Broncos D is key to Victory Over the Chiefs

McCoy's Offensive is Vanilla 101.

So it’s down to one game, win you’re in lose you’re out. The Broncos Fans should rejoice at the opportunity to even be in a position to earn a playoff spot. No one predicted they’d get this far and certainly no one including me thought after they started with a 1-4  record that they would be in this position. Therefore this season is a total bonus and a gift far too many fans don't seemed to really appreciate. Win or lose this Broncos team has been one of the biggest group of overachievers in franchise history.

The Broncos Defense has been one of the worst in the NFL since 2005 and at the start of season the only significant change to the D was going to be that Elvis Dumervil would be coming back from injury and Von Miller would be starting at LB. So John Fox took a group that was basically the same team as last year and turned them into a better overall unit. During the winning streak the Broncos were hustling, tackling, covering, creating turnovers and pass rushing as well as any D in the league. In the last 2 games that’s not been the case and that’ll have to change even if they’re playing a terrible Chiefs offensive team.

There’s no question that the Broncos got creamed by the Bills last week in all 3 phases of the game, O, D and Special Teams. But the collapse of the D was the most glaring. I just kept waiting for the Broncos to get out of the 3 man fronts and put pressure on Ryan Fitzpatrick but it never happened. It was a mirror of the Patriots game the week before where Fox did the same and went into a zone D playing way to deep and allowing big passing plays to start short or down the middle of the field. Granted the Broncos had an injury to Brian Dawkins, 2 Rookies were forced into service in the backfield and Miller was playing with only one hand but they gave way to much respect to the Patriots and Bills Receivers.

Fox seemed to forget what helped win games and that was playing an aggressive D by blitzing and putting pressure on QB’s. It didn’t matter if they lined up in 3 or 4 man fronts they were not getting any QB pressure whatsoever. The other noticeable and ugly part of the game that’s eluded the Broncos D the last 2 games is good tackling by the front 7. Mays and Woodyard hustled and tackled very well during the win streak but in the last 2 weeks they’ve all but disappeared. They and the rest of the team let the Bills run wild with a back up RB playing against them. Since the Broncos DL is really the biggest weakness of the D all season the LB’s and DB’s must tackle at the point of attack again if they hope to stop the Chiefs. I just pray that Fox pulls out all the stops this week and gambles on D because this team can’t win if he doesn’t. 

You could say the same about the Broncos O in the last 2 weeks as well. The conservative approach by Mike McCoy via Fox on O has been an utter disaster the last 2 games. Fox is playing the kind of small ball that only Dan Reeves could be proud of. The only problem is Tebow doesn’t have the experience or skills yet to bring a team from behind like Elway could in the passing game.

At some point he has to let Tebow have some chances to throw on first down early in the game. The run on 1st, run on 2nd and pass on 3rd and long then punt it away on 4th didn’t work against the Pats or the Bills and it won’t against the Chiefs either. There has to be some balance in their strategy because the Broncos are not really fooling anyone and if the running game gets stopped early the Broncos should attempt to air it out.

No one can deny that Tebow had a horrible game last week but the truth is he was put in 3rd and long way to many times and since he as an average to a below average set of Receivers who can’t consistently get separation and have often dropped balls he isn’t going to succeed if he isn’t allowed to have more passing attempts.

That’s the key here… Everyone says Tebow can’t be a passing QB in the NFL but he hasn’t had many attempts to do so and when he has the opposing D’s know it and brought the heat on him. Waiting until the team is down by 2 or 3 TD’s then letting him air it out isn’t going to win many games with this group of WR’s so McCoy must let him throw on 1st and 2nd down in this do or die game.

I know the media has focus on the Kyle Orton angle this week but I think it’s irrelevant to how the game will be played out. Orton isn’t going to be the deciding factor in this one, it’ll be the Broncos D controlling the game, the Broncos O playing with same balance and minimizing turnovers and playing the game to win it not to lose it by Fox that’ll be the difference.

This is a one the Broncos can and should win and I believe they will but if they don’t they have no business being in the playoffs. No matter what the outcome it’s been an amazing season and as a Fan the games on Sunday were fun and exciting to watch again. Next year looks to be much better too. 

Denver Broncos "Opportunistic" D = W's

Wesley Woodyard forces Barber to fumble the game away.

3 days later the first thing that comes to my mind after the Chicago Bears game was how many people call this win just dumb luck. The other comments by Non-Broncos Fans and the NFL Pundits were that Marion Barber LOST the game for the Bears. This just isn’t true at all, while Tebow continues to draw all the media attention the Broncos D has been quietly under the radar playing some of the finest defensive games I’ve seen for 6 years. They WON the game Barber didn’t LOSE it.

What some seem to forget is that while Barber did run the ball out of bounds it was because DJ Williams forced him out of bounds. Now… should Barber of hit the deck a second sooner on that play? Yes, but if you look at the replay he was running full speed trying to run straight up the field near the sidelines and DJ pushed him out. So DJ’s hustle play forced Barber out of bounds, Barber really was in a bad position to be sure but it was a snap play and a snap decision he had to make. DJ, who should be considered one of players of the game, had 9 tackles (led the team) and 2 sacks. But the Barber hustle play alone helped to extend the game. 

What about the fumble in OT? Again…some would say that Barber fumbled the ball but what I would say was Wesley Woodyard made an outstanding defensive play by stripping Barber and causing a turnover.

If this were any other team in the league or any other defense in the league without a guy named Tim Tebow at QB maybe this would be how many might describe what happened in the 4th Q and OT. In my opinion this is what you call playing “Opportunistic” Defense. Good defensive teams create turnovers, good field position and momentum shifts. This is exactly what happened in the Bears game and has manifested itself many times during this current winning streak.

One of the important factors that can’t be overlooked was just how much Von Miller contributed to the game even though he played it with a cast on one hand. How can your teammates not get motivated when they see you flying around the field with one hand disabled and still making tackles and sacks? Miller had 4 tackles and 1 sack and his presence on the field for the Broncos D is directly and equally in proportion to Tebow leading the charge for the O.

The Broncos turnaround is 2 fold. Tebow’s passion and never say die attitude and the Broncos D playing a full 60 minutes of solid football. Tebow’s heroics are well documented but much of the success lies in a Defense that has been an amazing group of overachievers.

This week the Broncos D is going to be the difference again between winning and losing against the Tom Brady aerial show. The Broncos should easily shut down the Patriots running game. So it’s my hope that Fox gambles at every opportunity to get pressure on Brady. If he has to send 6 or 7 guys to get to him on every obvious passing play he must. He’ll have more success doing that than trying to play a conservative zone coverage game against Brady. The only way the Broncos can win this game is by bringing pressure early and often and making Brady earn every passing yard by hurrying him, knocking him down or better yet sacking him as many times as possible.

If Champ and company can keep the clamps on Wesley Welker and Rob Gronkoski, the front 7 get pressure on Brady and keep the game close the Broncos have an excellent chance of winning this game. I don’t see the Broncos O winning a shoot out no matter how horrible the Patriots D is, because Brady wins those every time.   

The best chance the Broncos have to beat the Patriots is by continuing the same formula that has brought them this far. A turnover free time consuming conservative grind it out smash mouth O and a very aggressive “Opportunistic” D will bring it home for the Broncos. I know no one outside of Denver is giving the Broncos a snowball’s chance in hell of winning this one but I see another great game and a W in the win column. You heard it here first. GO BRONCOS!!!

Broncos Fans Celebrate the Day!!

For almost a month and a half, the Broncos have been winning. Some of the games were not a thing of beauty at the time, but are still wins. During that time we’ve been subjected to the ‘so called’ experts and NFL Pundits on the internet, in print, on radio and TV and worst of all, many Broncos Fans. To many Fans had all but given up on the team at game 6 of the NFL Season. It seemed as if everyone had totally dismissed the idea of winning…. not so much with Tebow’s game on the field, but because of a personal hate and grudge for what he is as a man.

Some of these Fans were ready to throw in the towel and do what’s been done for the last 5 years…. look to next year’s draft or for next year’s QB. This year it started after game 5 of the NFL season, with 11, yes 11 games yet to be played.

I guess I’m different. When Tebow started his first game against the Fins I was just a fan, being in the moment, watching a game hoping my team would win one. I didn’t have the TV remote in one hand and my iPhone in the other checking the latest college QB’s statistics from the day before or trying to figure where the Broncos draft position would be if we lost to them.

The height of the insanity came when I saw a post made by a fan on a Bronco’s message board. First and foremost, I have to say this person is one of the best contributors on the board. He’s an intelligent, even handed guy who’s as die-hard as they get. But even he had been driven to think more of next year than the present one. And with his post that calculated what the Broncos losing percentage would be as it related to next year’s draft, I was at a loss for words. I’m sorry, but that just goes beyond anything I could possibly imagine going into week 6 of an NFL Season.

In the beginning I had my doubts about Tebow too. Today (And that’s what really matters) the guy is a real live Clark Kent. As Kent, I’m not sure he’ll ever be a Superman, which is fine with me as long as he continues to improve and more importantly helps the team win. If he succeeds at this feat, I don’t care what he does off the field.

I think the doubters and haters would much rather have a Dark Knight than a Clark Kent. A cerebral Batman type QB that’s a genius on the field and off. Tebow isn’t that complicated, his life is orderly and simple. He puts all of his love and faith in God first, and then loves his family second. His final priority is to be completely devoted to being the best team football player he can be.

Personally I think those are qualities to be admired, not hated. We’ve been subjected to a whole league full of thugs that have committed every terrible vice known to man and call it acceptable. But we somehow can’t seem to accept Tebow? He wears his faith on his sleeve and he comes from a very successful Florida program. That alone sets him up to burned at the stake by a bunch of wolves who hate the idea of a goody two-shoes succeeding at anything, let alone a QB of an NFL team, especially ‘their’ team.

Winning supersedes all ills and winning breed’s confidence. Winning, no matter how so many Broncos Fans would like to apologize for it or say it’s a fluke…is still winning. The wins in week 6 and 8, no matter how ugly they were, will only matter because they bring the Broncos one game closer to winning the AFC West and a playoff berth.

It’s too bad more Fans can’t get used to the idea of winning and having Tebow as their QB of the future. I’m having the time of my life right now. I can’t wait to see the Bear’s game. If the Broncos make the playoffs, win or lose, it’ll go down in Bronco’s lore as one of the greatest seasons ever in my book because so many had written them off, and many of them…. are so called Bronco’s fans.

Turnaround on Defense Starts With Good Tackling

I can’t remember in awhile maybe since the 2005 season a better group of tacklers than this current Broncos team, at least in the last 4 games. I hope it continues because since that season the Broncos have been one of the worst tackling teams in the NFL. Recently the Ravens, Steelers and the Eagles D’s (maybe not this year, but in the not too distant past) to name a few have had great players that could tackle. Good D no matter what the scheme always starts with good tackling.

On the 2005 team for the Broncos Al Wilson and DJ Williams were both great tackling LB’s. As I remember Keith Burns was still on the team and although he wasn’t a starting LB on special teams he made his presence felt. Champ Bailey was 6 years younger then, was a fierce tackler and even though John Lynch was in the twilight of his career he could still bring the wood. The DL a long and terrible deficiency for the Broncos even on the 05 team doesn’t have any real standouts. Some might say Trevor Pryce could be but wasn’t nearly as effective as he was early in his career.

If you go back in time Randy Gradishar was arguably the best tackler of all-time. I’ve said since his retirement he should have gone in on the first ballot and been the 1st Broncos player in the Hall of Fame but that’s another rant.

Karl Mecklenberg is another guy while in his prime didn’t miss many. Say what you will about him but Bill Romanoski was one of the greatest overachievers of all time and was a hell of tackler for the Broncos. John Moberly had some good years too. Steve Atwater and Dennis Smith may have been the biggest hitters of all-time in the backfield for the Broncos along with Champ.

Getting back to today and I know I’m not telling you something you don’t already know. Von Miller is the most exciting player we’ve had on D in years. This guy knows how to tackle and doesn’t miss if he’s in range and when he gets there he brings speed, power and thump.

I’m also sure you’d all agree in large part he has to be considered the reason for the turnaround on D. What he lacks in coverage skills and sometimes not staying home in the running game (which he’ll get better at) he more than makes up for with his tackling, pass rushing ability and fierce determination. It’s amazing how one guy with his intensity level help’s inspire the other players on D with lesser talent to play at a higher level than they might not normally attain.

In the Chargers game last week the tackling and the pass rush was suburb by the whole team. A few running plays got away from them but almost every time a Charger players either run or caught a ball the first guy usually made the tackle and Rivers of course got knocked around too. It’s amazing how Miller gets a lot of attention right now but I didn’t know until I looked at the box score that DJ lead the team with 10 tackles. DJ finally realizes he’s got some good backup in Miller and has stepped up his game. Even MLB Mays has been tackling well and had some big stops. I almost forgot to mention Wesley Woodyard he leads the team in tackles.

It just refreshing to see a Broncos box score were 3 LB’s lead the team in tackles. It means that most of the running plays and the short passing game plays are being effectively stopped. It’s certainly better than seeing Champ or Brian Dawkins lead the stat sheet.  

Dumervil’s recovery can’t go unmentioned too he’s come back strong. Even Carter and Goodman tackled in the Chargers game. Bunkley has contributed too. Dawkins although long in the tooth can bring it too once in a while.

How many games have we watched over the last 5 years where on one play the Broncos would have 2 or sometimes 3 whiffs before a tackle was finally made?

Von Miller doesn’t miss, he knows how to make a text book tackle and thankfully it’s spread to the rest of the team. It’ll be interesting to see if Adrian Peterson starts for the Vikings this week; if he does it’ll be a good test to see if our D can shut down the best RB in the game. One thing is certain, offensive wins games but defense wins championships. Is this team capable of it? I don’t know but the Broncos are going to be a fun team to watch the last 1/3 of the season.

The Best O is a Good D

I always try to write about originally interesting angles and find tweaks in a game that no one else has but it's a difficult challenge. So I’ll try, here’s the spin from my orange and blue hula hoop.

First kudos to Fox, his aggressive pressure defensive has worked very well in the last 4 games. The constant pressure Rivers felt throughout totally took him out of his game. He was sacked 3 times and when he wasn’t being sacked he was chased out of the pocket or forced to throw from it before he wanted to. The Broncos held Rivers to 188 yards, that’s chump change for the Chargers O whose strength is based on airing it out.

Whether the Broncos lined up in a 3/4 or 4/3 or blitzed him they pushed the Chargers offensive line back on their heels on almost every obvious passing play. Just like almost any other QB in the NFL when given time to find a Receiver down field Rivers can tear a team a part. Too many Pundits think he’s one of the elite QB’s in the NFL but he looked pedestrian in this game.

The Broncos game plan was clear, pressure Rivers early and often with 7 or 8 guys in the box and don’t give him time to beat you deep. The unending pressure made the DB’s job that much easier against one of the finest group of Receivers in the game. One big reason for it was the Chargers OL has had a rash of injuries to their starters. So in Rivers defense he didn’t have the kind of protection he might have had otherwise. Still the great QB’s with superior talent can overcome line injuries and with a team effort can still find ways to win games.The pass rush worked well but Ryan Mathews managed to grind out 137 yards for the Chargers. This is a deceptive stat because Mathews had a several big gainers and was held in check for most of the game.

Even though the Chargers had some success running the Broncos solid tackling throughout by all position players was outstanding. They made the stops on 3rd down and more importantly kept them out of the end zone.

Von Miller is to the D what Tim Tebow is to the O. He’s a box of C4 ready to explode on every play and his passion has carried over to the rest of his teammates on D. Miller is going to win the Rookie of the Year it’s just a question of how big.

Willis McGahee had another stellar performance pounding out 117 yards as the Broncos young Offensive Line opened up some nice holes. Every week the OL seems to be playing better and better. They protected Tebow extremely well during critical passing situations when they needed to move the chains.

As for Tebow it was another solid performance executing Fox’s conservative game plan and not making any mistakes or turning the ball over. Each week his passing game improves and will continue to. He made some great throws when he had to and had some very costly drops by Thomas and Royal. His stat sheet isn’t going to win any fantasy football games but his leadership on the field does win real ones.

I’ll take as a QB who throws for under 200 yards and 1 TD and no turnovers and wins over a QB that throws for over 450 with 2 TD’s and 4 INT’s and losses every time. Some fans may not like the small ball but if it’s executed the way the Broncos have in their last 4 wins how can you complain? A win is win is a win.

There’s something very special that is happening with the Broncos with Tebow as the starter. He’s a team player, a never say die warrior, with no ego, willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win. His greatest characteristic is that he is a leader and for all the fire he’s taken off the field he’s sure provided a mushroom cloud upon it.

I don’t think it’s entirely impossible for the Broncos to run the table and even beat the Patriots whom I think is the toughest game remaining but for now it’s take them one at a time and knock off the Vikings next week. Man, the orange and blue blood in my veins is pumping my heart like a juggernaut today! GO BRONCOS!!!

Jets Flame Out as Tebow Lights Up

I’m 3 days late to the dance on a blog about the Jets/Broncos game because of my crazy graves schedule so I’ll keep game comments brief and not bore you. Then I’ll deal with what seems to be overshadowing what has been an amazing turnaround for the Broncos.

The D was awesome, they played with passion and aggression,  tremendously good tackling by every position player, good against the run and pass and most important they kept the game close so Tebow could work his magic in the finally minutes of the game.

Some would say it was a bad game to watch because there weren’t many big passing plays but I loved it. It was old time smash mouth football at its finest. I love the Defensive play in the last 3 games. The change in their overall intensity is dramatic. Von Miller is a beast, have you noticed when he makes a good form tackle how quickly the player goes to the ground with his head hitting the turf with an incredible bang like a crash test dummy?

Miller is an incredibly gifted talent with great speed, with an amazing punch during a pass rush and can tackle like no Broncos player I’ve seen in very long time. He still needs to maintain his contain in the running game but each week he’s shown improvement.

With him leading the charge on D and Tebow exhibiting that undying will to win the Broncos will go nowhere but up. You’d think that would be the primary focus by football fans everywhere and especially Broncos Fans since they’ve been winning some very tough games with a total team effort but it’s not always the case

Sadly some real NFL and Broncos Fans choose not to focus on the games themselves, or the great team and individual performances in the last 3 games. Instead far too many people seem to get lost in the off the field actions of Tebow when he openly praises God, thanks him every chance he can get and makes no apology for it. IMO he owes no one an apology and what he has done and continues to do is not harming a soul.

Some people just refuse to believe that he’s a genuinely nice sincere guy and says what he means and means what he says doing it in very classy humble way. It people are offended by what he says and smack down on him because he goes to a knee to pray and give thanks then I believe they’re got way bigger problems to deal with in their own lives and should turn inward and look in the mirror.

The wife and I give thanks everyday when we wake up and before every meal whether we are at home or eating out. We don’t flaunt nor try to shame or embarrass anyone in the process it’s about surrendering to something that is greater than us.

The way I look at it is if someone is taking prayer personal they must take other things personal and therefore have some sort of guilt, shame or confusion about what they believe. I’ve always liked the motto: “What you think of me is none of my business.” It applies here because if you’re worried about me you’ve just gone outside of your own hula-hoop and involved yourself in something that has absolutely nothing to do with you.

I have respect for non-believers; I don't shame any of the friends that I have in my circle right now because they don't believe. I live in one of the most liberal cities in America that supports every liberal cause imaginable, whether it’s gay marriage, drug legalization, going green, socialism or fill in the blank. But when it comes to faith I don’t judge anyone and keep my opinions to myself unless I’m engaged openly and honestly among friends.

On my facebook page I’ll get into politics because that’s something that’s important to openly debate but I never bash on someone who doesn’t believe in what I do from a faith prospective ever because that is the most personal choice of all and it’s the one of the many freedoms which this country was founded upon.

The same should apply to Tebow, whether you believe what he is doing is genuine or not he should have the right to give thanks in any manner he wants. It seems to me the people who are most offended tend to be people who claim to be for free speech become opposed to it as soon as it’s something of which they disagree. Whether you’re Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Agnostic or believe in the Moon Bat God or no God at all hypocrisy is the worst of all wrongs.

Just leave Tebow alone, what he believes is none of my business and is none of yours. If he makes you uncomfortable, then that’s your problem not his.

John Elway's Comments After Chiefs Game

“Tim managed the game very well and made the play to win the game when he had to.

Was an impressive team win for the Broncos and one of Tim's best game.

Tim didn't throw a lot because the game dictated us to run more. The bottom line is Tim and offensive line did what they had to do to get a win,

In the last four games the Broncos have the best rushing offense in the NFL.

Mentioned that the lack of a real off season put a delay on the lines getting in sync. Said the new backs on the team make a difference and of course the added dimension of Tim helps it all work together.

Lance Ball really stepped up and may have earned more playing time.

On potentially trying to win the division: We are trying to do that every week. The coaching staff was game-planning for the Jets game before and even "during" the Chiefs game.

Up to this point in time they are getting to their goal of being competitive offensively and defensively and putting Tim in the best position to be successful as a quarterback that can help the team. It's a process and they are trying to improve. Happy to go from 1-4 to 4-5 but knows there is more help and more growth needed.

Wants to build a program that will sustain itself. When dealing with a young QB and adjust an entire system on the fly, the staff has to tinker in season and its taken some time to start to put together what they needed to but very happy with the process.

On if he can win long term running 80% of your plays: We won like that early in my career. I don't think we'll do that every game, but when it makes sense we will.

On Von Miller: He's playing at a high level, the level we knew he could and expected for the second pick in the draft." Praised Dennis Allen for an awesome game plan and disrupting Cassel in KC. “

Elway & Tebow: A Tale of 2 Games in KC

JOHN ELWAY 1998

 In 1998 the Denver Broncos were facing a very good Kansas City Chiefs team who had home field advantage throughout the playoffs in KC in the second round of the AFC Divisional Playoffs.

The game turned out to be a very tough defensive battle in which Elway went 10 for 19 for 170 yards. One of his pass plays went for 43 yards on a catch and carry so if not for that play Elway would have had just 127 passing yards for the day. You must remember that the Broncos had Ed McCaffrey, Rod Smith and Hall of Fame TE Shannon Sharpe on that team. In this game the leading Receiver was McCaffrey who had 3 catches for 56 yards.     

Terrell Davis was the star of game as he had been all season for the Broncos and ran for 101 yards and 2 TD’s. The final score was 14-10 Broncos and this led them to a Super Bowl winning season and only the 2nd Wildcard team in NFL history to accomplish such a feat.

TIM TEBOW 2011

Today in a game that couldn’t come close to matching neither the importance nor the talent level on both teams a similar scenario did unfold.

Tebow was a measly 2 for 8 for 69 yards. One pass completion was to Matt Willis for 13 yards the other a 56 yard pass to Eric Decker for a TD. Tebow had 9 rushes for 43 yards and 1 Rushing TD. Final score 17-10 Broncos.

Here's 3 stats about Tebow that'll get little ink but should. He's been sacked 14 times behind the 2nd youngest Offensive Line in the NFL and only has 1 Interception and 1 Fumble lost in the 4 games he’s started this season. 2 TO’s in 4 games is an incredible stat given the constant pressure he’s been under in the pocket and with all the rushing attempts he’s had thus far this season.

While it’s complete insanity to compare Tebow to Elway from a skills prospective the one important similarity here is that both QB’s didn’t play great games nor put up great stats but still lead their respective teams to victories.

Willis McGahee and Knowshon Moreno were both out of the game in the 1st quarter. So Lance Ball was pushed into service and had 30 carries for 96 yards. It wasn’t like Tebow had a solid running game to back him up in this one but it was enough with the help of a great defensive game plan.

The Defensive effort by the Broncos was the best of the season. Von Miller, Elvis Dumervil and company shut down the run and harassed Matt Cassel from the opening snap on. The only negative aspect of their performance was the 2 drops by DB’s that should have been easy INT’s. Given that the Broncos no matter what set of players they’ve had on past or current rosters have had a hell of a time beating the Chiefs at Arrowhead. It’s no small feat to beat the Chiefs at home no matter who they've have had on their team or who lined up for the Broncos.

I don’t know about you but winning is the only thing that matters, the only thing. When the 2011 season is over Owners, Coaches, Players and NFL Pundits are not going to look back at losses where the losing team or QB put up fantastic stats and lost. The only stat that matters is the win/loss stat and this one belongs in the W column and was rightfully deserved since it was another team win.

One finally irony to me is that all the NFL Talking Heads had the Eagles in the Super Bowl at the beginning of the season. Today with Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin and a good TE in Brent Celek the Eagles lost to a Cardinals team with John Skeleton at QB, Beanie Wells at RB and of course the only great player on their offense Larry Fitzgerald at WR. The Cardinals have one of the worst defensive units in the NFL. So I don’t care if WR DeSean Jackson was in the lineup or not for the Eagles, this is game were they have no excuses because this is one they should have easily won.

The Broncos and Tebow are 4-5 and one game out of first place in the AFC West. The Eagles with what appears on the paper as a way better set of players on the offensive side of the ball are 3-6, 3 games out of 1st in the NFC East and tied for last with the Redskins.

I’ll take the ugly win all day long, over being an Eagles Fan that's for sure. I’m proud to be a Broncos Fan today and even more proud of the Broncos for winning a tough game on the road that many didn’t expect them to win.

Joe Paterno is no innocent party to Abused Children

Joe Paterno may have a way out on the PA child molestation reporting law as it is written but his troubles are far from over. In my opinion he still had a legal and moral obligation to do the right thing for the children’s sake in this case and he clearly didn’t do that. For that what every comes down on his head he fully deserves because if I were the parents of one of these children and I found out the most powerful man at Penn State had purposely minimized this incident to protect his friend, I would want just a big of piece of his hide as the perpetrator of these heinous crimes.

As a result of his neglect a serial sexual predator of children was allowed to be free another 9 years if this is when Paterno actually first found out about Jerry Sandusky. I’m not sure I buy it because molesters like Sandusky never stop and you can bet he abused other children before the 2002 case came to light.

The PA law on reporting child abuse is somewhat vague. At the very least Paterno could be charged with Obstruction of Justice and possibly perjury charges. He most certainly will face civil litigation from the victims’ families. So he may have dodged the reporting laws but he’s far from being absolved of any wrong doing.

Here’s part of the story about the coverup as reported by the Sports Illustrated Article:

“Under Pennsylvania's Child Protective Services Law, certain individuals, including teachers and school administrators, have a legal obligation to immediately report suspected child abuse to child protective services or law enforcement, or to a "person in charge" (supervisor), who must then report the alleged abuse to the authorities. The reporting must be honest. When in writing, the reporting must also include known information about the nature and extent of the suspected abuse, along with other material details.

Within one day of learning from McQueary of the alleged abuse, Paterno notified Curley, his boss. By doing so, Paterno satisfied an obligation to immediately report to a person in charge.

On the other hand, one could read the Child Protective Services Law to classify Paterno as himself a person in charge of McQueary and as one who had a subsequent obligation to report to the authorities. Still, Curley's status as Paterno's boss likely insulates Paterno from liability, at least for failing to notify child protective services or law enforcement.

Paterno may have nonetheless violated the Child Protective Services Law by failing to tell Curley the specific story as told by McQueary and by failing to provide known information about the nature and extent of the suspected abuse. As discussed above, if McQueary's testimony is true, Paterno appeared to downplay the severity of the incident while speaking with Curley. His portrayal seemed incomplete, if not outright disingenuous. Also, while Paterno made his initial report of the suspected child abuse to Curley by phone, any written communications would have required the known information.

In Paterno's defense, law enforcement authorities have indicated that, in their current view, while Paterno appeared to do the bare minimum, he technically satisfied his legal obligations under the Child Protective Services Law. Whether that viewpoint proves sustainable could depend on the development of new and more incriminating facts and public pressure.”