AFC Championship Reflections
Posted by BroncosFreak on 23 Jan 2006 4:45 pm. Filed under Broncos Articles.
A few random thoughts as I’ve reflected on the Denver Broncos’ loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday in the AFC Championship Game:
- Not to take anything away from Pittsburgh, but it was a day where everything went their way. They made the plays they needed to make, and the Broncos didn’t. I can’t help but think how it might have changed the game if Champ Bailey would have intercepted that early pass rather than have it bounce of his shoulder pads into the hands of Hines Ward (if I remember correctly).
- Mike Anderson was looked good and the Broncos were successful running the ball early. He seemed like he was falling forward most of the time, as opposed to the Patriots game last week.
- Rod Smith described in the press conference how Jake Plummer is a good QB, but he has to let the team make him great. Yesterday, he was not great. I’d have to credit both Jake and the players around him for a less than stellar performance. I will gladly welcome Jake back next season as the start — something which I will likely post about more in the next week or so.
- Tatum Bell impressed me when he knocked Troy Polamalu to the ground with a stiff-arm. How many times has that happened to Polamalu this season? That play got lost in all the other chaos surrounding the game, but should be remembered.
- The Broncos got beat at their own game. All season they won by generating an early lead with turnovers and disrupting the offensive gameplan of the other team. It’s not so fun to watch when your team is the recipient of it as when your team is doing it.
- The AFC will still be very strong next year, but the Broncos can return as contenders. They aren’t that far off. Here’s hoping that veterans like Rod Smith, Tom Nalen and John Lynch see how close they are and return to offer their leadership.
On January 23rd, 2006 at 7:41 pm
No offense to Jake Plummer, but talk about Karma, the way how he played against the Steelers on Sunday reminded me the way Kordell Stewart played four years ago against the Patriots in the AFC Championship. Like Stewart Plummer had the reputation of throwing bad passes and getting intercepted and like Plummer Stewart went to Pro-Bowl that year and was considered MVP award. After his performance in the AFC Championship game the Steelers realized that Stewart wasn’t the quarterback to lead his team to the Super Bowl and was briefly replaced by Tommy Maddox before giving it away to Ben Roethlisberger after being drafted in the first round.
I’m not saying that Plummer is Kordell Stewart, infact his alot better than him and his capable in leading his team to the Super Bowl. But I think the Broncos should consider drafting a quarterback in possibly in the 2nd round like Omar Jacobs from Bowling Green, Brodie Croyle from Alabama, Darrell Hackney from UAB or Barrick Nealy from Texas State. I think if the Broncos build an offence with a strong running game around a young quarterback like the Steelers did with Ben Roethlisberger in his first year he’ll eventally grow during the season and possibly in his second year he may lead his team back to a Super Bowl contention. In just my opinion and I want to congraulation on your team for a wonderful season.
Peace
Alistair
On January 24th, 2006 at 3:18 am
I have to say, Jake took his lumps like a man. He could have blown up and blame the O-line, but he didn’t (and he would have had a case, too). He is still working the demons of Arizona out of his system, and we may have seen the last of them. His performance this year was not thrilling, but it was consistent, which is much more than we could say in years past. Jake will come back better next year, and when/if they make it back to the AFC title game, let’s hope he has to do less dancing away from sacks/getting up from his backside/getting hit, and more play like we saw in the regular season.
~Tommy