Thoughts over Sunday Nights Pre-Season Game 3

Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears and former Bronco QB Jay Cutler had over 70,000 fans in attendance. Talk about a play-off type atmosphere!!! All the added hype and television drama replays over Cutlers departure re-opened past wounds that probably won't heal anytime soon. Funny thing is at the end of the season last year I expected Cutler to be running out onto Invesco Field for our first pre-season game. What I didn't expect was for it to be for the other team! Irony in its best form.

Both teams on offense looked shaky from the start, and the defenses were dominating. Orton struck first on the Broncos 3rd drive that set up a Matt Prater 31 yard field goal. Cutler came right back with a drive of his own that set up a Robby Gould 40 yard field goal to tie it up at 3-3. After a few back and forth series that netted no scores the game changing moment happened that put the Broncos on the ropes. The same old game changing moment that has plagued the Broncos over the years. A long punt return to set up the go ahead score.

I have no idea why we (the Broncos) like to make high light reels for the leagues best punt returners and kick off returners. Regardless, Devin Hester took a punt 54 yards to our own 4 yard line. Chicago isn't going to try to pass the ball; they are a run first, hard nosed tough team and will hammer it in. Matt Forte put Chicago up 10-3.

Our next series ends with Kyle Orton slicing his right index finger on a defensive players helmet during an incomplete pass; he will not return to the game. Chicago gets pinned at their 2 yard line. Jay Cutler comes out and does what he used to do for Denver. He took the Bears 98 yards down the field and throws a 6 yard TD pass to Matt Forte with 13 seconds left before halftime. Chicago is up 17-3 and that is the only score that matters. In the 2nd half all the scrubs come out to play.

Personally, I was GLAD to see Cutler drive the ball 98 yards down the field. Images of Cutler in Blue and Orange immediately surface to mind. He showed everything that we used to have. The scrambling, the sliding in the pocket, the passes in tight windows for completions on the run, and especially the 3rd down conversions to keep the drive alive! McHoodie had a front row seat to view the franchise player he was too proud to acknowledge was as good a QB as Matt Cassel. McHoodie did his best to slow the 98 yard drive down with two fruitless challenges on throws from Cutler to Olsen and then the TD throw to Forte, but it was all in vain. That's what franchise QB's do! They make coaches (Lovie Smith) and they make fools of coaches (no need to fill in the blank here.)

There were a couple plays that could've changed the game in our favor. If Elvis Dumervil sacks Cutler for the safety this game is pretty much in our hands. He was just a split second slow on a few other times. And his frustration showed when he hit Cutler late for a penalty. It just goes to show you that this game is all about inches.

The Defense is definitely better, I'm sure of it now! Mike Nolan has done a phenomenal job changing to the 3-4. We are in great hands with Nolan, I hope he sticks around for years to come.

I am glad that this game is OVER and behind us. Kyle Orton can relax now and not have to try to prove he is our starter. He just has to let his finger heal. He was a bit over excited (hell I was too) which put him off target a couple of times. If there is anything I would wish for, its that Kyle Orton had a chance to come back out a couple more times to see if he could get a solid TD drive going.

The rest of the offensive weapons looked awesome. Royal did excellent, but he scared me when his arm got mashed by a big ole Defensive line man. Peyton did great, but he scared me too when he drove his knee into the turf and came up limping.

Our team is going to win some games this year. I'm confident enough to say that we're still the 2nd best team in the AFC West! IF we can beat San Diego soundly once, that will make my year! Cheers.