It plays like a re-run. The Denver Broncos claw and sometimes, crawl to a halt each game and beg people to bet against them. Just when they appear like a bottom third National Football team on their way to a loss, they take it up a notch.
Sunday, in front of 76,379 fans, the Broncos gave their faithful their money’s worth. Through three-quarters, they outplayed the Indianapolis Colts, who had bested them eight out of the last nine meetings, nearly in every category except the scoreboard. A rash of defensive penalties, missed opportunities on offense and a lone, awful turnover had the game tied 13-13 with nearly the entire final quarter to go. Then it happened, as it always happens; someone came up big.
“It was a third and long play, and coach [Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips] called a vision defense,” Aqib Talib said of the game-changing play. “I saw our D-line got pressure on (Colts quarterback Andrew] Luck, so I kind of just sat down in my zone with anticipating seven stop, and that’s what he ran. I was able to make the play, make a guy miss and go home.”
Talib jumped in front of an Andrew Luck pass intended for wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, picked the ball out of the air and took it 46 yards for a touchdown put the Broncos back in front 23-13 with 13:5 left in the contest. It was the play the entire team seemed to be waiting for. The Broncos would add 11 more points but it was his play that turned the tide.
The Broncos’ offense had marched up and down the field to start and finish the game but a missed Brandon McManus 54-yard field goal to cap their opening drive was a precursor to an often frustrating afternoon. The Broncos netted 400 total yards, converted 45 percent of third downs, punted only twice and rushed for 134 yards but only managed one touchdown.
“We only stop ourselves and that is how we always feel,” left guard Max Garcia said of the offense’s mixed performance. “It’s just us not making the right calls so yeah it’s frustrating but once we get back on the sideline we regroup and know we can get it right the next time.”
They settled for five field goals, converting four, allowing the Colts to stay in the game. It was a narrative that carried over from week one.
“A little bit of both to be honest with you,” Siemian said of the mix of frustration and confidence following the win. “It is encouraging that we are moving the ball but there is stuff we need to clean up and get better at and finish on those drives. Make it a little easier on our defense but it’s encouraging because we are making some progress. If we clean up some of those things, I think we have a chance to be a heck of a group.”
Oddly, the frustration was not limited to the offense. The defense also dominated the Colts but Andrew Luck slipped past a defense that hit him 11 times and eventually sacked him another five times. He tied the game on the first drive of the second half and continued to fight until the last tick of the clock.
“Third and 20 and he scrambles for 20 yards is frustrating,” Miller said of Luck’s persistence throughout the contest. “We got all the rushers in the world, we got all the schemes, we got all the calls, you know, and for him to run for 32, that is definitely frustrating. To come out there in the second half and let them drive down the field and score a touchdown, that’s definitely frustrating,”
The Broncos defense was penalized six times, three of which came on the Colts’ game-tying drive, but they would not be deterred.
“We got a resilient bunch on defense and offense,” Miller said after the win. “We will just keep on fighting and take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.”
The offense responded to Talib’s big play by answering the Colt’s second touchdown with 4:02 left in the game. Siemian came out firing and lead a steady drive down the field aided by a magnificent catch and stretch for a critical first down by Demaryius Thomas. However, the end result of the drive was, again, another field goal extending the Broncos lead to 26-20. But, as usual, the defense would finish the opposition’s attempt at a victory.
Miller himself seemed to quicken into the fourth quarter, sacking Luck three total times. His second sack occurred as Luck tried to lead his team to a go-ahead touchdown with just 1:51 remaining. Miller strip-sacked Luck and Shane Ray recovered the fumble and returned it 15-yards for a touchdown. The Broncos added a two-point conversion and Miller added his last sack on the last play of the contest. Despite allowing the Colts to stay in the game, leader and starting linebacker Brandon Marshall knew the win was always within their grasp.
“There’s always belief,” Marshall said with sincerity. “We know we have the best defense in the league, the best defense on the field, so no matter how much time is left, who we’re playing against, we know we’re good.”
The Broncos seem to take each game down to the wire with all spectators and teammates alike, waiting on the game-changing, game-winning play. While it seems like a forgone conclusion that that play may not always come, once again Sunday it did. Everyone but the Broncos Country knew it would.
