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Denver Broncos Look to Make a Statement Before Even Taking the Field
Published: January 2, 2010
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Josh McDaniels wants to build a winning team in Denver. Beyond that goal however, he has proven that he is a coach dedicated to building a winning mentality.
With the Denver Broncos in a 2-7 rut following their early season winning streak, they find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture with one game to go. The Broncos (8-7) will play a Kansas City team that has underwhelmed on the whole, but has proven capable of upsets over quality teams (having beaten a backsliding Steelers team in overtime in week 11).
For this critical game McDaniels elected to deactivate the team’s leading offensive weapon in Brandon Marshall. He went a step further by making clear the move was not purely for health reasons, calling it “a coaching decision, not a medical issue.”
He elaborated by stating “our word for the week has been accountability. And we’re looking to put the 45 guys on the field on Sunday that want to play together, want to help us try to win and qualify for the playoffs, and anybody that showed any indifference to that, we’ll play without them.”
With their playoff life on the line, McDaniels elected to drill a point home to the rest of his team; anyone is expendable if they don’t show the proper fire and desire. The chances of a second reconciliation in the offseason (after starting this year in a tumultuous fashion) are quite slim.
Marshall had complained of trouble with his hamstring, and maintained he would not have been able to go should McDaniels have left him active. McDaniels disagreed.
“There’s a number of players that are going to play on Sunday with things that are much more difficult to deal with than what he has,” he stated, taking care to drive the point home by making mention three separate times.
Marshall disagreed, but kept his comments milder than he had during the offseason, “I don’t think Coach ever played in the NFL, so for my hamstring to be feeling the way it felt, it’s tough for me to go out there and expect to play at a high level,” Marshall stated, “I’ve battled through a whole lot of injuries before. I played the whole year last year with a tear in my hip. So, I don’t think my toughness is in question here.”
One of Marshall’s major contentions during the offseason when making trade demands was how the team handled his prior injury. He had claimed the extent of the injury was concealed from him, and that he was encouraged to play through the injury despite its severity.
When asked of McDaniels’ references to accountability, Marshall continued, “Well, accountability and injury is different, you know?” He then added, “I pulled, well, I wouldn’t say I pulled my hamstring, it’s definitely not that bad, but it’s tough.”
Ultimately McDaniels contended that Marshall was putting self interests ahead of the team, possibly concerned with how a poor game might impact his value in the offseason at the expense of fighting to earn the team a playoff berth.
The 6-0 start behind a team thought to be beginning to rebuild was a signal to a changing culture. McDaniels now has to fight the same second half woes that led to a collapse by Denver after an 8-4 start virtually assuring them the division collapsed into an 8-8 close that cost Mike Shanahan his job.
Will McDaniels’ far more hard-line approach ultimately benefit Denver? That remains to be seen. With a win Denver could earn themselves a playoff appearance, but in doing so they have likely just lost a pro-bowl wide receiver.
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NFL Playoffs Left in Question Following Big Weekend
Published: December 14, 2009
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All Denver and Jacksonville had to do was win to become virtual (though not mathematical) locks to secure the AFC wildcards. In the NFC the Cowboys and Giants could solidified the NFC race with wins, yet instead watched Philadelphia leapfrog ahead to the division lead while the Cowboys and Giants appear to be fighting for that sixth seed now.
In a weekend that could have been filled with coffin nails, hope survived just a little longer for several teams who won while those ahead of them largely fell. Now teams thought long out of the playoffs still see a glimmer of hope. In the AFC especially, 9-7 may just end up edging into the playoffs.
Miami defeating Jacksonville held the most blatant impact. With a win Jacksonville would be 8-5 and hold a solid lead with a pair of difficult games upcoming. Facing New England and Indianapolis, the 7-6 Jaguars could easily see an 8-8 finish after a 7-5 start.
Miami meanwhile kept its hopes alive by ascending above .500 for the first time all year. Facing the Titans, Texans, and Steelers, they have a much greater chance of running the table and finishing 10-6. Their big playoff question will come down to week 16 when Jacksonville plays New England. If a struggling Patriots team manages a loss, Miami may just be able to squeak into that divisional seed. If Jacksonville drops that game, Miami will be in a great position for the sixth and final playoff berth.
Baltimore finally assumed the role of ‘other AFC North team’, which had been given to Pittsburgh by default ever since Cincinnati assumed sole possession of the division. They have failed to string together consecutive victories since the 3-0 start against San Diego, but have a great opportunity to break that trend with Chicago, Oakland, and Pittsburgh remaining on the schedule.
The mostly disappointing Jets and temporarily deflated Titans have also watched playoff hopes continue. The New York Jets dipped above .500 for the first time since week five (which was ironically a loss to the aforementioned Dolphins). At 7-6 they occupy a four-way tie for that sixth seed with the Jaguars and Dolphins.
Facing two playoff teams (Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals) and one desperate to stay alive in the playoff hunt (Atlanta Falcons), the Jets schedule is the toughest by far of the wildcard hopefuls. They will need the Colts to give Manning and company a lot of rest week 16 to hope for a 2-1 record and a 9-7 wildcard.
The Tennessee Titans were considered eliminated for all practicality after falling to Indianapolis last week. The unfortunate scheduling bump in the road against an undefeated Colts team following a string of five straight victories dropped the team to 5-7.
At the time it was thought even an undefeated run and a 9-7 record would come up short. Instead they just might be able to squeeze out the last spot thanks to several tough games for those 7-6 teams. Next week’s direct battle with Miami may just decide who holds onto that final seed.
So who will grab that AFC wildcard? It will likely come down to Miami versus Baltimore. The Ravens and Dolphins fight will likely come down to a tie-breaker between the two 10-6 teams. Both would have the same conference records in that scenario, which means a tie-breaker involving the ‘best win-loss percentage among common games’.
Competition is much less bunched together in the NFC. Assuming the Packers maintain their fifth seeding, three teams are vying for that sixth and final seed (four should San Francisco upset Arizona tonight). Atlanta (who would share 6-7 with San Francisco), Dallas (having just dropped behind the Eagles in the division and stand at 8-4), and the New York Giants (hoping the Cowboys continue their December ways while sitting a game back at 7-6).
Dallas currently holds lone possession of that sixth seed, and is even still fighting for the division after dipping a single game below Philadelphia. They do face a difficult remaining schedule, playing the New Orleans Saints, much improved Washington Redskins, and finish the year head-to-head with the Philadelphia Eagles.
It is highly likely Dallas plays out the season to t tune of a 1-2 finish that lands them at 9-7. This would require a lot of help to get them into the postseason. If Washington can play as they have the last few weeks, a 2008 Broncos emulating 8-8 finish is not unheard of.
The New York Giants may find themselves cheering on Philadelphia just after losing to them in a 45-38 shootout. One game back of Dallas and still trying to regain form after a torrid start to the year, the Eagles topping Dallas in week 17 might very well be the game that puts New York into the playoffs.
The Giants play two winnable games against the Redskins and Panthers, followed by a season-closing tough matchup with Minnesota. New York will likely have to hope the Vikings, having secured the second seed, will take a note from the Indianapolis Colts and give their starters significant rest in that final game.
The troubles in Dallas and New York provide Atlanta some hope despite another loss. At 6-7 and suffering from a multitude of injuries, they have to hope they can get hot while Dallas and New York continue their late season difficulties.
The Jets, Bills, and Buccaneers all constitute winnable games. They should be able to finish 9-7. Unfortunately their fate is more in the hands of the Cowboys and Giants, and how those teams respond to difficult final schedules.
Ultimately the NFC’s sixth seed might very well back into the playoffs; all major competitors to that final seed are witnessing difficult stretches, going a combined 5-10 in the last five games. Whichever one can break the trend first should be able to secure the final wildcard. At this juncture it would appear Dallas’ mid-season surge should be enough to hang on for that last playoff berth.
Instead of discussing how the playoff matches are beginning to shape up, this week continued to shake things up and continue the debate over just who will make those playoffs. Teams on life support continued to breathe while others looking for solid ground found quicksand. Judging by play and final schedules it would appear Dallas and Baltimore should be the teams to grab those sixth seeds, but the truth will probably be in doubt through the final weekend of regular season play.
To see just how some playoff standards have dipped below expectations to open room for these teams see:
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