NFL Owners vote 30-2 to move the PAT back to the 15 yard line as well as a couple other wrinkles

SAN FRANCISCO -- As expected, NFL owners on Tuesday voted 30-2 to approve a change in the rule governing extra points after touchdowns

BREAKING: @NFL PAT kicks have been moved to the 15-yard line & two-point conversions stay at the 2. Defenses can return for two points.

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 19, 2015

The owners considered three proposals but ultimately approved a rule change endorsed by the competition committee. The new rule pushes the kick back to the 15-yard line and leaves the two-point conversion at the 2-yard line.

It also makes the play "live," meaning the defense could return a blocked kick or a turnover on a two-point play for two points.

The New England Patriots proposed snapping the ball from the 15 for a one-point kick or placing the ball at the 2-yard line for a two-point try. According to the Patriots' proposal, a team's choice was not final and was subject to change following a timeout or penalty.

The Philadelphia Eagles proposed snapping from the 15 for the kick but moving the ball to the 1 for a two-point conversion. The Eagles also wanted the defense to be able to score points if it returned a turnover on the two-point conversion to the other end zone.

Houston Texans general manager Rick Smith pointed to the high rate of success of extra points as a reason for the change.

Washington and Oakland were the only teams to vote no. The rule change will be reviewed after one year.

NFL to move extra point tries to the 15-yard line in 2015 http://t.co/7bErrBCJ71

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) May 19, 2015

NFL place-kickers have converted at least 98 percent of their extra points since 2000. That figure has hovered above 99 percent since 2010, providing little incentive to go for two-point plays. Coaches attempted them after just 4.9 percent of touchdowns last season; they were converted at a rate of 47.5 percent.

There were 41 field goal attempts last season from 33 yards. Only two were missed. The conversion rate for 33-yard field goals over the past five seasons is 92.8 percent (154-of-166). Extra-point kicks are currently from the 2-yard line.

Although it has been proposed as a one-year rule to see how it plays out in 2015, Smith says the intent from the competition committee is that rule change stays a part of the game for the long haul.

"We tried to add some skill to the play, which is the reason why we moved it back to the 15," Smith said. "And then the other element is how do we create a more exciting play? And so to give the defense an opportunity to score, it adds an element there, as well as obviously incentivizing teams to go for two.

"So our hope is what we've done is we've added skill to the play, and then we will also see some increase in the attempts to go for two. We just felt like it was a play that was almost a ceremonial play, the way it has languished here recently."

And Troy Vincent, in charge of NFL football operations, noted that placekickers can handle such an alteration. "The kicker's a skill position now,'' Vincent said. "We're not trying to take the foot out of the game.''

NFL kickers are not necessarily on board with the change.

"What did the NFL really accomplish?" said kicker Jay Feely, a 14-year NFL veteran, via Twitter. "It's still nearly automatic (90%vs 99%) but greater risk of injury to Oline."

I thought NFL was concerned about player safety? Those 60 plays will be much more dangerous for OLine now. https://t.co/IEQfEA3CXQ

— Jay Feely (@jayfeely) May 19, 2015

NFL vice president of football operations Troy Vincent acknowledged their concerns.

"The feedback that we got when we adjusted the field goal at the Pro Bowl didn't go over too well," Vincent said. "But they understand. The kicker is a skill position now. They are extremely accurate. We are not trying to remove the foot out of the game."

NFL officiating chief Dean Blandino said if conversion rate for PATs from 15 doesn't fall much below 99 percent, may move kicks back further

— Bob Glauber (@BobGlauber) May 19, 2015

Manning Brady Hard to Beat: NFL Game Ratings for Week 9

+NFL Week 9 Game Rankings: Hard to beat 

Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning

Brady and Manning meet again in a rematch of last season's AFC championship game.
+Getty Images

Last week was Statement Week for pretty much every team in the league that needed a win.

Can that continue again?

Every potential contending team that was under extreme duress to win -- +Seattle Seahawks, +New Orleans Saints, +Cincinnati Bengals, +Pittsburgh Steelers and +Buffalo Bills -- won. Even those that simply couldn't really afford to lose to weaker opposition, like Detroit and Cleveland, got the job done. Then there's Chicago. The +Chicago Bears imploded in New England and is sinking to new depths.

But you get the prevailing sentiment that comes into this week. The team that needed the game most, in almost every instance, won in Week 8 -- whether it was a blowout or hard-fought. This week there aren't nearly as many cases where one team that's in the playoff mix really has its back against the wall and needs to prove something.

With six teams on the bye -- the +Detroit Lions, +Atlanta Falcons, +Green Bay Packers, +Buffalo Bills, Bears, and +Tennessee Titans -- there is a dearth of divisional games. There are three total, although two of them are humdingers -- Ravens at Steelers and Saints at Panthers. 

And, in the coveted 4:25 p.m. (EST) slot, which always dominates ratings, we have on what might be the regular-season game of the year on CBS -- possibly the final meeting between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

So why don't we get right to the footlongs on that note, my friends.

Cont on to +CBS Sports H/T: Jason La Canfora

Hard to Beat Manning vs. Brady

LET'S GO BRONCOS! IT IS A MILE HIGH ORANGE SEASON!!

Denver Broncos predicted to finish with best record

Andrew L. John, The Desert Sun

Photo: +The Associated Press 

With the 2014 +NFL draft complete and mini-camps set to begin, the countdown to the upcoming season is under way. And now we have our very first look at projected win totals for all 32 teams, according to Football Outsiders.

The statistic-based analytical website has been projecting win totals for several years now, and has a track record of mixed success. Last season, the website correctly predicted five of the eight division winners and eight of the 12 playoff teams.

RELATED: DVOA predictions | Strength of Schedule | 2015 NFL mock draft

Using advanced statistics, Football Outsiders also predicted the +Washington Redskins and the +Houston Texans, the two worst teams in the league record-wise, would both win their respective divisions. Injuries ravaged what could have been a good season for both teams but, in hindsight, it’s hard to imagine either of those teams making the playoffs with a healthy roster, let alone winning their division.

So who is Football Outsiders projecting success for this year? Let’s take a look.

It’s no surprise that the website is projecting the +Denver Broncos to have the best record (12-4) in the league this year. The team fell just short of a Super Bowl victory and returns Peyton Manning, Von Miller and a host of other elite players.

The top team in the NFC? The +New Orleans Saints, with an 11-5 record. Drew Brees, Sean Payton and Co. won 11 games a year ago and lost at Seattle in the divisional round of the playoffs.

The other two division winners are projected to be the Super Bowl winning +Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers, who should have a healthy Aaron Rodgers ready to go. Both teams are each projected to win 10 games, as are the +New England Patriots, the +Philadelphia Eagles and the +Indianapolis Colts.

Here is where I start to get a little skeptical. Football Outsiders has the +San Francisco 49ers only winning nine games, the same amount as the +New York Giants. I understand the uncertainty of +Colin Kaepernick, and that he perhaps could miss games following a sexual assault investigation, and that the Niners have a top 5 strength of schedule. Still, nine games is a hit for a team that talented. After all, the Broncos and Seahawks also have one of the tougher schedules in 2014.

On a personal note, I’m surprised the Bears — after the offseason they’ve had — are only projected to win eight games. Full disclosure: I’m a Bears fan. call me partial and even biased, but Chicago’s roster is too talented to not improve upon last year’s record. The +Chicago Bears’ SOS is average.

+ESPN.com NFL draft insider Todd McShay has released his early 2015 mock draft based on Football Outsiders’ projections. Check out the first round of his mock draft to see where every team is expected to finish this year. 

NFL to Change the PAT in Football - for now, only in the preseason

NFL moving extra points back ... in the preseason

By Frank Schwab

+Yahoo Sports  - Shutdown Corner

I've never heard anyone complain about extra points. They're just there during NFL games, not hurting or helping the sport, just the bread before the meal at a steakhouse. Nobody talks about how the bread needs to be improved.

Somehow, extra points became a hot topic. For some reason this was the part of the game that had to dramatically change, either eliminating them or moving them back to make them tougher – because if there's something that will make the NFL better, it's putting the outcomes of more games on a kicker's shoulders.

It seems that the first step toward making the extra point a substantial part of the game is coming this preseason. For the first two preseason games, teams will line up to snap extra points from the 20-yard line, making them about 38 yards instead of 20, which has been the standard. A proposal for a new permanent rule to snap extra points from the 25-yard line was tabled. By experimenting in the preseason, the NFL can see how it goes and determine if that's something it wants to implement.

For anyone who likes this idea, remember that when your team drives down 80 yards for what looks like a game-tying touchdown in the final seconds of a hard-fought game, only to see the kicker miss a 37-yard kick. See if that scenario adds to the value of the game.

NFL Owners Meetings Proposed Rules Changes Update

The NFL did approve a rule making the goal posts five feet taller, which will make it easier for officials to determine if a field goal is good. Also passed was the "NaVorro Bowman rule," to allow officials to review the recovery of loose balls. Bowman stripped a ball in the NFC championship game, a play in which the 49ers' star linebacker hurt his knee, and had the ball in his possession, but the play was not reviewable. Now that kind of play will be subject to review.

Bill Belichick Proposes PAT change, Amongst other Topics & Changes at 2014 NFL Owner's Meetings

+New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick took to the microphone at Tuesday’s meeting of the NFL Competition Committee to present his case on moving the PAT further back.

Related: NFL adding 4th Game to London?

Possible Rule Changes in the +NFL
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The NFL Is Gonna Try Out That 37-Yard Extra Point This Preseason

by Jake O'Donnell

Goodbye 2-yard line. Hello 20.

Sounds like a pretty drastic change, huh? Well, from a kicker’s perspective it’s not really that much different. In 2013, kickers were pretty automatic from 30-39 yards out. While 22 kickers missed kicks from that distance, no one in the league missed more than three the whole season (Garrett Hartley and league attempts leader Nick Novak). By comparison, five kickers missed an extra point last year.

Bottom-line: The change WILL cause some wonky score lines, but probably less frequently than you’d imagine.

In all, kickers were 199/230 from between the 13 and 22-yard lines, which is good for 86% — a decent number considering some of those kicks were on hashmarks or in pressure situations.

The new extra-points will be, obviously, taken from dead center, and won’t have game clock issues that factor into traditional field goals, which you’ve got to figure will make them a bit easier. So will we see “icing” on extra-points? Hopefully.

Big misses? Yes.

Will there be almost no discernible change to America’s favorite sport? Most likely.

It will, however, look weird as hell for those first two preseason weeks.

-----

Dual Threat in Talib? Boston Globe thinks so...

This is a good laugh :D

Broncos get a great two-way threat in Aqib Talib, according to Boston Globe photo caption pic.twitter.com/xWMY7Rcw71
— Chris Tanaka (@Chris_Tanaka) March 12, 2014

Broncos use a well-fittted (salary) cap, Elway Treats Free Agency like Dating

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- When John Elway said "everything in my power," he meant everything.

Everything as in Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen’s checkbook and incessant desire to win. Everything as in Elway’s legacy as a Hall of Fame player. Everything as in a presumptive Hall of Famer currently at quarterback, and everything as in one of the most favorable salary-cap positions among the 2013 playoff teams.

Yes, the Broncos, still bruised in many ways from a 35-point Super Bowl loss last month, have rampaged through the opening hours of free agency with some specific goals in mind. They wanted to get nasty, wanted to have the elusive Plan "B" for when their next-level offense doesn’t have the kind of day it’s used to.

And the result has been a 24-hour defensive binge that now includes defensive end DeMarcus Ware (three years, $30 million, $20 million guaranteed); cornerback Aqib Talib (six years, $57 million, $26 million guaranteed); and safety T.J. Ward (four years, $23 million, $14 million guaranteed).

John Fox Greets DeMarcus Ware | DeMarcus Ware Greets Broncos Country

"That’s why me, Talib and Ware were brought in, three physical players. ... It’s going to help this defense, it’s going to help this team," Ward said in his first appearance at the Broncos' complex.

But Elway made Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning a promise as he recruited him in the days that followed his release from the +Indianapolis Colts in 2012. When Manning arrived at the Broncos’ complex for a visit, he was still stunned the Colts had actually released him, still reeling with all of the uncertainty in front of him.

Aqib Talib said that signing with the Broncos 

gives him the best shot at reaching the top of the NFL.

Daniel Shirey/USA TODAY Sports

"I wasn’t sure what the future was going to look like. There wasn’t a map for me to follow," Manning had said.

But at that time, Elway’s pitch was a promise that Elway, as Bowlen’s chief football decision-maker, would "do everything in my power" to make sure Manning retired from the +NFL as Elway did, with Super Bowl titles in those final seasons.

The Broncos made history on the way to last season’s 13-3 finish, set scoring records and raced into Super Bowl XLVIII using the fastest of fast lanes. Then the +Seattle Seahawks pushed Denver down, and the Broncos simply never got up in one of the worst title-game losses of the Super Bowl era.

Manning didn’t play well, the receivers didn’t play well, the linemen didn’t block well and a defense that was the biggest question mark heading into the Super Bowl actually answered the bell until the game got out of hand.

But Elway has since talked of creating "the mindset" to win a championship, has talked of being more physical on both sides of the ball and has talked about if they saw the opportunity to sign any player the team believed could be better than the ones they had, the Broncos would do it.mindset" to win a championship, has talked of being more physical on both sides of the ball and has talked about if they saw the opportunity to sign any player the team believed could be better than the ones they had, the Broncos would do it.

T.J. Ward meets the Denver media

They also had managed their salary cap well enough to have $28.7 million or so of cap space last Thursday morning. They then released cornerback Champ Bailey that day and guard Chris Kuper retired Monday. With those two events the +Denver Broncos gained roughly another $14 million in cap space, and with that cap space and the bulk of a roster good enough to have finished 13-3 in back-to-back seasons, the Broncos went to work.


Certainly, Manning is still the centerpiece of all this -- so much so that when Talib was asked Wednesday why he chose Denver, he quickly pointed to the 37-year-old quarterback.

Photo Courtesy: +Denver Broncos (AP)

"We just kind of looked at the best package," Talib said. "I do have a family, I have kids, I have a wife that I got to take care of, and it was Peyton Manning, you know? It was just the total package. Denver was the best place."

Elway has been a no-nonsense, grassroots executive right from the start. He grinds the video on draft prospects, he goes to the Senior Bowl, he has made the pro day rounds and he makes decisions based on the long term "because my job is to be two steps ahead."

But after three trips through the opening of free agency, he has to be considered one of the league’s best closers as well, and closers get the coffee and former Pro Bowl selections, it seems -- Manning, Louis Vasquez, +Wes Welker, Terrance Knighton, Talib, Ward and now Ware.

So it seems the Broncos really didn’t just go all-in this year. They’ve just kind of had that mindset all along.

-------------------------

"I view free agency like dating, if you didn't want me to scoop them up then you should have treated them better," he was reported to have said today.

The AFC champs, who got blown out in Super Bowl XLVIII, have already added T.J. Ward, Aqib Talib and DeMarcus Ware to their roster.

So yeah, it's pretty much Super Bowl (victory) or bust for John Elway and Co.

The legendary QB, who is now Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the Broncos, has apparently found a great way to sum up his take on free agency:

Elway, "I view free agency like dating, if you didn't want me to scoop them up then you have treated them better" #BroncosNation — Eric Weidner (@ESPNWeidner) March 12, 2014

H/T to +FOX Sports 

Eric Decker signs with Jets - Broncos land Top Tier Free Agents, Headline First 24 Hours of NFL Free Agency

Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker joins Jets as Denver invest in free agency

Denver Broncos sign Aqib Talib, DeMarcus Ware, Andre Caldwell and TJ Ward, but allow Eric Decker to join New York Jets

Eric Decker with Peyton Manning before leaving the Denver Broncos for the
New York Jets. Photograph: Larry W. Smith/EPA

The New York Jets agreed a deal with Eric Decker, plucking the wide receiver away from the Denver Broncos, who have been busy in NFL free agency.

The Broncos have already signed cornerback Aqib Talib for $57 million from the New England Patriots, former Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Ware to a three-year, $30 million deal and ex-+Cleveland Browns safety TJ Ward, with a four-year contract for $23 million.

Decker will sign a contract with the Jets worth $36.25 million over five years with $15 million in guarantees.

Decker, who will be 27 on Saturday, was a member of Denver’s record-breaking offense last season that reached the Super Bowl. With quarterback Peyton Manning passing to him, Decker set individual career-highs with 87 receptions and 1,288 yards. The Jets, on the other hand, were one of the worst offenses in the NFL and are looking to build with second-year quarterback Geno Smith.

The Patriots reacted to the Talib deal by signing five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis just hours after he was released by the Buccaneers for salary cap reasons. The +New England Patriots agreed on a one-year deal worth $12 million, pending the completion of a physical.

Revis, the Jets’ first-round draft pick in 2007, was one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL during his first five seasons, when he helped the Jets reach two AFC Championship games. He tore his ACL in 2012 and was traded to Tampa Bay but returned to form with the Bucs. Revis hasn’t always been a fan of Patriots coach Bill Belichick, calling him ‘ignorant’ and a ‘jerk’ during his time at the Jets.

The +New York Jets saw right tackle Austin Howard agree to a five-year, $30 million deal with the +Oakland Raiders.

In other deals, the +Chargers signed former Pittsburgh Steelers tight end David Johnson to a two-year deal, wide receiver Jacoby Jones re-signed with the +Baltimore Ravens and former +Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Dekoda Watson agreed to terms with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Cleveland Browns released much-maligned quarterback Brandon Weeden and veteran Jason Campbell.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed former Chicago Bears quarterback Josh McCown to a two-year, $10 million contract. Head coach Lovie Smith said Wednesday that McCown would enter training camp as the No. 1 quarterback ahead of rookie Mike Glennon.

The Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks saw free agent wide receiver Golden Tate move to the Detroit Lions, agreeing to a five-year contract. Meanwhile, defensive end Chris Clemons was released to save the team $7.5 million against the 2014 salary cap.
--------------------------

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Englewood, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos locked up a shutdown cornerback, only his name wasn't Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

The +Denver Broncos spent the first day of free agency bolstering their defensive backfield, agreeing to a four-year deal with Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward on Tuesday afternoon and then hours later reaching an agreement on a six-year contract with cornerback Aqib Talib.

Talib and Ward will play in a secondary that will be without Champ Bailey, who was released last week, and may be moving on from Rodgers-Cromartie, who entered free agency without a new deal from the Broncos.

The 28-year-old Talib had quite a year for New England last season, with teams largely choosing to go the other way rather than pick on him.

Sound familiar? It was the same way for Bailey in his prime.

By agreeing to a deal, Talib seemed to show there's no bad blood between him and the Broncos after he hurt his knee early in the AFC championship game against Denver when he was bumped by +Wes Welker on a crossing route. The league's officiating chief later ruled it a legal hit by Welker.

ESPN first announced the agreement with Talib, which is reportedly worth $57 million. The Broncos also are reportedly interested in defensive lineman DeMarcus Ware, who was released by Dallas on Tuesday in a salary-cap move.

Talib will be reunited with cornerback Chris Harris Jr., who's also a former Kansas Jayhawk. Harris played opposite of Rodgers-Cromartie last season before blowing out a knee against San Diego in the divisional round.

Harris later posted on his Twitter account: "I had to call my Fam Talib to see if it was real."

Reunited☝️@ChrisHarrisJr pic.twitter.com/SrMHqbjjuG
— Still Will (@itsWILLe) March 12, 2014

Yep, it's real.

The Broncos also brought in Ward, who had 129 tackles and two interceptions for Cleveland in 2013. The Broncos are looking for some stability at a position that got juggled last year, with the loss of Rahim Moore and the inconsistent play of Duke Ihenacho. Veteran Mike Adams, also formerly of Cleveland, started the season as a reserve but ended up in the starting lineup.

"He's a young, explosive strong safety who is going to bring a lot of energy and toughness to our secondary," Broncos boss John Elway said of Ward.

Denver's big receiving news Tuesday was a two-year extension for fourth receiver Andre Caldwell, who could move up a notch because the Broncos and Eric Decker have parted ways.

I salute you Broncos Country for an amazing ride these past 4 years! Great teammates, great… http://t.co/DyeSrPhUI8
— Eric Decker (@EricDecker87) March 14, 2014

Caldwell came on late in the season when Welker was sidelined with a concussion. The 28-year-old Caldwell had 11 of his 16 receptions over the final three games of the season.

His most productive game in 2013 was against San Diego on Dec. 12, when he had six receptions for 59 yards and two TDs.

Caldwell was held without a catch in the 43-8 loss to Seattle in the Super Bowl.

"Hopefully I can compete for an extended role this year and contribute a lot more to the team," Caldwell said.

Caldwell received an invitation from Peyton Manning to attend offseason workouts at Duke University. Last spring, only Welker, Demaryius Thomas and Decker were invited to work on their chemistry with the five-time NFL MVP quarterback.

"It's just a process of building confidence with those guys all the way from April," Caldwell said.

Ward is expected to be a main piece around which the Broncos reshape a defense that was obliterated by an injury epidemic last season, losing Von Miller, Harris, Derek Wolfe, Kevin Vickerson and Moore.

Official like a referee with a whistle! #gobroncos #horsepower #milehighmagic #orangecrush http://t.co/76qZfLZi6q
— T.J. Ward (@BossWard43) March 12, 2014

The Broncos also could seek a replacement for linebacker Wesley Woodyard, a free agent who is now a LB for the +Tennessee Titans.

They'll need a new starting guard now that Zane Beadles has agreed to terms with Jacksonville.

Running back Knowshon Moreno is a free agent as well after rushing for 1,038 yards and 10 TDs in 2013.

The Broncos also hired two new coaches on Tuesday, bringing in assistant offensive line coach James Cregg and offensive quality control coach Bo Hardegree.

Welcome to Mile High, Mr. Talib. Congratulations!

Aqib Talib, @Broncos reach 6-year deal worth $57 million, per @AlbertBreer: http://t.co/DZZwCt2Due pic.twitter.com/rcjhDpL5Vo
— NFL (@nfl) March 12, 2014

Patriots Owner Deflects Blame on Agent as to why Welker was not re-signed

David Butler II / USA TODAY Sports
What led to the departure of Wes Welker (pictured with Patriots owner Bob Kraft last season)
from New England?

Wes Welker might still be in New England right now if his agent hadn't pushed the wide receiver to test the free-agent market, Patriots president Jonathan Kraft told reporters Saturday.

Kraft, son of owner Bob Kraft, said the +New England Patriots made Welker a sizable offer before he hit free agency, but Welker's agent turned the offer down. The younger Kraft contends that it was only when Welker wouldn't play ball that the team turned its attention to adding Danny Amendola.

"We still offered Wes before free agency started, more than he ended up getting in the open market," Kraft said, via the Boston Globe. "But once free agency started, we went out and signed Danny because he fit a construct that worked within our system, and we couldn't take the risk of losing both Wes and Danny. So it really wasn't as much about the money, it was about trying to do a deal with Wes before free agency started. His agent had a view of the world that we didn't think was realistic."

Welker is headed into the second year of a two-year, $12 million contract with the +Denver Broncos, after making $9.5 million on the franchise tag in his final year in New England. Kraft said that, had Welker stayed in New England, he would have fared better financially in the long run.

"We had actually offered Wes a deal the summer before that on a three-year basis would've left him in a financially better place than what he's gonna end up having been in over those three years," Kraft said.

------------------------

+BRONCOS CR3W would rebut or at least like to do so, that in the honor of one-sided story's, we are inclined to believe +Wes Welker was done with the unknown and the games after being franchise tagged for one season. Only can endure so much from a love/hate type personality as Coach Belichick.

No Love Lost Between These Two (Welker, Belichick) Goes Without Saying

+Denver Broncos Wes Welker shakes hands with former coach, +New England Patriots Head Coach, Bill Belichick

To be fair, +Wes Welker fueled the animosity last year when he told Sports Illustrated that Belichick would rip him in front of his former teammates in New England. Welker said when he spoke with members of the Denver media, he was not worried about any backlash from his coach, but was always concerned about Belichick’s reaction in New England.

Their relationship did not improve when Welker applied a hit on New England’s Aqib Talib, which injured the cornerback’s knee and prevented him from reentering the game on Sunday. Talib reportedly does not have major knee damage, but his absence contributed to New England’s loss.

Those are just a few reasons why Belichick did not embrace Welker like they were long lost friends after the game.

To be fair, Belichick is not known for his warm and fuzzy moments. Belichick normally looks like he’s enduring an IRS audit whenever he is in public. He might be the life of the party behind closed doors, but portrays less personality than Ferris Bueller’s teacher when the cameras are on.

Welker may have expected a heartfelt moment with Belichick, but that was not going to happen

High Octane Broncos Offense can Grind it out too

SUPER BOWL 

Who: Broncos (15-3) vs. Seahawks (15-3)
When: Sunday, Feb. 2, 6:30 p.m.
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
Line: Broncos by 2
TV: Fox



ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — After hurrying Denver’s quick-strike, high-octane offense through a record-shattering regular season, Peyton Manning has turned the Broncos into a slow-grinding, clock-eating machine in the playoffs.

Denver’s three most time-consuming drives of the season have all come in the last two weeks, helping to render opposing passers short-tempered sideline spectators.

In dispatching the San Diego Chargers and the New England Patriots, Manning 'dinked and dunked' his way downfield.

“To keep Tom Brady on the sideline is a good thing,” Manning said after directing two epic drives in Denver’s 26-16 win in the AFC Championship.

Denver’s downshift, some of it by design, some due to circumstance, has thrown a new wrinkle into an already formidable test that Seattle’s stingy defense will have to prepare for in the Super Bowl.

After averaging seven plays, 65 yards and just over 3 minutes, 10 seconds on their 71 touchdown drives during the season, the Broncos have doubled the time to 6:23 in the postseason and the touchdown drives have averaged 12 plays and 79.4 yards.

With a wealth of receivers in Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, +Wes Welker and Julius Thomas and a rejuvenated running back in Knowshon Moreno, the Broncos are the first team in NFL history to sport five players who each caught 60 or more passes. Each member of this quintet also reached the end zone 10 or more times, something that’s never been done before.

Offensive coordinator Adam Gase capitalized on all that firepower, Denver’s altitude and Manning’s deciphering of defenses at the line of scrimmage to ramp up the Broncos to breakneck speed with a no-huddle offense that created mismatches in 2013 after taking over from the more conservative Mike McCoy following last year’s playoff upset.

The +Denver Broncos scored an NFL-record 606 points. Their 37.9-point average was the highest of the Super Bowl era and second only to the 1950 Los Angeles Rams, who averaged 38.8 points.

The Broncos could have beaten that mark, too, had Manning not sat out the second half at +Oakland Raiders in Week 17 after guiding Denver to a 31-0 halftime lead.

Taking away the three field goals backup Brock Osweiler led the Broncos to this season and Denver’s five return touchdowns, Manning’s offense accounted for 565 points in just over 453 minutes on the field.

AP Photo: Peyton Manning, Knowshon Moreno

Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno has carried

the ball 479 consecutive times, without a fumble

 That’s 1.25 points per minute. 

Scoring doesn’t come as easily in the playoffs, however.

The most prolific team before this season was the 2007 Patriots, who scored 589 points, an average of 36.8, in the regular season and then averaged just 22 in the postseason, losing the Super Bowl 17-14 to the New York Giants.

While the Broncos have scored on 10 of their 14 drives this postseason, not counting the two possessions that ended in victory formation, half of those have been field goals by Matt Prater after promising drives stalled at their opponents’ 27, 9, 17, 2 and 35.

In the regular season, they had 71 touchdown drives and 25 field goals.

That accounts for a lot of their dip to a 25-point scoring average in the playoffs.

Yet, they’re in greater control and their defense is better than it’s been all season, yielding just 17 and 16 points after allowing 24.93 points per game in the regular season.

Credit Manning for keeping the Broncos on the field for an average of 35 minutes, 35 seconds to his opponents’ 24:25.

Philip Rivers, whose +Chargers led the league in time of possession and had controlled the clock for more than 38 minutes in both of their regular-season matchups against Denver, watched helplessly as Manning converted 9 of 13 third downs in their divisional playoff game.

Manning had a tone-setting, 14-play, 86-yard touchdown drive that took 7:01 to start the scoring, then staved off San Diego’s furious fourth-quarter rally by converting two key third down passes to Julius Thomas to chew up the final four minutes.

“If we got it one more time, I believe deep down that we would’ve tied that thing up,” Rivers said after San Diego’s 24-17 loss. “Those are all a bunch of what ifs.”

Against +New England Patriots, Manning directed drives that lasted 7:01 and 7:08, covering 93 and 80 yards in 15 and 13 plays, respectively.

It was quite a change for the Broncos, who kicked off the NFL season against +Baltimore Ravens with a 24-yard touchdown that took all of 5 seconds, one of Manning’s record-tying seven that night.

Demaryius Thomas’ third-quarter TD Sunday capped a drive that took almost as long as those seven TD drives in the opener combined.

“Usually we score fast,” he said. “But we had a 13-play drive and I got to the sideline, that’s all everybody was talking about. I didn’t know. I just knew we scored.”
___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org
___

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Broncos vs. Chargers Divisional Round Highlights

Watch NFL Networks recap highlights of the +Denver Broncos victory over the visiting, hot +San Diego Chargers. 24 - 17 to advance to the AFC Championship Game. A very impressive showing by the home crowd, both lines were the affirmation for the #Broncos #BroncosFaithful #BroncosCR3W #SDvsDENAFCChampionship

Broncos vs. Chargers Divisional Round Highlights

Manning, Broncos Advance to AFC Title Game After Beating Chargers

Recap | GameTrax | Box Score | Play-by-Play | Drive Chart | Depth Chart

17

24

Chargers (10-8)

Broncos (14-3)

	1	2	3	4	Tot
Chargers	0	0	0	17	17
Broncos	7	7	3	7	24

Manning, Broncos advance to AFC title game after beating Chargers

The Broncos avoided a playoff letdown against the Chargers.

UPDATED JAN 12, 2014 10:33 PM ET

DENVER (AP)

Peyton Manning took a knee again, just as he had at the end of regulation exactly a year earlier..

Only this time, he trotted off to cheers, high-fives and smiles.

Manning welcomed Wes Welker back into the lineup with a touchdown toss Sunday and the Denver Broncosnarrowly avoided a repeat of their playoff slip from last year, advancing to the AFC championship game with a 24-17 win over the San Diego Chargers.

The Broncos (14-3) took a 17-0 lead into the fourth quarter before Chargers quarterback Philip Riverscapitalized on an injury to cornerback Chris Harris Jr. to stage a comeback reminiscent of Baltimore's shocking win 38-35 win in double overtime at Denver.

On that night, Jacoby Jones hauled in a 70-yard pass from Joe Flacco to tie it and Denver coach John Fox had Manning take a knee so the Broncos could regroup in overtime.

This time, Manning rescued the Broncos from the brink of another crushing collapse and sent them into the title game for the first time in eight seasons.

They'll host the New England Patriots (13-4) on Sunday.

Get ready for Brady vs. Manning once more.

In the most recent matchup of QBs with Hall of Fame credentials, Tom Brady and the Patriots rallied past Manning and the visiting Broncos 34-31 in overtime on Nov. 24.

"That's two of the greats," Eric Decker said. "It's going to be talked about a lot throughout the week."

"It's the Broncos versus the Patriots and certainly Tom and I have played against each other a lot," Manning said. "But when you get to the AFC championship, it's about two good teams that have been through a lot to get there."

The Chargers regretted not trying another onside kick after Manning converted a 20-yard pass to Julius Thomas on third-and-17 from his 20-yard line, the first of three third-down conversions on Denver's final possession.

In their playoff loss last year, they couldn't salt away a fourth-quarter lead, in no small part because of curious calls and inexact execution.

"I felt like that game last year forced us to address those types of situations all season long," Manning said. "We've worked on it in training camp, we've worked on it in the season. ... It was nice that all that hard work paid off for us."

Manning also hit Thomas on third-and-6 from his 45, then the Broncos iced it on Knowshon Moreno's 5-yard burst on third-and-1 with 1:12 left.

"When they got that first down I was jumping up and down," Broncos defensive lineman Malik Jackson said. "It was delightful."

San Diego coach Mike McCoy, who was Denver's offensive coordinator a year ago, was downcast in Denver once again, and so was Rivers, who had led his team to five straight do-or-die wins.

"If we got it one more time, I believe deep down we would've tied that thing up," Rivers said. "But we didn't. Those are all a bunch of what-ifs."

Manning ended a personal three-game postseason skid in winning for the first time since leading Indianapolis over the Jets 30-17 in the AFC championship game on Jan. 24, 2010.

Manning completed 25 of 36 passes for 230 yards and two TDs, numbers that weren't quite up to the standards he set during a record-breaking regular season when he established new benchmarks with 55 TD passes and 5,447 yards.

But it was windy and the Broncos were intent on establishing the run and controlling the clock, and they converted 9 of 13 third downs while holding the ball for 35 minutes.

After gaining just 18 yards on the ground against San Diego last month, the Broncos ran for 133 yards, including 82 by Moreno, whose 3-yard TD run put them ahead 24-7 with 8:12 left.

After that, things got interesting.

Keenan Allen hauled in a 49-yard catch with Quentin Jammer in coverage on fourth-and-5 from the San Diego 25 with seven minutes left. That led to his second TD -- both from 16 yards -- that pulled the Chargers to 24-14 with 5:43 left.

"We got those two touchdowns in the second half, but it's unfortunate we didn't get started earlier," said Allen, who finished with 142 yards on six catches.

Decker then made his third big blunder of the day, flubbing the onside kick, which San Diego recovered, leading to Nick Novak's 30-yard field goal with 3:53 remaining that pulled the Chargers (10-8) to within a touchdown.

Novak followed with a pooch kick, and Trindon Holliday secured the ball at the Denver 27 with 3:51 left.

Manning's third-down brilliance kept the Chargers' offense on the sideline.

"Third-and-17, I was thinking we were definitely going to get the ball back," Allen said. "And we were feeling good on the offensive side, having the momentum. It was just unfortunate we didn't get it."

Notes: In the first half, Decker tripped at the San Diego 30-yard line after a 47-yard punt return. "I guess it was that invisible fence that got me." said Decker, who then let Manning's pass in the end zone bounce off his chest and into the arms of linebacker Donald Butler -- Manning's first red zone interception of the season. ... Welker wore an oversized safety helmet. ... Manti Te'o and Marcus Gilchrist sustained concussions. ... Denver did not punt for the first time in its playoff history and just the eighth time in NFL postseason history -- three of those came with Manning under center.

Broncos #1 Seed Hopes Back in Their Hands

#WTGDolphins! Denver is in your debt. #Broncos 
#BroncosCR3W Love to see Kraft, #Hoodie, and 
#CryBrady drop one anyway. 
Photo Courtesy and Right: +Miami Dolphins - (AP)

MIA 3rd year raw WR, Matthews, looks like he could be a player coming into form. Dolphins Head Coach, Philbin has done an impressive job with all that has happened with that franchise this year. Would love to hear the media talk about that instead of NE, RGIII this week. Every once in a while they can touch upon QBs from same class as RGIII, like #Tannehill, Wilson, Luck! All of these QBs have been more impressive pro QBs than RGIII personally. Disney wants RGIII to be the megastar, any ESPN viewer can see that, but why not just let them become stars and then hop on which one shows that. Regardless of the name on their jersey (front or back) or when they were drafted or the praise that +ESPNU/college coverage turns them into, during college. Touch upon this subject another day: #DisneySports (c)

Miami, FL - +Miami Dolphins beat the +New England Patriots 27-23 in Miami in Week 15. Holding them to an interception on 4th & 5 on the MIA 11 as time expired. Brady used the slant after slant, mainly to Edelman and Amendola, to move the ball, but Miami made one adjustment to seal the deal. Tannehill has really shown some growing up as Miami remains in prime spot to attain last wild card spot, 8-6 record with +Baltimore Ravens playing at the +Detroit Lions tonight with a 7-6 record. +Chargers 7-7 are right behind them. +Tennessee Titans went to OT but lost to +Arizona Cardinals at home and now stand 6-8. The result gave the +Denver Broncos control of being the #1 seed in the AFC despite their surprising short week loss to San Diego on last Thursday, making their record 11-3. Patriots were 10-3 and with a win they would have tied the Broncos record and owned the tiebreaker because of the head to head tiebreaker. Patriots beat the Broncos 34-31 in OT in week 12. +BRONCOS CR3W says thank you!! #GoFins. In honor of the #Fins, we give Miami some love by recognizing perhaps the second best cheerleader squad in the +NFL. Behind the #BroncosCheerleaders, of course. :D #UnitedinOrange (ironically played in what some refer to as the #OrangeBowl in Miami) #Broncos #Dolphins #Patriots. #Chiefs visiting San Diego is a major match up for both sides. +Kansas City Chiefs handily beat the +Oakland Raiders to go 11-3, but they lose on the tiebreaker with the Broncos. Broncos swept them in both games this year. Week 11 at Denver and Week 13 at Kansas City. Hopefully this woke up the Broncos. To be touched upon. the results and base vanilla game plans on Thursday nights (a reason why Thursday night games tend to go against the grain in terms of blowout games and surprise results, more than usual. Time for the +NFL to take this under consideration AND if safety is a concern of theirs like they say, then they should not force a team to play Thurs. Night Football games unless they were on a bye the week before. Something the +NFL could easily implement and produce a higher quality product as well. If they don't change it, it should not go on beyond week 11 in our opinion. Scrutinize the pro's & con's later. NFL branding #TNF could be much more effective if they have teams playing off of a bye anyway. Games would mean more, be far more superior in quality of play every week as well. Games could become quite exciting and anticipated if they did so... #FoodforThought