Pretty Pathetic....

Like foam Bronco heads and fleece Bronco dreads.

Not too common to decide to post something before halftime, but this game is nothing short of a disaster that I can barely stand to watch. I'd like to personally thank TD and 30PT for NOT finding me a spare ticket down on the outskirts of Mile High pregame. I think I might have bolted this game sooner than that fateful drubbing 41-3 the Chargers handed us at home back in 2007.
Just ugly on every level so far as we enter the half with the Broncos (finally) getting on the board to pull within 31 pts....at halftime. 38-7....at halftime. Down by 31 points at halftime....to the Raiders....at home.
Terrible turnovers, shitty tackling, still no running game.

The one great takeaway here is that I'm safely on the couch and not present for the 3rd straight year of the Broncos losing to the Raiders at home....oh, and Cutler threw 4 picks today which is a slight consolation as well.

UPDATE: We're just halfway through the 3rd quarter and the Raiders have already tied their franchise record for points in a game.

ANOTHER UPDATE: 3rd quarter still not over and the Raiders have now set their franchise record for points in a game. (59) They look to be enjoying piling on too.

Back in the Day

Many of you probably don't remember Chris Stewart's first glimpse of fame prior to his NHL days with the Colorado Avalanche (pictured far left). I would like to remind all of you that he was an Actor first. Some of you may remember that he was in the movie Roll Bounce. Roll Bounce was the story of a roller dance team from the south side of Chicago. This group of roller skaters is led by Xavier (played by Mr. Wow) into competition against the Sweetwater Rollers and the superstar of Chicago roller skating, Sweetness (played by Mr. Nick Cannon).
Every Avs fan should take a minute and watch this feel good film set in 1978 Chicago while we are waiting for the Sharks.

Take A Knee Mr. Stewbag

The NHL Stewbag is really maturing and becoming a force much sooner than the MLB Stewbag. In addition to the scrappiness mentioned a couple of posts ago by ST, Stewbag is displaying a deft scoring touch. With two more goals tonight (both PP goals I believe), he's leading the team in that category. Sure it's very early in the year, but Stewie was doing this much of last year. He looks like the real deal and is very fun to watch.

The tough five-game roadie ends at 3-2. Very respectable. Nice little start to the Avs season actually....now for some home cooking...

This post could have been much different....

However, stupid mistakes, miscues, and penalties help send the Broncos to another defeat. A game they could have won. A game they probably should have won.
Snapping the ball? I thought that was Centering 101. I guess our guys are still working out the kinks on that shit.
4th down, game on the line, the opposing team throws up a dying duck pass all you got to do as the defending back is turn around and merely watch the ball hit the ground. Best not to stick your hand behind you and on the receiver...much less his facemask. Damn you Renaldo Hill. Poor decision there.

I guess some good can be taken away. The running game wasn't quite as abysmal as it has been the previous 5 games. Still, that is an issue in general. Weird after all those years of running prowess to see your team dead-last in that category.
Tebow? Not sure I'm ready to buy this, but I like the "let's try something" attitude that the coaching staff is putting out there. Tebow gadget plays look to be safe diversions.
A successful mid-game onside kick? Sure, love it. (Broncos don't capitalize though)
His stats were pedestrian I believe, but Orton worked some nice passes to his corps while they were well covered by the vaunted Jets Revis/Cromartie combo that resulted in catches.
At least we're tied with the Chargers and Raiders for last place in the West...things could get nuts with some well played divisional games.

Stewie don't mind a fight....

...seconds into the 1st period. Strange way to start a game that ultimately was pretty disappointing. Don't know much about these Gorton's Fishermen, but I would have assumed this would have been the "easy" game on this lengthy roadtrip. Not so.
Avs wait until the 3rd to get anything on the board. Too little too late.
2nd youngest team in the league looks to be enigmatic I'd think throughout the season. Still look forward to watching Stewart, Yip, McLeod, Duchene etc. Excitement tempered with some frustration is sure to prevail. MSG and Rangers remain before returning home.

That Hole Looks Big Enough

Been a while since I rapped at y'all. Broncos continue their futility against the Ravens. Why do we seem to play them on the road ever year? Why can't we every beat them (and no, not even when Shanny was coach)? Why does their middle field emblem cover the entire field? Why must our rushing offense and defense suck so bad? Why do we have zillions of penalties and they seemingly open up huge holes and give Flaco all day to throw without a holding penalty?

Orton continues to compile numbers and look good, but without a running game to speak of, it makes it mighty tough to sustain drives. Especially with all of the ill-timed penalties. I guess realistically speaking, winning one of these last two road games is an acceptable road swing. Would be nice to see some semblance of a running game taking shape though. The schedule will ease somewhat in the coming weeks, and winning against the Jets and Raiders at home seems doable and probably kind of necessary to get this season heading in the right direction.

Somebody Might Want to Block This Guy

Bummer of an opening game for the B'cos. Definitely looked like a winnable game, but the B'cos made too many mistakes against a Jagoffs team that made enough plays and had no turnovers (wow, how is that for cliche analysis?). There were some positive signs, but several things are concerning if they continue over the next few games.

1) Offensive line looks vulnerable. The youth of the line showed and Orton seemed to be under heavy pressure every pass play. The Jags barely had any sacks all of last season and had 3 midway through today's game.

2) Run defense wasn't impressive. Even when they had to know the run was coming, the Jags consistently busted pretty sizable runs for a good stretch of the game.

3) Special teams coverage continues to suck. Why is that the B'cos haven't been able to cover a kickoff or a punt for what seems like a decade?

4) Cutler actually won today (although the Bears got pretty damn lucky). How does one rack up almost 400 yards passing, have great field position all game, and only manage to score 19 points (7 points on a 90-yard screen pass) at home against the Lions?

Will be curious to see how the Broncs play next week at home against Seattle (a classic AFC West showdown). Should and needs to be a victory, or it could be a very long season.

Who got the chronic?

No Shame in that Game

Thoroughly outplayed, injured, no help from the refs, 8 seed vs 1 seed, what do you expect? Would've been a nice story to advance, but this team has a future. Go Avs....

Would You Stop Getting Bitch-Slapped by the Sharks?

Brutal game last night. After a fairly close 1st period, this looked like the 1-8 seed matchup one would expect. Lack of offensive weapons is really hurting. One regulation goal the last three games ain't gonna get it done. The lack of offensive pressure also reeking havoc on our defense, as we are in our own zone 90% of the game. Andy can't save 50 shots every night. Oh, not that its' why we're down in the series, but the lopsided penalty calls aren't helping. The Avs have by far the least amount of power plays in the playoffs. Just saying....

I'm predicting a big game for Yip in Game 6.....

Tim Tebow? Never heard of him...

I know I'm not that "up" on college football, but you'd think that the Broncos would have chosen someone in the first round I've at least heard of. Maybe I might have heard mention of him while I was whizzing past College Gameday some Saturday this past fall wishing NHL was a televised sport?

OK. All kidding aside, I HONESTLY have never heard of the WR from GaTech that the Broncos took a few spots before Tebow. But that's not too surprising.

Josh McDaniels just basically hitched his entire NFL coaching career, one would have to assume on some level, to Tim Tebow. He wheeled and dealed and traded down and then up to get him at a spot that though totally intriguing, most Kiper McShay's would call a reach. Very curious...and a tad bit exciting. Because I have heard of him.
We'll see. Got to give it to the Broncos, they often have a way of making the draft interesting. Anyone got a spare Maurice Clarett #20 jersey?

You can't let Kyle Korver beat you, if you want to go far in the playoffs...

Tucked-In Jerseys, Phantom Goals, Craig Freaking Anderson

God Bless Stewbag

Stunning, stunning finish. Playoff hockey is kind of fun to watch. A tip of the hat to Rob Blake for deflecting that Stewbag shot in for the game winner (for the Avs).

"Face Tennnesee"

You Will Score The Goal That Puts The Avs Into The Playoffs

And just like that, the Avs are in.....the Sharks or Hawks? Doesn't matter much to me. Besides the late season slide, this team was fun to watch throughout the vast majority of the season, exceeded expectations, and has given Avs fans a lot to be excited about going into the future. Bravo fellas...now it's time to pull a '94 Nuggets and upset a number 1 seed....

What is "2 points"? I'm confused by this concept.

Rare clutch win. I'm still thinking it's time for a line change.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves...

Pretty much everyone in Avs-land was making playoff plans a couple weeks ago. Popping the champagne and shit. Basically, in awe of what this team did with little, or no expectations.
Wow. You can pretty much put those plans on a permanent hold.
This slide has been precipitous. Sorry Avalanche....you can't play the Blues every night.
Tonight was a bit different than the lamp-burning affairs that have characterized this fall in the Western standings. Anderson played a decent game but the Avs couldn't put goals on the board. That said, Anderson and the defense have played like shit for about 7-8 straight games. Stretch run or no...this season was/is heading toward the trash bin, I would've liked to have seen Budaj spell Anderson at some point during this bed-shitting. I'm no Budaj fan but Andy was as far from "standing on his head" as a goalie could be, trying to hold a playoff spot as the season closes. The season is closing much faster than most thought...

Not liking the similarities.

That game last night was rather hard to watch/listen to. I had to stop once it hit 5-1 mark.

That 2-point lead over the Flames is starting to worry me a bit; winning games wouldn't be bad thing to start doing. The fall in the standings is especially tough to take when you consider the Red Wings are now in the 6 spot. Time to clean some sheets.

WTF?!?