sidelined him for a month and even a player quitting on him at midseason, and Manning set a slew of records, including throwing for 55 TDs and 5,447 yards, to help the Broncos become the first 600-point team in league history.

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New England Patriots head
coach Bill Belichick listens to
a reporter's question
during a media conference.

The Broncos did it despite losing exceptional blindside protector Ryan Clady in Week 2 and being anchored by a converted guard who hadn't played a full season at center in 14 years.

So, Manning sits just one win shy of returning to the Super Bowl just two years after he was jettisoned by the Indianapolis Colts following four neck surgeries that strengthened his resolve but weakened his throwing arm.

''You don't take it for granted,'' Manning said, ''especially when you've been through an injury, been through a major change and you're in the home stretch of your career.''

Both the Patriots and Broncos have quarterbacks known as grinders, who elevate the play of those around them because of their meticulous preparation.

The head coaches have very different reputations.

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Denver Broncos head coach John Fox
watches practice at the NFL
Denver Broncos football training facility

Belichick is known as a mostly dour mad genius - even Manning called him ''the best coach that I've ever competed against,'' and Brady has high praise for the tone he sets.

''We're challenged here on a daily basis by Coach Belichick to show up, do the right thing, always put the team first and I think that's what this team has always been about,'' Brady said.

Fox is the ultimate player's coach whose bounce-off-the-walls energy and enthusiasm were very much needed after Josh McDaniels' troubled tenure - and Elway suggested those qualities only increased after he had his aortic valve repaired in November.

''He's got more energy than anybody I've ever seen,'' Elway said. ''That, to me, is the definition of John Fox: the energy level that he brings. He brings it to the practice field, and it's contagious. I think that's why he was a perfect fit for us.''

Rod Smith, who helped the Broncos win back-to-back titles in the late 1990s and will serve as their honorary captain Sunday, said he's not surprised these are the two AFC teams left standing, battered though they may be, rendering this game in many ways a skirmish among subs.

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''Honestly, you have two of the best organizations in football,'' Smith said. ''You have to give it up to Mr. (Robert) Kraft and you have to give it up to Mr. (Pat) Bowlen.''

The Patriots lose players left and right, but with Belichick they're always playing for trophies.

Elway has the Broncos doing the same thing again.

''Everybody thought it was a huge, horrible, financial disaster gamble with Peyton Manning,'' Smith said. ''And he's got those 92 touchdowns in two years. ... So, the organization has done a masterful job.''

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Denver Broncos quarterback
Peyton Manning speaks
at a news conference after
NLF football practice.

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning speaks at a news conference after NLF football practice in …
AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org
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AP Sports Writer Howard Ulman contributed.
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Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton

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Broncos Tend to Put Opponents Down in Second Half

+BRONCOS CR3W Lucky #7 (Elway) Keys to the Game

Outside of the one obvious, recent letdown after halftime, the +Denver Broncos tend to show that containing them for 60 minutes is much more unlikely and difficult than the first 30 minutes. They rarely get rattled by early deficits or slow starts and almost seem to wake up after allowing a couple unnecessary plays or turnovers. Some may deem this as "playing with fire." Others might call it "Just a matter of time playing against what has been a +NFL record setting offense that just overwhelms opponents whether it is up tempo or slowed down. One aspect that was perhaps the most encouraging of all of their games this year. #VonMiller has really started to put his imprint as the premier edge rusher in the NFL.

Matt Prater and Britton Colquitt celebrating an NFL
Record 64 Yard FG against the Titans last Sunday.
Photo Courtesy: +NBC Sports (Sports Media Images)

#1 Key: Takeaway Margin: Despite what many would believe, +Denver Broncos with an extraordinary 11-2 record, Sunday's game vs +Tennessee Titans was only the 2nd game this year that the Broncos did not commit a turnover. It was also only the 3rd game of the year that they won the turnover battle as well. This is obviously the aspect that has gripped the Broncos back down this year. It was the first game in which they did not commit a turnover and forced one or more. This is a good sign obviously. Both turnovers were created by +Von Miller who's value cannot be misrepresented and overstated, as to affecting the game entirely with that offense that is putting up historic numbers. With a lead, his effect increases as he can only put pressure on the QB without Jack Del Rio expecting him to stay at home and play things tight and close to the vest in a close ball game.

#2 Key - QB Pressure: Both of these QBs can dissect any defense in the league if they have ample time. Bringing pressure is tough to not risk getting beat on a big play. This number is really what will either make the Broncos season a success or it won't in our opinion. It relies on ball security and especially when the ball security does not hold up on the field. Broncos giving teams free TDs or short fields is a double whammy to them more than most clubs. Anything that takes the record breaking offense off of the field is a negative. Turnovers obviously does this, and if it is in their own half of the field, the opponent is getting the variable that almost all have proven to need to remain in a 'fighter's punch,' distance on the Broncos.

#3 Key - 3rd Down Efficiency: Both sides of the ball. The Broncos are #1 in the league in 3rd down efficiency. The Chargers are #2 in the league in 3rd down efficiency.

+Chargers at +Denver Broncos
Week 15 (Game 14)
Graphic Preview Courtesy:
DenverBroncos.com

#4 Key - Redzone Efficiency: Both sides of the ball. The Broncos are #1 in the league in redzone efficiency. Chargers explosive offense drops down to #26 in the league in redzone efficiency.

Leading right up to #5 Key - The reason San Diego is 6-7 instead of on of the leaders for last wild card spot is because teams force FG's over TD's on them. Denver needs to make sure they continue this at home and force FG's by the Chargers offense or 4th down stops as San Diego will go for it when knowing TD's are an element they've got to get. If the Broncos can come out on top of this along with the takeaway's, #1 Key, they should win by about the amount the Vegas books are putting it at. Broncos favored by 10 pts.

#6 Key - Get the Chargers offense off the field, and get pressure on Rivers. Rivers tends to turn the ball over under durress. Von Miller has been electric lately with 5 sacks in his last 6 games. And that doesn't include the sack/pass deflection that was an interception as he met Fitzpatrick at the point of his release.

#7 Key - Allow the numbers and trends to continue. Peyton Manning is undefeated against division opponents since coming to the Denver Broncos. And they have not lost at home this year, with only two losses at home including the Ravens 2OT heartbreaker last year.

QB pressures aside, but if he can cause a takeaway on a regular basis, that is something this Broncos defense had a year ago that put teams on their heels and the defense took full advantage of it. In some respects, the special teams and a few defensive mistakes have been the Broncos defense's culprit. But when it come to being stiff and forcing a punt, they pull it off at a fairly high rate amongst NFL defenses. With the offense doing what it does, it is fairly sensible for the defense to take risks and try to make things happen whereas if they knew they had to be a bit stiffer and more of a bend don't break defense, they would probably have a lot of pass underneath completed but they like to get pressure and force opponents to either make a quick decision or quicker than they want on most plays. Sometimes, the loss of Rahim Moore, clarifies this, since he was one of the leagues best free safeties in denying teams home run plays in pass/run coverage, they will have an adjustment with Bolden, who has mainly been a backup DB his first 3 seasons is now being tossed into live game action as an FS. Defensive Coordinator, Jack Del Rio is surely trying to make adjustments to the loss of Moore and he will minimize that loss especially with a return of a full Champ Bailey and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Pass rush is providing consistent pressure and turnover chances more often because of it. 

Broncos Prep Week 14 in Review

Joan Niiesen from The Denver Post reported:

Links to and all photos courtesy of: +The Denver Post

In the week leading up to facing the Titans in Week 13, things were pretty uneventful at Dove Valley. Monday morning for once brought no new major injuries, with the biggest worry for the week by far the frigid temperatures. Coach John Fox also returned to his duties after four weeks away, which slotted Jack Del Rio back into his role of just defensive coordinator.

The Broncos will face the Titans at 2:05 p.m. Sunday. For those of you smart enough to know that standing for hours in single-digit temperatures is perhaps an unwise move, it’ll be broadcast on CBS.

John Fox speaks to the media at Dove Valley on Monday, his first day back on the job. (Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post)

Monday: Fox returned to Dove Valley Monday morning and resumed his duties as the team’s head coach. Fox addressed the media for about 25 minutes, talking about everything from the stress of being away to what he’s seen in recent games. In more good news for the Broncos, there were no major injuries from Sunday’s game, a rare occurrence after injuries have dominated recent Mondays.

Tuesday: The Broncos had Tuesday off, and it was for the most part a quiet day, which has been unusual of late.

Montee Ball celebrates after making a long run against the Chiefs Sunday. (Aaron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)

Stories:
• “John Fox returns to work as Denver Broncos’ head coach,”by Joan Niesen, The Denver Post
• “Derek Wolfe released from hospital, returns to Broncos after seizure-like symptoms,”by Mike Klis, The Denver Post
• “Hochman: Broncos’ Knowshon Moreno tears up, and Montee Ball tears it up,” by Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post
• “NFL should at long last trade chains for lasers when marking 1st downs,” by Joan Niesen, The Denver Post

Wednesday: The Broncos practiced indoors on Wednesday, their first such practice of 2013. With temperatures in the single-digits and snow falling strong enough to impede visibility, going outdoors simply wasn’t an option. Wednesday also marked Fox’s first practice since his bye-week heart surgery and another day off for Peyton Manning.

Stories:
• “Broncos’ Peyton Manning would have changed Tennessee Titans,” by Mike Klis, The Denver Post
• “Broncos Mailbag: With Peyton Manning, is Denver’s playbook too slim?” by Mike Klis, The Denver Post
• “Peyton Manning ices out critics of cold-weather play,” by Lindsay Jones, USA Today
• “2013: The Year of the Injury?” by Jenny Vrentas, The MMQB
• “The NFL’s Three-Quarters-Season Awards Winners,” by Bill Barnwell, Grantland

Peyton Manning drops back to throw during practice Thursday, wearing his glove.(John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Thursday: The Broncos practiced outside Thursday after being relegated to the indoors Wednesday. In single-digit temperatures, Manning did not actually disintigrate into a cloud of dust, shocking all the cold-weather naysayers. He practiced in full, as did Joel Dreessen, who also missed Wednesday. Only Derek Wolfe and Trindon Holliday missed practice, and only Demaryius Thomas was limited.

Stories:
• “Kiszla: No hurry, hurry for Peyton Manning’s big call,” by Mark Kiszla, The Denver Post
• “Record books await rewrite by Denver Broncos offense,” by Joan Niesen, The Denver Post

Friday: Friday was a relatively uneventful day at the Broncos’ facility, apart from the coldest temperatures yet of the week. Only Derek Wolfe missed the team’s final practice before it faces Tennessee on Sunday.