resurrectionsong

October 24, 2003

My Beloved Broncos

Jake Plummer is out. Ian Gold is out. Ephraim Sallam is out. Steve Beuerline is out. Ed McCaffery might be out.

We haven't been particularly lucky with injuries this year; now we must put our faith in a quarterback who hadn't played NFL ball in a few years. This could be a slightly painful football season.

It doesn't help to read this:

Calling John Elway, John Elway. Heck, calling Jeff George, Jeff George.
The Broncos are in big trouble. Denver is solid, but has been hamstrung by two quarterback injuries.
Jake Plummer is likely going to miss another month after already missing the past two games to a shoulder injury and then a freak foot injury suffered in the dangerous confines of his living room.
Then his replacement, Steve Beuerlein, nearly had his pinkie snapped off Sunday against Minnesota. The Broncos are down to Danny Kanell as their starter.
This team has it all, but with Kanell it has nothing. By the time Plummer returns, Denver’s strong 4-0 start could turn into a 5-5 mess.

I'd be all for Jeff George if he wasn't poisonous to every team he plays for. Gifted with a great arm and athletic talent, cursed with a vile temper, selfishness, and poor decision-making.

Yep, these next few weeks could sting a little...

Read the story.

Posted by zombyboy at October 24, 2003 11:10 AM | TrackBack

Comments

I don't think it is quite as bad as all that, though.
Okay, fact: it is easier for a back-up to come in and finish a game, because the opposing defense hadn't prepared for you. Expect lots of schemes and blitzes.
However, Kanell looked...poised. You still have Clinton Portis. You still have Mike Anderson. You still have Trevor Pryce leading one of the better D-lines and Nalen leading one of the best O-lines in the NFL, you will still have balance and will still be dangerous. The injury bug does pretty much eliminate you from catching KC for the Division title, but I think a wildcard berth is still likely. I think you'll win .500 for the rest of the season, at least. And while I think this tips things in our favor for the next meeting, I am by no means penciling in a win over you guys.
Keep the faith, man, it's not all doom and gloom.

Posted by: nathan at October 24, 2003 05:25 PM

Heh. You're probably right.

I wanted to catch KC, though...it was shaping up to be a hell of a battle for the AFC West. Ah, there's still a lot of football left to play this season. Kannel didn't look bad, and I'm hoping he'll look inspired after a week of practice (assuming that he plays--he didn't practice today because of the flu; he was hooked to an IV and is "probable" for Sunday).

Clinton Portis and Mike Anderson will be our most dangerous players for a bit--and that's not a bad thing. Just probably not enough to win the division.

Posted by: zombyboy at October 24, 2003 05:38 PM

Kanell was out with the flu for a day or so? And missed practice? Oh, lordy. I hope you have a creampuff this week on your schedule.

And a collapse by KC is still possible. Considering the ability of Vermeil, not likely, but it has happened before, and some of the 7 wins we have were with smoke and mirrors. But not all of them.
Your problem is that KC is in the middle of a creampuff stretch right now. I really don't see how KC isn't going to end up any worse than 13-3, and that would mean you can lose only one more game all season to even tie. And if we beat you for that loss, we have the first tie-breaker....
But anything can happen in the playoffs.

Posted by: nathan at October 24, 2003 06:08 PM

How come no one ever talks about Dan Marino coming back to QB in situations like this?

Posted by: nathan at October 27, 2003 03:39 PM