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you guys take it, I don’t even know what to say about this…

Oak 20- Den 19 in Denver

Disgusting

Frye-Guy

Charlie Frye has been named as The Oakland Raiders starting quarterback for this Sunday’s Week 15 match-up against the Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High in Denver. This will be the first start for Frye as a member of the Raiders. Frye was a 3rd round selection in the 2005 NFL Draft out of Akron by the Cleveland Browns. He has appeared in 23 league games with 20 starts. He has completed 366 of 590 pass attempts for 3,573 yards and 16 TDs during his career with Cleveland and the Seattle Seahawks. Frye will get the nod over JaMarcus Russell. Frye has played in just two games over the last three seasons; and though he has started both of them, he did not have much success in either appearance. The Raiders signed veteran quarterback J.P. Losman on Tuesday as an insurance policy in light of knee injuries to starter Bruce Gradkowski. Time to work out those kinks and really stick it to Oakland’s J.V. squad. We have little to gain and everything to loose in this which SHOULD be an easy win. If we even faulter a bit JMaC will have hell to pay.

Speaking of hell to pay in the coaches seat. Jim Zorn has had a tough season in D.C. (despite beating the donkey’s) that team has dwindled in the 2009/2010 season. Zorn’s job status is believed to be tenuous, with the Redskins’ record at 4-9 and three games to play. The Redskins on Thursday hired Bruce Allen, son of late Redskins Hall of Fame coach George Allen, after Vinny Cerrato abruptly resigned. The Redskins and former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan have begun talks over Washington’s still-occupied head-coaching position, The Denver Post has reported, a day after the team hired a new general manager. We speculated about where Shanahan would emerge, perhaps Dallas, Buffalo or Washington. We knew he wouldn’t put himself into a program like Cleveland or Detroit and no way in hell would he work for Oakland again. So could Shanahan be a good fit in Washington, just days prior Clinton Portis announced he thought they should let him go even if it ment sharing time as a number two back. I wonder if that changes anything for “Mr.Big-Stuff”.

Shanahan

After a tough loss I like to find something that makes me feel good. No it’s not comfort food or guilty pleasures. It’s good old fashion division rivalry hatred. Nothing makes me feel more at home and comfortable than hatting on Oakland. It’s sad really how the once proud silver and black who were the terror of the AFC have fallen on such hard times, it takes away from the fun were your most competitive rival wears powder blue and is called the super chargers (try saying it without a lisp, impossible), but hey as long as we beat them down, I’m not complaining. They are the model for every antagonist in sports movies. The villan always wears black even going back to old westerns.

The Raiders just Stink!

As we prepare for the week ahead I want us all to reflect and think of found memories, seems fitting around the hollidays. But I don’t want your holliday cheer unless it involves a holliday raider hater moment. This show is for fans, by fans and also about fans. We want more feedback! Please dig deep this week and tell me a favorite Raider Hater Moment. Here’s some fuel for the fire.

-Legendary Bronco QB John Elway while on the rebound from his divorce begins “dating” a raider cheerleader. Guess he took the fans that screamed obsinities to heart (let’s go with “screw the raiders”). He’s now engaged to marry Oakland Raiders cheerleader Paige Green.

Not bad John, not bad.

-A rookie is born, Denver’s Eddie Royal and Jay Cutler pick the Raiders aparts 44-14 in the 2008/2009 season. Royal, whose NFL debut couldn’t have been stronger. Royal caught 9 receptions for 146 yards and 1 TD to become the NFL’s leading receiver through Week One. He repeatedly shook loudmouth Raiders CB Deangolo Hall off his routes, burning the former Pro Bowler for repeated catches. Cutler was nearly flawless, finishing with a 137.3 QB rating, 299 yards and 2 TS’s.

-Snowball fight: Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson allegedly threw a snowball in the crowd and offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy tried to fight some fans after being hit with a snowball after a Broncos overtime win in 1999 at Mile High Stadium. That’s a fight your not going to win.

-Sharpe hurt: A feud between former teammates Shannon Sharpe and Bill Romanowski turned ugly when Romanowski, with the Raiders, wrestled on the ground with Sharpe at the end of an incompletion in 2002 and dislocated Sharpe’s elbow.

Watch out when he starts swinging.

Shanahan fired: When Oakland fired Mike Shanahan, below, in 1989, Al Davis didn’t know he added fuel to the Broncos rivalry. Shanahan, who was always upset over a large sum of money he said Davis owed him (rumor has it, it’s 200 bucks), had a 21-7 career record against Oakland.

Should have just paid the man.

- Shanahan invents “freezing the kicker” and a fad is born: Sebastian Janikowski gave the Raiders an apparent overtime win with a long field goal in 2007. But Shanahan called a timeout moments before the kick. Janikowski missed the second attempt and Denver ended up winning.

-Big tie: One of the first great moments for the franchise came when kicker Jim Turner booted a game-tying field goal in a 1973 “Monday Night Football” game and the Broncos tied the Raiders 23- 23.

I love when tough skeletons pout.

-Moses down the sideline: In the first quarter of the 1977 AFC Championship Game against Oakland, receiver Haven Moses’ 74-yard touchdown gave the Broncos a 7-3 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

-The taunt: Perhaps no legend in the rivalry has lasted longer than a quote from Broncos linebacker Tom Jackson. With the Broncos beating the Raiders in the 1977 season, Jackson told Raiders coach John Madden, “It’s all over, fat man!”(Boom!)

Doing what Raiders do, penalties and arguments.

-Controversial call: Broncos running back Rob Lytle fumbled in the 1977 AFC Championship Game against the Raiders. The only problem was the officials ruled it was still Denver’s ball. The Broncos went on to win and go to the Super Bowl.

So it’s Rivalry Week, what sticks out in your mind?

Josh McDaniels has been given numerous “kudos” for the Broncos unexpected 6-0 start and their current 8-5 record.  However, the most recent loss to the Colts, in which the Broncos outplayed the Colts (see total yards, turnover margin, and Brandon Marshall), there were a number of questionable calls that led the Broncos “L”.  In particular, were the two fourth and 1’s where McDaniels choose to run the ball with Moreno, though the Colts had 10 players in the box.  The Broncos failed on both of these attempts, which prevented two potential scoring drives.  Now this decision to run the ball comes in a game where the 6′ 4″ Brandon Marshall, who would eventually set the NFL record for most receptions in a game, is matched up against a 5′ 8″ cornerback.  The Colts could not stop the pass the whole game, particularly when the ball was going to BM.  JMcD should have chosen to air it out on both fourth down plays and let his player makers, BM, make a play.  (It worked out for Indy when Manning aired it out on a fourth down to Dallas Clark.)

There is no doubt JMcD is a good coach and has done more than anyone thought he was going to do this year.  However, in a game where the defense picks off Manning three times (Manning was “0′fer” prior to this game when throwing 3 or more INT’s), the offense moves the ball as efficiently as it did, and the Colts have no answer for BM, its a shame and a wasted opportunity not to come away with the “W”.  Broncos fans should be encouraged that our Orange and Blue can play with the best teams in the league.  However, moral victories do not count in the overall standings.  I applaud JMcD’s aggressive style, however he needed to play to the Broncos strength in the game.  I hope the Broncos get another shot at the Colts in the playoffs, because they should’ve won on Sunday and they have the talent to beat Indy and return the favor for those playoff defeats in ‘03 and ‘04.  GO BRONCOS!

Another tough game, but we did show up to play. Colts fans were worried until the very end. Defense did everything humanly possible to disrupt the future league MVP Peyton Manning but with no real pressure on the QBwe held him to 220 and  three interceptions but Peyton still racked up 4 TD’s as we struggled in the red zone loosing 26-16. On a day when Dawkins caught two heads up interceptions and Brandon Marshall broke the league’s single-game record with 21 receptions. He finished with 200 yards and two touchdowns, tying the reception record on a 5-yard TD catch. Orton helped him break the record on the last play of the game on fourth down to take the record into his grasp (breaking Terrell Owens’ record of 20 receptions in a game), Marshall was targeted 28 times, compared to 13 for the rest of the team. The run game was non existent held to 95 total yards they kept trying to get it going but Marshall remained the only unstoppable force on the field. A game we were the heavy under-dogs in we still played them well and nearly staged a heroic comeback after 21 unanswered points to start the game. The Broncos need to work in practice on capitalizing in the red zone. How about Brandon Stokely, Eddie Royal or Scheffler, are we going to try hitting anyone else on the team. They were double and triple covering “the Beast”, Brandon Marshall by the end of the game. Unfortunately the Chargers beat the Cowboys but the Jaguars lost again securing the Wild Card for now.

This was a fun week. We beat a division rival in their house and beat them well. All aspects of our game were clicking, some mistakes were made but we didn’t get upset, instead came back swinging. The Broncos have been laying some solid run game down which is exactly what we need to do. The defense has to honor the run and brings coverage in to help, that’s when we unleash the beast. The Broncos have averaged 191.5 rushing yards per game over the last two games that’s the second best average in the league. Buckhalter put up some big numbers and Moreno sniffed out the end zone. This steady pressure allows our receivers to get open and make the big plays. I like what the offense started trying to do with Brandon Marshall last week. Lots of little screens throwing RB’s and WR in front of him, eventually he broke one big. Brandon is so hard to tackle in the open field give him a block and he’s gone. On the other side of the ball our defense is providing steady pressure especially Elvis Dumervil who is one sack away from tying Denver’s single-season sack record and currently leading the NFL with 15 sacks! The pressure has caused some of the best QB’s in the league to make mistakes, Carson Palmer, Tom Brady, Eli Manning, and Tony Romo to name a few. Last week some of our younger guys were finding themselves in the right place as most QB’s don’t enjoy testing Champ and Dawkins.

This week we fly to Indianapolis to face a Colts squad that is 12-0 this year and has won its last 21 regular-season games. They haven’t put up a ton of points but there’s not a more dangerous QB in the league with a chance to win the game, Peyton Manning will take advantage. We are going to have to bring constant pressure and shut down the run. Mike Nolan has done a great job with few exceptions in the middle of our schedule. We placed (T) Ryan Harris on injured reserve. We signed (T) Herb Taylor to the roster. Harris is expected to be out for the year…again-ahhh. He and Clady together are such a force on opposite ends of the O Line. Seams like we might need some blocking help, any suggestions orange crush nation? Hmmmm who would I suggest. 22! The Colts are very beat up with 20 plus names on their injury report with(DE) Dwight Freeney, (WR) Anthony Gonzalez and (K) Adam Vinatieri on the list, even Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne are on there but they both practiced. It’s going to take another complete win from the Broncos to beat a team with as many weapons as the Colts. The scarriest part of their year is no matter who goes down or how they start a game, they find a way to finish.

There’s no way we will take this game lightly but it would be a big win for us to be the first loss on the Colts schedule. Also San Diego plays Dallas who is hit and miss every other week, a Denver win combined with a S.D. loss is what we need to take back control of our division with two division games left against Oakland and K.C. both at Mile High. So go Donks go! Get ready because a big test is coming to town. Kickoff at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday is set for 1 p.m.

One Manning down, one to go! Better Not be pointing at Elvis Peyton or you'll learn why he's the king.

Hillis ran for 129 yards over Farve's Jets last year

So I have had a rather large “Man-Crush” (thanks Rockiescast) or “bromance” with Peyton Hillis since last year. I said after this game and all season that I love when he comes in and I think he needs to be a bigger part of this “versatile offense”.

-So one of our awesome listeners and leading feedback contributors Woody wrote: “As for Hillis…
I’m a fan too, but before we all jump on his bandwagon too much, remember that by the time he came in we had the game in the bag. He was running against an exhausted and defeated defense who had already been beat up by Moreno and Buckhalter. He’s obviously good enough to be a top 2 back on most teams in the league, but it’s hard to give a lot of carries to 3 different backs. Buckhalter and Moreno are running great right now and if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”

Runs hard everytime, back at you Thomas Howard Facemasking S.O.B

It’s easy to say this offense is great after that pounding we put on K.C. this weekend. My point is merely if you look at the red zone we are settling a lot after very productive drives for field goals, don’t forget the all time leading scorer for the Broncos is Jason Elam (aren’t numbers grand). Now Prater gets to put up stats on a weekly basis. Last year or defense struggled but we were dropping 30-45 points per game. We did a lot of this with our receivers but also as every starting back found his way to the IR list Selvin Young, Michale Pittman, Tatum Bell, Andre Hall, P.J. Pope, Ryan Torain, one man emerged and I fell hard. My favorite Denver Bronco player hands down last year was Peyton Hillis. He answered the call and put 343 yards on the ground with 5 touch downs and 14 receptions for 179 yards and a touchdown in the air. As far as role players go he found his shot behind all those men, got hurt, then came back again. Lets not forget at Arkansas his role was not to just get the ball and run hard as hell but to block. Hillis is more athletic than most fullbacks, as well as faster. He runs a 4.55 in the 40-yard dash. He has tremendous receiving skills and understands the game. Scouts love his motor. His combination of speed and size makes him valuable in a number of roles. In College he would get 400-500 yards per year but also he was the driving force in front of both Darren McFadden and Felix Jones (both could use his help in the NFL), it’s easy to get overshadowed when both contend for Heisman’s. But Hillis deserves a lot of the credit for the Razorbacks’ dynamic tailbacks putting up such big numbers. He certainly helped open some running lanes and he could do just that for Denver. Let him get in the lanes in front of Moreno and Buchalter and if the play breaks down he has great hands. Big guys that move like him, can catch and block, their a dime a dozen. Get him involved, it’s all I’m saying it’s a waste to have him on the bench and just covering punts and kick offs.

Official Peyton Hillis fan club, I'm top left moving in on his fiance, her arm is oh my leg...no big deal Woody

Denver won for just the second time in 18 games at the dreaded Arrowhead Stadium (one of the toughest places to win-especially in DEC) in December as they embarrass Kansas City at home winning 44-13. The Broncos are bouncing back from that ugly four game skid with two straight complete wins. The Broncos completely outplayed the “CHEFS” but still made a few mistakes. Late in the fourth I was accused of being greedy hoping for 50 points. Sorry but I don’t just want to beat division rivals, I want to humiliate them, at home, in front of their fans! So we didn’t hit the fifty mark but what a game. First of all watching Kyle Orton completely outplay Matt Cassel who McDaniels originally hopped to work into this offense if possible in the early off-season with the Cutler debacle. Kyle wasn’t perfect throwing an interception off the opening drive and fumbling on two seperate occasions, but played through it and didn’t get rattled. Orton threw for 180 yards and pair of TD’s, working the ball all over the field. Meanwhile, Cassel only threw for 84 yards and a pair of interceptions which only earned him the bench and a view of Brodie Croyle. The true difference was the run game. Buckhalter stepped up as the beast in the hole for our run game with Moreno on supporting duty, despite Moreno getting the TD at the end of an all Buckhalter drive. The Broncos ran for a season-high 245 yards behind Correll Buckhalter (113 yards) and Knowshon Moreno (86 yards, 2 TDs). Meanwhile the Chiefs were left wondering if Hall of Fame running back Derrick Thomas (whose number and jersey was retired before the game) might come down from the box and take over. Matt Prater put in 3 Field Goals to keep the points coming.

Well the other side of the ball provided equal thrills with sacks, fumbles and interceptions, OH MY!  The secondary was everywhere allowing for multiple turnovers, two by Andre’ Goodman one fumble returned for a touchdown and an INT. Oh yeah and Elvis got it done again. A complete win with contributions on both sides of the ball. Keep it up boys we will need an effort like this against the unbeaten Colts next week.

Unfortunately our recap show will be delayed. Rhys is busy soaking up some sun so we’ll have to catch him up when he returns. Let’s see some comments.  WHO GETS YOUR GAMEBALL? Buckhalter, Hill, Moreno, Orton, Marshall, Prater, Goodman, McDaniels, who? Post comments on the blog or e-mail hosts@broncoscast.com. Don’t forget to review us on iTunes or follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

R.I.P Super Fan Barrel Man.

R.I.P Tim "Barrel Man" McKernan

A little silly but very brave. Denver Broncos long time Super Fan Tim McKernan a.k.a “Barrel Man” passed away today at age 69. Tim died in his sleep this morning of lung failure after years of battling the illness. Known throughout the NFL simply as Barrel Man, McKernan became renowned during the ’80s and ’90s for showing up to Broncos games dressed in nothing more than a barrel held up by suspenders. Never making any Hollywood best dressed list, he showed up, “game ready” to every home game. A Denver institution and icon (and sometimes eye-sore) Tim always brought his A-game. He started the tradition in 1977 after making a $10 bet that he could get on TV during a game. McKernan won the bet and the barrel he had painted to look like an Orange Crush soda can became his signature costume and resulted in him becoming one of the Broncos’ most recognized fans and a popular mascot. Thirty-two years later, after two Super Bowl wins, inductions into the fans Hall of Fame and a personal invite to John Elway’s Hall of Fame induction and a nickname known throughout the NFL, McKernan was just as big a part of Denver’s NFL tradition as any coach or player. Let’s win this one for Tim! Either way win or loose I want to see some tribute barrels at the next home game!

Battle Royal

Nice legs Tim

Elvis you are the King!

Denver Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil (92) reacts after sacking New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Denver, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009. Denver won 26-6. Elvis “The King” Dumervil had a pair of sacks in this contest extending his reign of terror on QB’s to 14 solo sacks this year. His second caused a fumble which Mario Haagan recovered to help push us toward victory. There were a lot of little mental mistakes and flat our errors which the NFL Network gets to apologize for airing McDaniels screaming at his team after 3 offensive mistakes which made us settle for a field goal in the red zone after another impressive drive. All and all, that bad taste Rhys keeps talking about, is gone. Kyle Orton led 6 scoring drives for 245 yards and because of some red zone issues had to settle for 1 TD. This set up Mr.Clutch Matt Praterkicking four field goals to keep putting points on the board. Our running tandem looked good. Moreno and Buckhalter kept the defense honest with 138 yards on the ground and a TD. Setting up Marshall to continue to wow corner-backs and audiences alike. Beast was back in action with a pair of fancy one handed catches to get the attention of everyone in a prime time game on a National Holiday. WE ARE BACK! Great Job boys.

Notice how we win when Stokley touches the ball, you can't get more open!