The Denver Post: 2014 Broncos NFL season preview

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

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nfl season preview

EMBARRASSED IN THE SUPER BOWL, THE BRONCOS HAVE SPENT THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS TOUGHENING UP RICH “TOMBSTONE” JACKSON: TOUGHEST BRONCO – EVER

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F

or the past seven months, the Broncos have had to relive, and try to forget, their embarrassing loss in the Super Bowl. Perhaps worse than the 43-8 beatdown by Seattle was the postgame analysis, that the Broncos were soft.

The Seahawks said it. The media repeated it. Deep into the summer, Seattle players kept bringing it up. The Broncos were labeled. In deciding our theme for this special section, we decided to take an in-depth look at the issue of toughness, and whether the 2014 Broncos can truly match up. Scott Monserud, AME/Sports

THE FIRST STEP TO SOLVING A PROBLEM, IT’S BEEN SAID, IS RECOGNIZING YOU HAVE ONE. When general manager John Elway looked at his Broncos after the Super Bowl debacle, he concluded that his defense needed a massive infusion of toughness so it could better complement the team’s NFL record-setting offense. Broncos beat reporter Mike Klis looks at the transformation of the Broncos during the offseason to a team those within the organization believe can match talent, and nastiness, with anybody. »16

TOUGH GUYS You can’t play in the NFL without being tough. Among the Broncos, though, there are special players who embody toughness.

Louis Vasquez »34 Nate Irving »35 T.J. Ward »36 Montee Ball »37 Demaryius Thomas »38 Terrance Knighton »39

COLUMNS Mark Kiszla throws a flag at anyone who questions the toughness of Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning in the aftermath of the Super Bowl blowout. »8

John Leyba, Denver Post file

Benjamin Hochman sees the Broncos’ acquisition of veteran cornerback Aqib Talib as a gamble worth taking in order to add sass and toughness to the secondary. »52 Woody Paige likes the Broncos’ chances of cruising to another 13-win season, despite having to play a much tougher schedule. »56

“CONCRETE CHARLIE”

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Jack Dempsey, The Associated Press

Rusty Costanza, Special t0 The Denver Post

T.J. WARD has spent his football

DeMARCUS WARE has carved out a

TOUGH? YOU WANT TOUGH?

career proving people wrong, from

potential Hall of Fame career with a

No one who has ever put on a Broncos

his days as a walk-on at Oregon to

work ethic he learned growing up in

uniform was more terrifying for op-

those who now question his speed

Auburn, Ala. In his first season with

ponents than Rich “Tombstone” Jack-

and ball-hawking ability. But no one

the Broncos, Ware is determined to

son. Even today, the former Denver

has ever questioned Ward’s toughness.

get back to his former all-pro form.

star talks tough. Benjamin Hochman

Troy E. Renck takes a closer look at

Mike Klis takes a closer look at the

went to New Orleans for an up-close

the new Broncos safety. »26

new Broncos defensive end. »30

look at Jackson. »70

The legend has grown through the years, but when it comes to NFL’s tough guys, former Eagles two-way star Chuck Bednarik was as tough as they come. »58

Cover photo by John Leyba, The Denver Post

03

NFL PREVIEW

CONTENTS

NFL & BEYOND

04

TOUGH STUFF

By Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post

TOUGHEST TEAMS IN NFL HISTORY

TOUGHEST NICKNAMES IN NFL HISTORY

1. “MEAN” JOE GREENE 2. JACK TATUM, “THE ASSASSIN” 3. MARSHAWN LYNCH, “BEAST MODE” 4. CALVIN JOHNSON, “MEGATRON” 5. JOHN RIGGINS, “THE DIESEL” Terry Bradshaw finds the going rough in the closing seconds of a game against the Oakland Raiders as Otis Sistrunk drops the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback for an 8-yard loss Dec. 26, 1976, in Oakland, Calif. The Raiders won 24-7 to advance to Super Bowl XI, where they defeated the Minnesota Vikings 32-14. Associated Press file

1. 1985 Bears

2. 2000 Ravens

3. 1976 Steelers

4. 1976 Raiders

5. 1986 Giants

“I’ve been big ever since I was little,” the “Refrigerator” once said. William Perry was probably the most memorable player from Buddy Ryan’s defense, but Mike Singletary was probably the toughest. The Bears are forever known for rebellious quarterback Jim McMahon, for emulating their head coach Mike Ditka and for dancing the “Super Bowl Shuffle.”

As the game became increasingly offensive, a throwback defense with a can’t-throw quarterback won the Lombardi Trophy. Ray Lewis, perhaps the defining defensive player of his era, snarled his way to the Super Bowl MVP award — he’s one of only four defensive players since 1996 to win it.

You knew the team of the ’70s would make this list. You just didn’t know which Steelers team. “The Steel Curtain” pitched five shutouts in the bicentennial year but actually didn’t win the Super Bowl, losing the AFC championship game to the …

They lost only once all season, thanks to their gritty offense and assaulting defense, which knocked out Lynn Swann with a clothesline to the helmet in the season opener. And they won the Super Bowl, Oakland’s first, against mighty Minnesota.

Opposing teams scored only 14.8 points per game as New York went 14-2, mauling its way to a Super Bowl many around here have tried to forget.

Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson were the soul of the “Big Blue Wrecking Crew,” which beat Denver 39-20 to win the Lombardi Trophy.

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

TOUGHEST DEFENSIVE PLAYERS IN NFL HISTORY

Chicago Bears quarterback Jim Harbaugh, now the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, reacts to being sacked by New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor in September 1993. Getty Images file

TOUGHEST OFFENSIVE PLAYERS IN NFL HISTORY

Syracuse product Jim Brown, the sixth pick of the 1957 NFL draft, rushed for 12,312 yards and scored 126 touchdowns while starring for the Cleveland Browns from 1957-65. Associated Press file

1. Lawrence Taylor, Giants linebacker. In the 1980s, I would have been scared to be in the same state as this guy. Offenses game-planned how best to avoid L.T. He was a terror.

1. Mike Ditka, Bears, Eagles, Cowboys tight end. Iron Mike was ruthless.

Most know his personality as a coach, but this was also seen as he blocked with a vengeance then made dazzling catches, to boot.

2. Chuck Bednarik, Eagles linebacker. “Concrete Charlie” was the last of the “60-minute men,” a brutal hitter who defined an era. His 1960 hit on Frank Gifford is part of league lore. Gifford later said, “Pro football is like nuclear warfare. There are no winners, only survivors.”

2. Jim Brown, Browns running back. Widely considered the best back to ever carry the football, he left the game on top but continues to exude toughness more than a half century later.

3. Dick Butkus, Bears linebacker. The hardest hitter of his era, Butkus dominated the late 1960s and early 1970s, making first team all-pro five times. The great Deacon Jones once said, “Dick Butkus hated everybody.” Speaking of Jones …

4. Deacon Jones, Rams defensive end. They essentially created the statistic of sack because of him. He dominated the 1960s with his vicious head slap that bullied helpless linemen.

5. Ronnie Lott, 49ers safety. He had this toughness that could have resonated at any position on the field. He was the soul of the 49ers’ dynasty defense. In December 1985, he lost the top of his pinkie finger while trying to make a tackle — but he proceeded to play in the playoffs.

3. Brett Favre, Packers, Jets, Vikings quarterback. He has almost become this larger-than-life figure, personifying toughness. This scrappy, smart quarterback didn’t miss a game for 18K seasons.

4. Walter Payton, Bears running back. Chicago just ran this guy over and over and he was stupendous, breaking tackles and ankles. He was the 1980s answer to the Browns’ Brown.

5. Bronko Nagurski, Bears fullback. From the time the young man named Bronislau acquired his nickname, this guy was meant to maul.

The 1930s fullback was terrorizing, famously running for a touchdown, then into a Wrigley Field wall, explaining later to teammates, “That last guy hit me awfully hard.”

06

TOUGH STUFF

By Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post

TOUGHEST BRONCOS IN NFL HISTORY

Ring of Fame safety Steve Atwater introduces himself to Packers wide receiver Antonio Freeman at Super Bowl XXXII in San Diego.

John Leyba, Denver Post file

1. Rich Jackson

3. Rubin Carter

5. Terrell Davis

7. Tom Jackson

9. Bill Romanowski

(profile on Page 70W) “Tombstone” was an apt nickname for a defensive end who knocked out opponents with a mantra of “search and destroy.”

The nose tackle made “The case for the 3-4 defense” on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1977, with a glare that would burn through Raiders black.

The running back played with a migraine in Super Bowl XXXII — and he was the MVP of that game.

Now famous for his work on ESPN, tough T.J. was a stalwart on the 1977 AFC title team, famously screaming to John Madden: “It’s all over, fat man!”

Tough? Dirty? Enhanced?

Any way you describe Romo, you can’t look past the linebacker’s imposing play in his heyday.

2. Steve Atwater

4. Karl Mecklenburg

8. Randy Gradishar

The safety had a famous hit in the Super Bowl against Green Bay and a nightmarish hit against Christian Okoye of Kansas City.

The 310th pick in the “Elway draft,” the versatile linebacker played in six Pro Bowls, snarling his way into orange hearts.

In the days leading up to the Broncos’ first AFC championship victory, their quarterback was secretly hospitalized with hip pain — but he played on Sunday.

6. Al Wilson Speedy and strong, the rugged linebacker made every Pro Bowl but one from 2001-06.

Called by coach Woody Hayes “the best linebacker I coached at Ohio State,” Gradishar never missed a game in the NFL (1974-83), and he’s the Broncos’ alltime leading tackler.

Honorable mention John Elway, Dennis Smith, Tom Nalen, Simon Fletcher, Louis Vasquez, Ed McCaffrey, Champ Bailey, Lyle Alzado.

10. Craig Morton

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

BEST QUOTES ABOUT TOUGHNESS IN NFL HISTORY “They say Fay Wray locks herself in a room when Dick Butkus comes to town.” — Jim Murray, Los Angeles Times, on the “King Kong” actress “I like to believe that my best hits border on felonious assault.” — former Raiders safety Jack Tatum “He went down hard, left in a heap by a crackback block as naked as it was vicious. Pro football was like that in 1960, a gang fight in shoulder pads.”

— John Schulian, Sports Illustrated, on Chuck Bednarik’s Eagles “Death should have feared John Matuszak. The other way around makes no sense. When the Grim Reaper came by to touch the Tooz on the shoulder Saturday night, the big guy should have sprung from his bed, ripped open his hospital gown from the neck down, roared like a primal beast and then poured the two of them a drink. He should have scared Death to death.” — Mike Downey, L.A. Times.

“I used to help out my father, a bricklayer, in the summer. I’d catch the bricks (that were dropped).

And it made me strong, catching those bricks. I wouldn’t change anything about it. That’s why I’m where I am today. Really.” — Jerry Rice, former 49ers receiver

TOUGHEST MOVIE CHARACTERS

“Swollen hands on his thigh pads, eyes fixed on the grass, Y.A. Tittle is helmetless and bleeding from the head, one dark stream snaking down his face, another curling near his ear. … The picture is now 50 years old, and Tittle is now 87.

He does not remember much anymore, but that photo is seared in his mind. ‘The blood picture,’ he calls it. He hates it.” — Seth Wickersham, ESPN.com “Any team who played him oneon-one would get investigated by the league president for consorting with gamblers.” — Jim Murray, L.A. Times, on Deacon Jones “Most football players are temperamental. That’s 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental.” — Doug Plank, former Chicago Bears safety “Conrad Dobler was just another obscure lineman until 1974, his third season, when some Vikings jokingly requested rabies shots before the game against the Cardinals. Suddenly, Dobler had acquired an image. … ‘If they played every game under a full moon,’ said one rival, ‘Dobler would make all-pro.’ ” — Daphne Hurford, Sports Illustrated “When you win, nothing hurts.” — Joe Namath, former Jets quarterback

John McClane (Bruce Willis) stops a nuclear weapons heist in “A Good Day to Die Hard.” Provided by 20th Century Fox 1. Bruce Willis as John McClane, “Die Hard” series 2. Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, “Alien” series 3. Russell Crowe as Maximus, “Gladiator” 4. Uma Thurman as The Bride, “Kill Bill” series 5. Denzel Washington as Alonzo Harris, “Training Day” 6. Brad Pitt as Tyler Durden, “Fight Club” 7. Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo, “Rambo” series 8. Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, “Bourne” series 9. Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh, “No Country for Old Men” 10. Pam Grier as Coffy, “Coffy” Honorable mention: Rocky Balboa, Clubber Lang, Snake Plissken, Charlie’s Angels, Dom Toretto, Luca Brasi, Jules Winnfield, Harry Callahan, Sarah Connor, Dalton (in “Road House”), The Channel 4 News Team (“Brick killed a guy.”)

TOUGHEST MOVIE CHARACTERS (ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER DIVISION) 1. The Terminator, “The Terminator” series 2. Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer, “Predator” 3. John Matrix, “Commando” 4. Harry Tasker, “True Lies” 5. John Kimble, “Kindergarten Cop” — Benjamin Hochman, The Denver Post

MARK KISZLA

08

COLUMN

51 GAME-WINNING DRIVES FOR PEYTON MANNING, TIED FOR NO. 1 IN NFL HISTORY WITH DAN MARINO Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has a feisty side, which he displayed in an Aug. 23 preseason game against the Houston Texans when he gave safety D.J. Swearinger a piece of his mind after he knocked Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker out of the game. Kent Nishimura, The Denver Post

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

he rap on Peyton Manning is that he is all brains and not enough, um, guts.

The criticism is garbage.

Just because Manning is smarter than the average blitzing linebacker, intelligence does not make him soft. Although a quick throwing release reduces the number of times Manning is sacked, playing quarterback in the NFL is a dangerous job. And Manning has four neck surgeries to prove it. No player survives 16 years in football’s most stressful job without being tough.

“I liken playing quarterback in the NFL to being a race-car driver.

Some folks say a quarterback or a driver is not really an athlete. Well, let me tell you: The focus and attention to detail you need to have whether driving at high speed or recognizing the blitz is remarkable,” Broncos coach John Fox said.

Make one mistake, and it can hurt. Big time.

“The commitment you need to have to play quarterback, both mentally and physically, especially the older you get, is pretty amazing,” Fox said. “As a quarterback in the NFL, you’ve got to be on your game and working it, all the time, every day, year after year. Peyton Manning not only has done it at a high level for a long time, he has done it after coming off injury. That’s mental and physical toughness.”

During a preseason game against Houston when Broncos receiver Wes Welker caught a pass over the middle and suffered a concussion as the result of shoulder tackle by Texans safety D.J. Swearinger, Manning took matters into his own hands regarding what the veteran

quarterback deemed a dirty hit.

First, Manning threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders. Then, at the conclusion of the scoring play, Manning sprinted 40 yards to the end zone to confront Swearinger, who reported the quarterback issued choice words of displeasure for which Manning was fined $8,268 by the NFL. It was good to see Manning angry. If he is going to get in the grill of a defensive player, the quarterback is more than another pretty face on “Saturday Night Live” or on television commercials. Can there really be any question of Manning’s toughness?

“Peyton gave (Swearinger) a little … The fact that if Peyton is addressing the situation, that means he’s got the back of his teammates,” Sanders said.

When John Elway was 37, his record in the playoffs was a pedestrian 7-8. It was often blamed on a weak supporting cast.

Then, in his final

two seasons, Elway won seven consecutive postseason games, lifted the Lombardi Trophy twice and rode off into an orange sunset, hailed as one of the greatest quarterbacks who ever lived.

At 38, Manning’s playoff record is 11-12. That is cited as a football character flaw, with the not-soveiled suggestion Manning wilts under pressure. After Denver was trounced 43-8 by Seattle in the Super Bowl, Detroit News columnist Jerry Green wrote, “I would call Peyton Manning the most overrated athlete in the annals of American professional sports.”

No offense to Mr. Green, but that’s what is known in my business as fingers typing faster than a lazy mind can think under deadline pressure.

MARK KISZLA DENVER POST COLUMNIST

Please remember: Indianapolis cut Manning in 2012. The Colts knew Manning had to learn to throw from scratch after missing an entire season, and had so much money at stake they were unwilling to gamble on a four-time MVP. “When we first got (Manning) coming off injury, and to see him work through that mentally, as well as physically, was amazing,” Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase said. “He went through a rehab process where Peyton was dealing with things that didn’t feel or look the same as what you remembered for years playing quarterback. The mental toughness to overcome that was a big hurdle.

And physical toughness? I’ve seen him take shots in the pocket and bounce right back up.”

Since joining the Broncos, Manning has won 28-of-36 games during the regular season and playoffs.

He has thrown 100 touchdown passes. At age 37, he won the MVP for the fifth time in his career.

Manning did not have to put his neck on the line to do any of that. He could have retired, wealthy beyond dreams and with a ticket punched to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Is Manning tough enough to win the Super Bowl with the Broncos?

That’s such a silly question I’m tempted to give anybody who questions No. 18’s toughness the scowl known as Peyton Manning Face.

Mark Kiszla: mkiszla@denverpost.com or twitter.com/markkiszla

50 FOURTH-QUARTER OR OT COMEBACKS FOR PEYTON MANNING, NO. 1 IN NFL HISTORY

T

MANNING PLENTY TOUGH ENOUGH DESPITE CRITICS

THE BRONCOS’ DILEMMA

10

FINESSE VS. FORCE

ONLY OF THE TOP 10 SCORING OFFENSES IN NFL HISTORY HAS WON A CHAMPIONSHIP

1

Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders stretches out for a 29-yard touchdown reception from Peyton Manning in an Aug. 23 preseason game against the Houston Texans and cornerback A.J. Bouye. Sanders is in his first season with the Broncos after playing four years for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Sanders enjoyed his best season in Pittsburgh in 2013, when he caught 67 passes for 740 yards and six touchdowns. John Leyba, The Denver Post

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

BALANCING ACT BETWEEN FINESSE AND PHYSICAL IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO ATTAIN

By Nick Kosmider The Denver Post

J

acob Tamme hasn’t known professional football any other way.

Entering his seventh season playing alongside Peyton Manning, the tight end probably can count on one hand the number of times he has been in a huddle. Fast and faster have been the operating speeds.

But each season on a Manningled team, Tamme insists, begins with the same mission, and it has little to do with pace.

“Every football team I’ve played on has wanted to be a physical team and has talked about it,” Tamme said. “It’s a matter of taking it out there with your pads and doing it every Sunday.”

The Broncos, of course, were far from a physical team on the biggest Sunday of the year last season, blown away 43-8 by the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl.

The humbling result produced an important question that is at the heart of the Broncos’ 2014 season: Can a team be both “finesse” and physical? Is a team built on a fastpaced, spread-them-out offense incapable of being nose-to-nose nasty when it needs to be?

“It’s a good question,” Tamme said. “I don’t think so. Physicality is built into every play in NFL football.

There are certain plays that are going to be less physical, depending on what the situation is. If you’re running a high-tempo offense, it

doesn’t take away any of the physicality. Really, you want to keep being physical because it wears down defenses even faster. We are going to be able to play up-tempo and be physical at the same time.”

History suggests that striking such a balance is difficult, if not almost impossible.

When the Broncos set the NFL scoring record last season with 606 points, they joined an ignominious

list of explosive offenses that fizzled when it mattered most. To wit, only one of the 10 top-scoring offenses in NFL history has won a championship. The St. Louis Rams, whose 526 points in the 1999 season are the ninth-most in league history, edged the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. Those Rams, often remembered as “The Greatest Show on Turf,” also had a quality many of the NFL’s

most explosive teams have lacked: an intimidating defense. That St. Louis team, led by linebacker London Fletcher and defensive end Kevin Carter, had the league’s fourth-best unit, surrendering a meager 15.1 points per game.

Without such a defense last season (Denver’s was 22nd in scoring defense) or an ability to control the clock when necessary with their

PHYSICAL » 12W

Broncos running back C.J. Anderson, avoiding Seattle Seahawks defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat, could be part of the mix for Denver being a more physical running team this season. John Leyba, The Denver Post

12

FINESSE VS. FORCE

PHYSICAL «FROM 11W running game, the Broncos had no backup plan when Seattle stalled their high-flying passing attack.

The Broncos believe they have addressed their defensive issues with the additions of T.J. Ward, Aqib Talib and DeMarcus Ware.

Add a healthy Von Miller to the mix and you have a group that could look more like the top-five defense of 2012 instead of the disappointment of 2013.

On offense, the Broncos have no interest in making wholesale changes, but talk during training camp centered around being more physical — and more balanced.

General manager John Elway said he would like to find ways to improve a rushing attack that was 15th in the league last season but rarely imposed its will.

Elway’s plans for improvement come with a caveat: “You aren’t going to change too much when Peyton Manning is your quarterback.”

In other words, nobody who owns a Lamborghini is going to drive surface streets to work. Such a vehicle is meant to be revved on

The Broncos’ Demaryius Thomas is a physical presence as a wide receiver. AAron Ontiveroz, Denver Post file

OFFENSE DOMINATES MANNING TEAMS

the highway. After smashing NFL records, the Broncos’ offense showed signs of moving even faster during exhibition victories over the Seahawks and 49ers.

Still, much of the offseason was about looking in the mirror, and the Broncos have targeted areas on offense that can breed a more physical style of play to give them the needed nastiness come playoff time.

“For the most part, we’re more downhill this year,” Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase said of the team’s running-game plan. “We do stretch it some, but not as much as we were trying to last year.

We’re running some power plays, which has really developed a different attitude for us. It makes it a little easier for our guys to say, ‘Hey, I’m just coming off the ball and going downhill.’

“It will help both sides of the ball.”

Nick Kosmider: 303-954-1516 or nkosmider@denverpost.com

THE BRONCOS WANT TO BE MORE PHYSICAL BUT WON’T FORGET WHO THEIR QB IS.

COLTS Third (26.4)

A look at where Peyton Manning-led teams have ranked on offense and defense based on points scored and allowed, with scoring average 19th in parentheses: (19.4) OFFENSE DEFENSE

Second (25.8)

Fourth (26.8)

17th (20.8)

Seventh (19.6) 15th (20.4)

29th (27.8) 1998 3-13, missed playoffs Jeff Neumann, The Denver Post

1999 13-3, lost in AFC divisional playoff

First (32.6)

Second (27.9)

2000 10-6, lost in AFC wild card

17th (21.8)

31st (30.4)

2001 6-10, missed playoffs

2002 10-6, lost in AFC wild card

20th (21.0)

2003 12-4, lost in AFC championship

19th (21.9)

2004 12-4, lost in AFC divisional playoff

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

BRONCOS Second (27.4)

Second (15.4) Second (26.7)

Third (28.1)

First (16.4)

13th (23.6)

Seventh (26.0) Seventh (18.6)

Fourth (27.2) Eighth (19.2)

23rd (22.5)

2005 14-2, lost in AFC divisional playoff

2006 12-4, won Super Bowl

Second (30.1) NOTE Peyton Manning missed all of 2011 due to injury

Fourth (18.1)

22nd (24.9)

23rd (24.3)

2007 13-3, lost in AFC divisional playoff

2008 13-3, lost in AFC divisional playoff

2009 14-2, lost in Super Bowl

2010 10-6, lost in AFC wild card

First (37.9)

2012 13-3 lost in AFC divisional playoff

2013 13-3 lost in Super Bowl Source: NFL

XXXIII IN THE LAST SUPER BOWL WON BY DENVER, THE BRONCOS’ OFFENSE WAS RANKED SECOND AND THEIR DEFENSE WAS EIGHTH.

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will pass early, often and effectively, as he has throughout his NFL career, but a better, more physical running game just might make Denver’s aerial attack even more efficient. John Leyba, The Denver Post

ONE TOUGH TEAM

14

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

NO. THE SEAHAWKS ARE THE BEST MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL TEAM EVER AT 20-8 (.714).

1

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril is part of a unit with swagger than can back it up with unrelenting, dominating play on the field.

The Seahawks are the favorites in the NFC until another team is tough enough to prove otherwise. John Froschauer, Associated Press file

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

NFL-best 28 passes.

Their physical attributes are impressive. Chancellor plays like a linebacker, Sherman runs, catches and thinks like a receiver, which he was early in his Stanford career, and Thomas hits anything that moves.

Sherman illustrates how general manager John Schneider overhauled Seattle’s roster. It is peppered with late-round picks and undrafted players who revel in the chips on their shoulders. The secondary embodies the style of play and the desired focus.

TOUGH OR DIRTY? Last year’s Seattle defense played tough, creating more turnovers during the regular season than the league average.

2013 NFL AVERAGE SEATTLE

10 11

RECOVERED FUMBLES

INTERCEPTIONS

But the Seahawks didn’t play dirty.

Their major on-field infractions and fines were lower than the league average. And two of the team’s fines were levied against Golden Tate of the offense.

MAJOR ON-FIELD INFRACTIONS: FINES

AMOUNT

The defensive backs work. Play for Seattle coach Pete Carroll, and there’s no other choice. “All In” messages decorate the walls at the team’s Virginia Mason Athletic Complex.

“We feed off each other,” Chancellor said.

During the offseason, it wasn’t uncommon for defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to find Thomas studying plays on his own. Leadership from inside out creates strong accountability.

“The (swagger) comes from the style we practice. If we can cover (wide receiver) Percy Harvin, we know we have a chance to play well on Sunday,” Quinn said. “We focus on how can we bring the best out of each of our players. We don’t worry about what they can’t do, but what they can. It’s our job as coaches to bring that out.”

Or, as Carroll put it: “We have unique personnel. We’re trying to use them in unique fashions here.”

The right temperament helps.

For all the bravado, the Seahawks play smart and patiently. They are just as comfortable brawling as they are playing with finesse.

Their tight bond and incredible youth create talk of a dynastic run.

Only three Super Bowl champions had a lower average age than Seattle: the 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers, the 1981 San Francisco 49ers and the 1985 Chicago Bears.

The Bears were the lone club not to win multiple titles.

“I am sure what we’ve done is impactful and teams want to be like us. I don’t think it’s possible,” Thomas said. “You can go get guys our size with our speed and whatever, but you can’t teach the heart we have, the want-to, the desire to get better every day in practice.

That’s what makes us special.”

Troy E. Renck: trenck@denverpost.com or twitter.com/troyrenck

FINES AMOUNT

AVERAGE AGE IN YEARS OF THE SEAHAWKS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 2013 SEASON

L

renton, wash.» ong after practice on a sweltering 86-degree day, Earl Thomas attended to some of the obligations of making history. As a key member of the first Seattle Seahawks team to win a championship, the free safety met with fans, signed autographs and welcomed a tape recorder in his face.

Thomas can be charming, answering questions thoughtfully.

Ask him about Seattle’s defense, and something changes. He becomes a smiling assassin.

“We are fast and physical. We have guys with speed, and everybody has a dominant mentality,” Thomas said as fans screamed his name from the berm across the field. “We aren’t having all that pitty-pat play. We are out here to attack, attack, attack. We embrace that.”

In the seven months since the Broncos became Seasick in New Jersey, they have added reinforcements, bulking up a defense to complement Peyton Manning’s aerial show. The Seahawks remain the biggest threat to Denver winning its first Super Bowl since the 1998 season. The Broncos responded to their 43-8 embarrassment at MetLife Stadium by trying to mimic Seattle’s toughness.

Safety T.J. Ward, cornerback Aqib Talib and defensive end DeMarcus Ware, who will make $32 million in combined salary this season, were recruited to bring power and personality. It’s a rational concept. And misguided, multiple Seahawks said.

Nobody does swagger like Seattle. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, but it can also be a waste of time.

“We try not to watch other teams or keep up with the way other

teams are doing it. We are too worried about making sure our technique is sound, and what we do over here is great,” Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman said.

“It’s tough to duplicate our mindset. We’ve got very savvy veteran football players who understand the mental side of the game as well as the physical side. And we study tape together. There’s a certain element of discipline to our defense that you can’t duplicate.”

Before the Broncos flopped against Seattle, they winced.

In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, the Seahawks reacted to questions about the Broncos’ historic offense with less than reverence.

They repeated to anyone who would listen that Denver had never taken a punch like their haymaker. Then strong safety Kam Chancellor crushed Demaryius Thomas five minutes into the first quarter, establishing the soundtrack to their dominance. He knocked Thomas, running a route over the middle, back 7 yards with a lowered shoulder.

Some suggested the Seahawks busted the Broncos’ code. Truth is their secondary and defensive line combo is better than others, so they could afford to pay no attention to Denver’s feeble rush attempts, leaving their eyes on Manning and his receivers.

“It basically just defined who we are as a defense. We are hard-nosed,” Thomas said. “When Kam smacked (Thomas) across the middle, that’s who Kam is. That’s who we are.”

Their attitude was forged through success, the confidence built through talent and hardened by hours of studying. The Seahawks’ foundation remains their secondary, known as “The Legion of Boom.” In a league where teams average 35 passes per game, nobody ballhawks like the Seahawks. They allowed a league-low 231 points a season ago and intercepted an

25.31

By Troy E. Renck The Denver Post

SEAHAWKS’ SURLY SWAGGER SUGGESTS DYNASTY IN WORKS

TEAM REBOOT

16

BRONCOS TOUGHEN UP

From left, pass rusher DeMarcus Ware, safety T.J. Ward and linebacker Von Miller form what the Broncos hope will be a terrific trio on their defense.

John Leyba, The Denver Post

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

BRONCOS REMOVE SOFT SIDE OF THEIR IMAGE

T

By Mike Klis The Denver Post

here was one hit that altered perceptions of the Broncos.

Or shall we say the hit “softened” perceptions?

It was Super Bowl XLVIII against the Seattle Seahawks, the second play the Broncos were able to execute a snap. Denver wide receiver Demaryius Thomas came across the middle, a couple steps in front of the line of scrimmage. As he caught the short pass from Peyton Manning, Thomas was blasted by Seattle’s Kam Chancellor, who had moved in a controlled sprint up from his strong safety position.

Chancellor caught Thomas but good, unloading his right shoulder into the receiver’s left shoulder. Because Thomas was between strides at the point of contact, he couldn’t absorb the blow — and the 6-foot-3, 230-pound wideout tumbled backward like a rag doll.

BRONCOS » 18W

18

BRONCOS TOUGHEN UP

Broncos defensive end DeMarcus Ware, who produced 117 sacks while playing for the Dallas Cowboys from 2005-13, brings down Houston Texans running back Alfred Blue during a preseason game last month at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Kent Nishimura, The Denver Post

BRONCOS «FROM 17W “It wasn’t a face-to-face hit,” Thomas said. “I was off balance. It didn’t hurt. That wasn’t the one that set everything off. I got hit a couple times, but on that one I was fine.”

True, but it looked bad and some real damage had been done to the Broncos. When the Seahawks went on to ambush the Broncos 43-8, the hit by Bam Bam Kam became the game’s symbolic moment. It set the tone for the whipping.

The hit, and the final score, lifted the Seahawks to bully status.

The hit, and Denver’s miserable performance at the Meadowlands, made 98-pound weaklings of the Broncos.

“We don’t see it that way,” said Denver defensive lineman Malik Jackson. “You guys in the media have to make a story and you saw one hit and said we were soft. I

think what you saw in the preseason (against Seattle), even though we only got two or three series with our ‘ones,’ I think we showed where our minds were at.”

Actually, it wasn’t the media that started calling the Broncos soft. It was the Seahawks. Two days after his Super Bowl triumph, Seattle coach Pete Carroll went on the radio and said, “We really felt like we could knock the crud out of these guys.”

Seattle middle linebacker Bobby Wagner said later on an ESPN talk show: “They looked scared out there. Nobody wanted to catch the ball. Nobody wanted to come up the middle. ... They were very timid.”

The Broncos finished 13-3 in the regular season. They rolled

through the AFC playoffs by beating San Diego and New England.

Manning set NFL passing records and the Broncos scored a record number of touchdowns and points.

Yet, all the Broncos heard during the past seven months was 43-8.

Worse, they spent the offseason hearing the Seahawks and commentators say the Broncos were soft.

“I mean, Demaryius jumped up from that play and caught 13 balls,” said Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, referring to a Super Bowl record set by Thomas. “If he would have wilted and disappeared that day, maybe there would be some validity to it. It’s a little bit unfounded, but I don’t worry about that. We are going to use that as

fuel. If there’s any perception about that, we’re going to make sure we rise to that challenge.”

The perception is there, all right.

The people inside the Broncos’ locker room and coaches’ offices believe they are football players, not patsies. It’s the people on the outside that they must convince.

“Physically whipped them,” Mark Schlereth, an ESPN analyst and former Denver guard, said of Seattle. “And every one of us has been there who have played this game. The good thing is at least the Broncos recognized it and they are working on it. They didn’t say, ‘Ah, it was the first snap. We shouldn’t have taken it 9 yards out of the end zone, the first snap was over our head.’ No, they recognized that while those were two bad things that happened to us, we physically did not match up in that game. So we’ve got to fix that.”

“Toughness is a mentality” John Elway knows about getting blown out in the Super Bowl. It happened to him twice as a Broncos quarterback — 42-10 to Washington at the end of the 1987 season and 55-10 to San Francisco to finish 1989.

He helplessly agonized again inside a MetLife Stadium suite Feb. 2as the Broncos’ director of football operations. It took a few years, but Elway eventually gained retribution as a quarterback by leading the Broncos to consecutive Super Bowl titles in 1997 and 1998 to close out his playing career.

He moved quickly as a general

“WE REALLY FELT LIKE WE COULD KNOCK THE CRUD OUT OF THESE GUYS.” – PETE CARROLL, SEAHAWKS COACH

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

manager to put his Broncos in position to fight back against the Seahawks and the physical NFC West teams that are on Denver’s schedule this season.

“It was kind of the rap we had in ’97-98, when we were a great team, people said we were a softer team even though we led the league in rushing that year,” Elway said. “We used the zone concept rather than the gap scheme and

playing power football.

“But to me, toughness is a mentality. It’s a mental toughness rather than a physical toughness. How do you respond when you get in tough situations? If someone punches you in the face, how do you respond? Do you keep getting punched in the face or you going to try to do something about it?”

Chancellor beat up the Broncos as a safety. Elway’s first offseason signing was the hardest-hitting, free-agent safety on the market: T.J. Ward.

Big, physical Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman took Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker out of the game? Elway’s second signing was Aqib Talib, a physical, cover corner who played with the Patriots last season.

“There’s no question that Aqib and T.J. make us a stronger, tougher secondary,” Del Rio said. “But I

think we have a collection of really tough, rugged guys in our front.”

There also is toughness in defensive end DeMarcus Ware, whom the Broncos signed to a contract that pays him $13 million this year.

Ware didn’t play in 134 consecutive NFL games, an ironman streak that ran from the first game in 2005 until midway through 2013, without having intestinal fortitude and a high tolerance for pain.

But Ware’s game is speed, athleticism and pass rushing. The Broncos have had their share of pass rushers in recent years.

Ward is a physical presence the Broncos haven’t had in the backfield since Brian Dawkins’ last healthy season in 2009. Add in Talib and second-year cornerback Kayvon Webster, and the Broncos might have their most physical secondary since Steve Atwater and Dennis Smith patrolled the back line of

Denver’s defense from 1989-94.

“When you have a cornerback that can play ‘man’ and be physical at the line of scrimmage, or Ward, who can come in on run support and knock guys around — those are always good things from an intimidation or toughness standpoint,” Schlereth said. “But I really believe it always comes down to, can you win the line of scrimmage? “ I don’t care how tough you are in the back end, if your defensive line is sitting on your lap and your linebackers are sitting on your lap and they’re ripping off 6 yards a carry, you can be the roughest DB in the world and you’re not going to change that. Those are the things they are going to constantly fight. It’s what they fought in Indianapolis for years and they’ll continue to fight it here. It’s the style in which they play.”

BRONCOS » 20W

Montee Ball, trying to escape from the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense as a rookie last year, goes into his second season with the Broncos as their No. 1 tailback. The former Wisconsin star averaged 6.5 yards per carry during the last six weeks of the 2013 season. AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

20

BRONCOS TOUGHEN UP

Look for the Denver defense to play more aggressively this year — by necessity and design. The style was on display during the Broncos’ preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 7, when, from left, linebacker Nate Irving, safety T.J. Ward, linebacker Danny Trevathan and defensive tackle Sylvester Williams converged on running back Robert Turbin at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. John Leyba, The Denver Post

BRONCOS «FROM 19W Which brings up a counterintuitive point: How tough can the Broncos be while playing the fastbreaking, precision-passing offense operated so well by Manning?

Time to rev the run game They can argue all they want on bar stools across the land, no one has played the NFL quarterback position like Manning. No other player at his position — not Elway, not Joe Montana — has approached Manning’s combination of field vision, anticipation and

accuracy. When he’s through, Manning likely will have all of the career passing records, the most MVP awards and the most regularseason victories.

So why, in a quarterback-driven league, does arguably the best quarterback to play have only one Super Bowl title ring in 16 seasons of trying?

One theory is defense wins championships and Manning’s no-huddle, high-tempo, fast-break offense doesn’t complement his defense.

Seattle attempted the secondfewest passes last season. San Francisco, another NFC West power that nearly beat Seattle in the conference championship game last season, threw the fewest.

“In this Broncos offense, my belief is you need some plays where you huddle up, you call the run and you run the football,” Schlereth said. “You run from the line of scrimmage so guys aren’t constantly playing on their haunches.

That’s part of the toughness quotient they’re trying to figure out. I truly believe that has to be implemented into this offense. This team will win 13 games regardless in the regular season. Playoffs and Super Bowls are the goal here. That has to be part of what they do.”

Schlereth also points out that when a defense practices during the week against the pass, it can’t build the type of toughness that, say, Seattle has from working

against a “Beast Mode” Marshawn Lynch-driven offense.

Problem is, more running means less Manning passing. Is that really what the Broncos want, to take the ball out of Manning’s hands?

“The way the game is going, everybody’s throwing the football,” Elway said. “Very rarely does a team try to ram the ball down people’s throats.”

Face it, NFL toughness today isn’t the type of toughness displayed in years gone by. Hard to believe, but Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke might only play 35 percent of the snaps if they were playing now. They would come out in nickel packages.

“The days of Matt Millen munch-

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

ing on guards, those days are gone,” Del Rio said. “They’re not coming back. We’re not going to have a linebacker move up 2 inches from the guard anymore.”

The Broncos made some offensive personnel changes with toughness in mind. Moving enormous Orlando Franklin from right tackle to left guard will give the running game a more powerful interior point of attack. In Franklin, center Manny Ramirez and all-pro right guard Louis Vasquez, the Broncos have a 975-pound pocket protection anchor that can easily be converted into a ground plow.

Rookie Cody Latimer, selected in the second round, is a large, physical receiver whom the Broncos considered the best downfieldblocking receiver in the draft.

And Montee Ball is a more physical, north and south runner than his predecessor, Knowshon Moreno.

Getting tough with Texans There were other subtle changes.

On the final day of training camp, coach John Fox didn’t cancel the weightlifting-conditioning session, or the evening walk-through session as he had in previous years.

Also, the Broncos brought in the Houston Texans for a week of practice after training camp — unusually late. The Texans and Broncos went at it for three days. On the third day, Thomas was trying to play peacemaker in a push-andshove match when Texans strong safety D.J. Swearinger threw a

THE TEXANS AND BRONCOS WENT AT IT FOR THREE DAYS.

Peyton Manning, who picked up a taunting penalty during the preseason when he came to Wes Welker’s defense during a game against Houston, has the respect of his Denver teammates. John Leyba, Denver Post file punch that clipped him on the chin strap. Franklin and other Denver offensive linemen immediately went at Swearinger. The Broncos attempted to punch back.

That’s all well and good, but the offense will be about Manning first, Demaryius Thomas second, Julius Thomas third, then maybe even new, explosive receiver Emmanuel Sanders before the game plan turns to Ball and fellow young tailbacks Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson.

Toughness? It should be tough |to stop.

“Show me a quarterback who’s more mentally tough than Peyton Manning,” said Rodney Harrison, an NBC analyst and former hardhitting Patriots and Chargers safety.

“Peyton Manning’s presence on that team gives them stability. He gives them mental toughness. He’s a quarterback they know will stay in the game despite his injuries. When you look at his neck surgeries that he had to overcome just to get back on the field, that’s toughness in and of itself. Just because they pass the ball 40, 50 times a game, that does not take away from their toughness.”

Just because an offense lights it up doesn’t mean a team has to toughen up. But just in case, the Broncos tried to anyway.

“When you have an offense breaking NFL records in numerous categories — that’s the way the game has evolved,” said Broncos defensive tackle Terrance Knighton. “It’s a passing league. I don’t

know where the word ‘soft’ comes in or ‘timid’ or ‘scared.’

“Regardless of the last game, we were one of the last two teams standing and you don’t get that far being a weak team or a soft team or having chinks in the armor. They got the best of us in the Super Bowl. It’s a new season. In this profession at this level, whether it’s hockey, football, baseball, basketball, you don’t call a professional athlete soft. To get to this level, you can’t be soft.”

To start the preseason, the Broncos defeated Seattle 21-16 and San Francisco 34-0. The Broncos play both again in the regular season.

Mike Klis: mklis@denverpost.com or twitter.com/mikeklis

THE SUPER BOWL LOSERS

22

BOWL AND BUST

GRIEVING PART OF REBOUND PROCESS

By Anthony Cotton The Denver Post

N

42 YEARS SINCE A SUPER BOWL LOSER CAME BACK THE NEXT YEAR TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning walks off the field after the Seattle Seahawks beat the Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII. John Leyba, Denver Post file

ULTIMATE CHALLENGE: WIN AFTER LOSING ULTIMATE GAME

By Tara Lutzens The Denver Post

T

he Miami Dolphins lost Super Bowl VI after the 1971 season to the Dallas Cowboys, only to return and become the second Super Bowl loser to win the next season. How each Super Bowl loser since then fared the next year:

Super Bowl VII: Washington Redskins Lost to the Miami Dolphins 14-7.

Next season: Finished the regular season 10-4, lost in the divisional playoff round to the Minnesota Vikings 27-20.

Note: The Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys tied for best record in the NFC East, but Dallas won the division crown based on better point margin (13 points), forcing the Redskins to play the Vikings one week later, ending their postseason run.

Super Bowl VIII: Minnesota Vikings Lost to the Miami Dolphins 24-7.

Next season: Finished the regular season 10-4. The Vikings defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 30–14 in an NFC divisional playoff and defeated the Los Angeles Rams 14–10 to win their second consecutive NFC

championship.

ot long after his Buffalo Bills had lost a second consecutive Super Bowl, coach Marv Levy was co-hosting a radio show when a caller phoned in with a desperate plea.

“Don’t go back to the Super Bowl,” the caller said. “It’s just too heartbreaking.”

“I told him that I understood his thinking, and I could even share his anguish,” Levy recalled recently. “But I also told him, that, no offense, I wouldn’t want him playing on my football team with that kind of attitude.”

The Bills would go on to play in

Super Bowl X: Dallas Cowboys Lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-17.

Next season: Finished the regular season 11-3, winning the NFC East, before losing in the divisional playoff round to the Los Angeles Rams 14-12.

Note: It was the 11th consecutive winning season for the Cowboys and the 10th playoff berth in that period.

Note: Appearing in their second Super Bowl in a row, the Vikings would become the first team to lose back-to-back Super Bowls.

Super Bowl XI: Minnesota Vikings

Super Bowl IX: Minnesota Vikings

Next season: Finished the regular season 9-5 to win the NFC Central division. Defeated the Los Angeles Rams 14-7 in the divisional playoff round, and lost to the Dallas Cowboys 23-6 in the conference championship.

Lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 16-6.

Next season: Finished the regular season 12-2 to repeat as the NFC Central champions. The Vikings lost to the Dallas Cowboys in an NFC divisional playoff game 17-14.

Note: Minnesota began the season 10-0 before losing by one point to the Washington Redskins in Week 11. The playoff loss to the Cowboys was marked by Roger Staubach’s Hail Mary pass to Drew Pearson in the final seconds.

Lost to the Oakland Raiders 32-14.

Note: The Vikings lost a key member of their team late in the season. Quarterback Fran Tarkenton suffered a broken leg in Minnesota’s Nov. 13 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, which kept him out of the final five games of the regular season as well as two playoff games.

Super Bowl XII: Denver Broncos Lost to the Dallas Cowboys 27-10.

Next season: Finished the regular

the next two Super Bowls, capping a four-year run of excellence. Kind of. Buffalo lost all four NFL championships, which perhaps makes them the all-time champ when it comes to deflating losses — the kind of which the Broncos are hoping to overcome this season.

“You do grieve; for a week or 10 days or so, you’re just lying around in the fetal position,” Levy said.

“But afterward, you deal with it and you come up with a plan and you get over it — you take a deep breath and you get back to work.”

The fact the Bills were able to sustain their run, even without a Super Bowl victory, was one measure of how good the team was.

John Fox of the Broncos and other NFL coaches are quick to say that at

season 10-6 to win the AFC West, lost in a divisional playoff game to the Pittsburgh Steelers 33-10.

Note: The Broncos were not much of a match for the Steelers in their playoff game. With Terry Bradshaw at quarterback, the Steelers dominated the Broncos, putting up 425 offensive yards to the Broncos’ 218. The 1978 Denver coaching staff included 26-yearold assistant special teams/defensive assistant coach Bill Belichick.

Super Bowl XIII: Dallas Cowboys Lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 35-31.

Next season: Finished the regular season 11-5, then lost its divisional playoff game to the Los Angeles Rams 21-19.

Note: In the final game of the season, with the NFC East title at stake, Roger Staubach earned the final victory of his career. He rallied the Cowboys from a 34-21 deficit in the last four minutes to defeat Washington 35-34. He retired after the season.

Super Bowl XIV: Los Angeles Rams Lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-19.

Next season: Finished the regular season 11-5, lost in the wild-card game to the Dallas Cowboys 34-13.

Note: It was the first season the Rams played their home games in Anaheim, Calif., after leaving the

Los Angeles Coliseum. They played in Anaheim until the team moved to St. Louis in 1995. They never appeared in a Super Bowl while in Anaheim.

Super Bowl XV: Philadelphia Eagles Lost to the Oakland Raiders 27-10.

Next season: Finished the regular season 10-6, lost in the wild-card round to the New York Giants 27-21.

Note: The Eagles started the season 6-0 but struggled throughout the rest of the season, eventually finishing second in the division.

Super Bowl XVI: Cincinnati Bengals Lost to the San Francisco 49ers 26-21.

Next season: In a strike-shortened season, finished the regular season 7-2, lost in the wild-card playoff game to the New York Jets 44-17.

Note: It was the first time the Bengals reached the playoffs in consecutive seasons. They would not have back-to-back playoff appearances again for 30 years, when the 2011 and 2012 teams reached the postseason.

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

THE SEAHAWKS MAY NEED TO WORRY ABOUT A “HANGOVER” EVEN MORE THAN THE BRONCOS the end of a season, only one team is happy, but that really doesn’t show how hard it is to just be in position to maybe crack a smile and break out the bubbly.

The good news is, teams that play in the Super Bowl on average win more than 10 games the next season, which, more often than not, should put them into the playoffs.

The bad news is that making the postseason after losing a Super Bowl usually isn’t enough.

Of the 48 Super Bowls played, only five times has a team that lost the game returned to play in it the next season. Of that group, only the Dallas Cowboys (1972) and the Miami Dolphins (1973) have lost then returned to win the next year.

And for every Pittsburgh Steeler

who boasted of trying to “Win One For The Thumb” after that franchise’s four Super Bowl wins from 1975 to 1980, there are countless players who, whether through a trade or being released or perhaps because of bad, dumb luck, will realize that the one time they played in the game — and lost — will be the only time they play in the big game.

Little wonder it takes time for players and teams to, as Levy said, grieve. After getting shellacked 43-8 in last year’s Super Bowl loss to Seattle, the Broncos didn’t look at the game film until months later.

Even then, the sight of Kam Chancellor laying out Demaryius Thomas still left bones aching.

But in some ways, the overwhelming nature of the beatdown might

Super Bowl XVII: Miami Dolphins

Super Bowl XIX: Miami Dolphins

Lost to the Washington Redskins 27-17.

Lost to the San Francisco 49ers 38-16.

Next season: Finished the regular season 12-4 to win the AFC East, then lost in the divisional playoff round to the Seattle Seahawks 27-20.

Next season: Finished the regular season 12-4 for their fourth consecutive AFC East title, then lost in the AFC championship game to the New England Patriots 31-14.

Note: Quarterback David Woodley started the team’s first five games, but was replaced in Week 6 by Dan Marino. As a rookie, Marino posted a 96.0 passer rating and was selected to the Pro Bowl.

Marino threw two touchdown passes in his playoff debut. He also threw two interceptions in the loss.

Note: The Dolphins beat previously undefeated Chicago 38-24 in Week 13 on “Monday Night Football,” giving the Bears their only defeat of the season.

Super Bowl XVIII: Washington Redskins Lost to the Los Angeles Raiders 38-9.

Next season: Finished the regular season 11-5 to win the NFC East, then lost in the divisional playoff game to the Chicago Bears 23-19 Note: The 1984-85 season was the last full season quarterback Joe Theismann played. His career ended the next season when he broke his leg in a gruesome injury that aired on “Monday Night Football.” He finished the 1984 season with 3,391 yards passing and 24 touchdowns.

Super Bowl XX: New England Patriots Lost to the Chicago Bears 46-10.

Next season: Finished the regular season 11-5 to win the AFC East, then lost in a divisional playoff game to the Broncos 22-17.

Note: In the playoff game at Mile High Stadium, the Patriots led the Broncos 17-13 until the last play of the third quarter, when John Elway hit Vance Johnson for a 48-yard touchdown pass to take the lead for good.

Super Bowl XXI: Denver Broncos Lost to the New York Giants 39-20.

Next season: Finished the regular season 10-4-1. Defeated the Houston Oilers in the divisional playoff game 34-10 and defeated the Cleveland Browns in the AFC championship game 38-33 to reach

have left the Broncos in better shape than, say, losing on a last-gasp play — or getting sent into overtime on one, a la the 2013 divisional round loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

“In the Ravens game, there were so many guys who were probably second-guessing so many of the decisions they made that day; there were 100 ‘What ifs.’ In the Super Bowl, they could just say: ‘You know what? We just got our butts kicked,’ ” said Mark Aoyagi, the director of the Sports and Performance Psychology department at the University of Denver. “That makes it easier to just put that outcome behind you.

“Sure it’s possible that Seattle is just a bad matchup for them, but it’s also easier to say that kind of out-

come is less likely to happen again.”

Aoyagi adds that if any team should be concerned about dealing with a lingering hangover effect from last year’s Super Bowl, it’s the Seahawks, not the Broncos. Fox, who has lost three Super Bowls — as head coach of the Broncos and Panthers and as an assistant with the Giants — agrees.

“I think it’s harder to win and then come back the next year. I’d certainly like to experience it to find out,” Fox said. “It’s all unbelievably tough, it all takes a great deal of mental toughness, but that’s what keeps you going.”

Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292, acotton@denverpost.com or twitter.com/anthonycottondp

the Super Bowl for the second consecutive season.

season 8-8 and did not make the playoffs.

Note: The AFC title game was highlighted for the Broncos by the play known as “The Fumble.”

Browns running back Earnest Byner was stripped of the ball by Denver defensive back Jeremiah Castille, and Byner fumbled at the Broncos’ 2-yard line with 1:05 left.

A 24-day players strike was called after Week 2. Games that were scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, including Denver’s scheduled matchup at Cleveland. The games for Weeks 4–6 were played using replacement players until the union voted to end the strike.

Note: Cincinnati finished last in the AFC Central, but the season could easily have turned out differently, as four of their eight losses were by a touchdown or less.

Super Bowl XXII: Denver Broncos Lost to the Washington Redskins 42-10.

Next season: Finished the regular season 8-8 and did not make the playoffs.

Note: Coming off their second consecutive Super Bowl loss, the Broncos failed to make the playoffs for only the second time in six seasons. It was one of only four times in franchise history the Broncos finished a season 8-8.

Super Bowl XXIII: Cincinnati Bengals Lost to the San Francisco 49ers 20-16.

Next season: Finished the regular

Super Bowl XXIV: Denver Broncos Lost to the San Francisco 49ers 55-10.

Next season: Finished the regular season 5-11 and did not make the playoffs.

Note: After losing their third Super Bowl in four years, the Broncos managed only five victories. Safety Tyrone Braxton, who led the Broncos with six interceptions the previous season, tore the medial collateral ligament in his right knee in Week 3. He underwent surgery and missed the rest of the year, a big loss to the defense. Denver intercepted only 10 passes all season.

Super Bowl XXV: Buffalo Bills Lost to the New York Giants 20-19.

Next season: Finished the regular season 13-3. Defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 37-14 in the divisional playoff round and beat the Denver Broncos 10-7 in the AFC championship game to reach the Super Bowl again.

Note: The Bills led the NFL with

6,525 yards and scored 458 points, second only to the Washington Redskins’ 485. Quarterback Jim Kelly led the league with 33 touchdown passes. Running back Thurman Thomas was named the league’s MVP, one of only two Buffalo players to earn the award.

O.J. Simpson was the other.

Super Bowl XXVI: Buffalo Bills Lost to the Washington Redskins 37-24 Next season: Finished the regular season 11-5. Defeated the Houston Oilers 41-38 in the wild-card round, beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-3 and topped the Miami Dolphins 29-10 to earn a third consecutive trip to the Super Bowl.

Note: The Bills lost the final regular-season game to the Oilers, which gave the Dolphins the AFC East crown and forced Buffalo into the wild-card game. Trailing by 32 points to Houston, the Bills appeared to be done. But behind backup quarterback Frank Reich, who was playing in place of injured QB Jim Kelly, the Bills rallied to send the game into overtime.

Steve Christie kicked a 32-yard field goal to give Buffalo the win.

It remains the biggest comeback in NFL history.

LOSERS » 24W

24

BOWL AND BUST

WINNER

Miami Dolphins’ Jim Mandich takes in a Bob Griese pass near the goal line during the second quarter of Super Bowl VII against the Washington Redskins in Los Angeles in this Jan. 14, 1973 file photo. Chasing Mandich are the Redskins Harold McLinton (53) and Brig Owens (23). The 1972 Dolphins finished with a 17-0 record, still the only perfect season in NFL history. Associated Press file

LOSERS «FROM 23W Super Bowl XXVII: Buffalo Bills Lost to the Dallas Cowboys 52-17.

Next season: Finished the regular season 12-4 to win the AFC East.

Defeated the Los Angeles Raiders 29-23 in the divisional round and beat the Kansas City Chiefs 30-13 in the AFC championship game to reach the Super Bowl for a record fourth consecutive time.

Note: With three Super Bowl losses behind them, the Bills won seven of their first eight games to start the season. Buffalo also won six consecutive games — four in the regular season and two playoff games — before falling in the Super Bowl again.

Super Bowl XXIX: San Diego Chargers Lost to the San Francisco 49ers 49-26.

Next season: Finished the regular season 9-7, second in the AFC West to the Kansas City Chiefs. Lost in the wild-card round to the Indianapolis Colts 35-20.

Super Bowl XXXII: Green Bay Packers

Super Bowl XXX: Pittsburgh Steelers

Next season: Finished the season 11-5, then lost to the San Francisco 49ers 30-27 in a wild-card game.

Lost to the Dallas Cowboys 27-17.

Next season: Finished the regular season 10-6 to win the AFC Central. Defeated the Indianapolis Colts 42-14 in the wild-card round, then lost to the New England Patriots in the divisional round 28-3.

Lost to the Dallas Cowboys 30-13.

Next season: Finished the regular season 7-9 and did not make the playoffs.

Super Bowl XXXI: New England Patriots

Note: After four consecutive Super Bowl losses, two in a row to the Cowboys, Buffalo missed the playoffs for the first time since 1987.

Note: After the Super Bowl loss to the Packers, coach Bill Parcells resigned from the team. Taking over the reins from Parcells was Pete Carroll. The Carroll era for the Patriots began with a 41-7, seasonopening victory over the San Diego Chargers.

Note: The Chargers used a fivegame winning streak at the end of the season to make the playoffs. It would be the last playoff season for the Chargers until 2004.

Note: The Steelers and coach Bill Cowher lost a chance for a return trip to the Super Bowl at the hands of the Patriots, who won their first home playoff game in 18 years.

Super Bowl XXVIII: Buffalo Bills

the Pittsburgh Steelers 7-6 in the divisional round.

Lost to the Green Bay Packers 35-21.

Next season: Finished the regular season 10-6 to win the AFC East.

Defeated the Miami Dolphins 17-3 in the wild-card round, but lost to

Lost to the Denver Broncos 31-24.

Note: It was the first time in four seasons the Packers did not win their division, finishing second in the NFC Central to the Minnesota Vikings. It forced Green Bay into a wild-card matchup against San Francisco, where the 49ers won as Steve Young threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Owens with three seconds left. It was Green Bay’s last season with Mike Holmgren as head coach.

Super Bowl XXXIII: Atlanta Falcons Lost to the Denver Broncos 34-19.

Next season: Finished the regular season 5-11 and did not make the playoffs.

Note: The Falcons season started off 0-4 and didn’t get much better as they managed only two victories through the first 11 weeks of

the season. The offense fell flat, scoring only 285 points in the season after scoring 442 the previous year. They also fell to 27th in total yards (4,542) after finishing seventh the season before (5,487).

Super Bowl XXXVI: St. Louis Rams

Super Bowl XXXIV: Tennessee Titans

Note: The Rams started off rough, losing their first five games. Quarterback Kurt Warner, the 2001 NFL MVP, lost his first three games before breaking his finger in Week 4 and having to be replaced. He threw eight interceptions and one touchdown in those four games.

The Rams’ offense, which was ranked No. 1 the previous season, fell to 24th.

Lost to the St. Louis Rams 23-16 Next season: Finished the regular season 13-3 to win the AFC Central, then lost in the divisional round to the Baltimore Ravens 24-10.

Note: The Titans finished with the NFL’s best record and had a firstround bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, only to be upset by their division rivals.

Their three losses were by a combined seven points.

Super Bowl XXXV: New York Giants Lost to the Baltimore Ravens 34-7.

Next season: Finished 7-9 and did not make the playoffs.

Note: In a disappointing season for the Giants, Michael Strahan seemed to be a highlight. He broke the NFL single-season sack record with 22K by sacking Green Bay’s Brett Favre in the final game of the season. Strahan was named defensive player of the year.

Lost to the New England Patriots 20-17.

Next season: Finished 7-9 and did not make the playoffs.

Super Bowl XXXVII: Oakland Raiders Lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48-21.

Next season: Finished 4-12 and did not make the playoffs.

Note: The Raiders had a five-game losing streak in the middle of the season, and seven of their losses were by a touchdown or less. To make matters worse, quarterback Rich Gannon, the reigning league MVP, ended his season in Week 7 with an injured shoulder. The 4–12 record tied them with the Chargers, Giants, and Cardinals for the worst record in the NFL. Raiders owner Al Davis fired coach Bill Callahan and replaced him with Norv Turner.

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

4 Running back Thurman Thomas of the Buffalo Bills is tackled by the Dallas Cowboys’ James Washington, with help from Robert Jones, during Super Bowl XXVII at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Associated Press file

Super Bowl XXXVIII: Carolina Panthers Lost to the New England Patriots 32-29.

Next season: Finished 7-9 and did not make the playoffs.

Note: The Panthers started the season 1-7. Despite a five-game winning streak near the end of the season, Carolina had dug too big a hole to climb out of, finishing third in the NFC South behind Atlanta and New Orleans.

Super Bowl XXXIX: Philadelphia Eagles Lost to the New England Patriots 24-21.

Next season: Finished 6-10 and did not make the playoffs.

Note: The Eagles were the fifth consecutive Super Bowl loser to miss the playoffs the next season.

Contract disputes with outspoken wide receiver Terrell Owens and running back Brian Westbrook caused distractions on the team.

The Eagles started 3-1 but never won more than one consecutive game for the rest of the season and finished last in the NFC East.

Super Bowl XL: Seattle Seahawks Lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-10.

Next season: Finished 9-7 to win the NFC West. Defeated the Dallas Cowboys in the wild-card round 21-20, then lost in a divisional

game to the Chicago Bears 27-24.

Note: Running back Shaun Alexander, the reigning NFL MVP, missed part of the season with a broken foot but returned in Week 10 and finished the season with 896 yards, far short of his effort the season before, when he rushed for 1,880 yards. In the divisional playoff game, the Seahawks led 24-21 before Chicago tied the game in the fourth quarter. Seattle lost in overtime.

Super Bowl XLI: Chicago Bears Lost to the Indianapolis Colts 29-17.

Next season: Finished the regular season 7-9 and did not make the playoffs.

Note: The team underwent multiple coaching changes in the offseason, losing defensive coordinator Ron Rivera and five additional assistant coaches. A legal controversy for defensive tackle Tank Johnson concerning weapons charges caused distractions for the Bears, who could never find their footing. They didn’t win two consecutive games until the last two weeks of the season.

Super Bowl XLII: New England Patriots Lost to the New York Giants 17-14.

Next season: Finished the regular season 11-5 and did not make the playoffs.

Note: In a big loss for the Patriots, quarterback Tom Brady suffered a knee injury in the season opener and missed the rest of the season.

Matt Cassel stepped in for the injured Brady and had a good season for New England, throwing for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns.

The Patriots were the first team since the 1985 Broncos to finish with an 11-5 record and not make the playoffs.

Super Bowl XLIII: Arizona Cardinals Lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-23.

Next season: Finished the regular season 10-6 to win the NFC West.

Defeated the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round 51-45 in overtime, then lost to the New Orleans Saints 45-14 in the divisional round.

Note: It was the first time the Cardinals won 10 games since 1976 and remains the most wins in a season in franchise history. It was also Kurt Warner’s final season in the NFL. He finished the season with 26 touchdown passes and 3,753 yards.

Super Bowl XLIV: Indianapolis Colts Lost to the New Orleans Saints 31-17.

Next season: Finished regular season 10-6, then lost in the wildcard round to the New York Jets 17-16.

Note: It was the first season since 2002 the Colts failed to win 12 games. Indianapolis lost its bid to return to the Super Bowl when New York’s Nick Folk hit a 32-yard field goal as time expired to win the wild-card matchup.

Super Bowl XLV: Pittsburgh Steelers Lost to the Green Bay Packers 31-25.

Next season: Finished the season 12-4, then lost in the wild-card round to the Broncos 29-23 in overtime.

Note: The Steelers’ defense led the team all season, allowing the fewest points (227), passing yards (2,751), and total yards (4,348) in the 2011 NFL season. But Pittsburgh’s season ended when Tim Tebow connected with Demaryius Thomas on an 80-yard touchdown on the first play of overtime to win the game.

Super Bowl XLVI: New England Patriots Lost to the New York Giants 21-17.

Next season: Finished the regular season 12-4 to win the AFC East.

Won the divisional round with a 41-28 victory over the Houston Texans, but lost in the AFC championship to the Baltimore Ravens 28-13.

Note: In their 10th consecutive season with at least 10 victories, the Patriots’ offense led the league in scoring with 557 total points

and total yards with 6,846. It was the third consecutive year New England scored 500 or more points, but all that offense wasn’t enough to get them back to the Super Bowl. The Ravens outscored the Patriots 21-0 in the second half of the AFC championship game. It was the first time New England lost an AFC title game at home.

Super Bowl XLVII: San Francisco 49ers Lost to the Baltimore Ravens 34-31.

Next season: Finished the regular season 12-4. Defeated the Green Bay Packers 23-20 in the wild-card round and defeated the Carolina Panthers 23-10 in the divisional round before falling to the Seattle Seahawks 23-17 in the NFC championship.

Note: In their final season at Candlestick Park, the 49ers went 6-2 at home. They used winning streaks of six and five games to propel them into the postseason, where they entered as a wild-card team after the Seahawks edged them for the NFC West title. In the last minute of the NFC championship game, Colin Kaepernick had the 49ers into position to win, but his pass to Michael Crabtree in the end zone was deflected by Seattle’s Richard Sherman and intercepted by Malcolm Smith, locking up the victory for the Seahawks.

CONSECUTIVE SUPER BOWL LOSSES FOR THE BUFFALO BILLS (XXV-XXVIII)

LOSER

NEW BRONCO

26

T.J. WARD

4.7 AVERAGE SOLO TACKLES PER GAME IN 2013 Broncos defensive end DeMarcus Ware says of strong safety T.J. Ward, above: “The toughest guy on the team? T.J. No matter what it is, he’s a bulldog.”

AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

T.J. Ward’s reputation as a big hitter covered his career at Oregon. He introduced himself to Kellen Moore, Boise State’s star QB, on this play five years ago. “You hear people say all the time that a player is tough, and most of the time it isn’t true. It is with him. He’s fierce,” former Broncos safety Brian Dawkins says of Ward. Getty Images file

BRONCOS WELCOME WARD, WHO PREFERS TO PLAY ROUGH P

By Troy E. Renck The Denver Post

assion for football found T.J. Ward when he was 8 years old. He just didn’t know it.

Elementary school teaches kids how to sit crisscross applesauce and do multiplication tables.

Ward learned how to be an NFL player.

His early childhood was spent in the East Bay area of San Francisco.

A cousin, Maurice Jones-Drew, lived down the street. They grew up fast. Literally.

“It’s funny, I will be doing drills in the offseason and realize I was a pro before I was a pro. We used to run hills, the one by our house, when we were kids. We were doing hard-core training,” Ward said. “It wasn’t the movie ‘Little Giants.’ But almost.”

Ward attended track practice, and after household chores, did sit-ups and push-ups. The shove came from his father, Terrell Ward, a former Philadelphia Eagles safety who was nicknamed “Dirty Ward” for his smashing hits that began at San Diego State when Broncos

MR. CONSISTENCY T.J. Ward was remarkably COMBINED TACKLES consistent over a number of defensive categories last season with the Cleveland Browns.

Second half of games 55

Source: NFL

coach John Fox was a graduate assistant on the staff there.

Coach Ward’s workouts were designed to push limits, to create toughness. If T.J. needed a reminder, Jack Tatum’s autobiography, “They Call Me Assassin,” sat on the living room table.

Football was not for the weak muscled, or weak minded.

“My view of the game goes back to my upbringing, when I started playing in Pop Warner. There were a lot of things I had to do to prepare,” Ward said. “I didn’t always

First half of games 57

Away games 56

like to do them, but I had to do them. Working out, obedience, school, whatever it was. I had to put in the work.”

After the Seahawks punched the Broncos in the throat in the Super Bowl, Denver general manager John Elway knew his team wasn’t good enough to win a championship.

Better players were required, which explains the offseason signings of pass rusher DeMarcus Ware and cornerback Aqib Talib. But the Denver defense needed an attitude WARD » 28W

Home games 56

When team is behind 43

When team is ahead 40

Note: T.J. Ward also had 29 combined tackles when the teams were tied.

Jeff Neumann, The Denver Post

28

T.J. WARD

WARD «FROM 27W transplant. It needed a snarling strong safety capable of turning the road beyond the line of scrimmage into a dangerous intersection.

A former Cleveland Browns star, Ward brings attitude — something the Broncos have lacked on defense since Brian Dawkins retired after the 2011 season.

“There are certain things you have to be to be a dominant defender,” Dawkins said. “You have to have that absolute dog in you. You can’t fake the dog. And he has it.

You hear people say all the time

that a player is tough, and most of the time it isn’t true. It is with him.

He’s fierce.”

Watching Ward, 27, on the practice field provides a glimpse. He never smiles. It’s not his thing. So dedicated is he to the pursuit of perfection — “I learned that from watching my game films with my dad throughout my life,” he said — that he seemingly rejects trivial pursuits. Quiet and focused were adjectives applied to him as a kid.

Little has changed. When he buckles his helmet, he has no time for those who can’t make him better.

“The toughest guy on the team?

T.J. No matter what it is, he’s a bulldog,” Ware said of Ward, who signed a four-year, $22.5 million contract

(with $14 million guaranteed). “It doesn’t matter if he’s coming down the line to make a play or pumping weights. He brings tenacity.”

“No colleges were calling” Ward’s life is not the cliché path to NFL stardom. In fact, it’s the opposite. Terrell Ward provided a blueprint for his son, one later applied to T.J.’s little brother, Terron, a senior running back at Oregon State.

Dad moved the family across the bay so that T.J. could attend famed De La Salle High School. The Spartans won 151 consecutive games from 1992 through 2004. Terrell coached defensive backs for the Spartans until focusing on just track this year.

But a school that produced NFL

players such as Amani Toomer, D.J. Williams and Jones-Drew never provided a stage for T.J. Depth and injuries conspired against him.

Looking at the 5-foot-11, 200-pound oak tree that Ward is now, it’s hard to believe he entered high school at 115 pounds.

“I was a late bloomer,” he said.

Ward delivered numbing hits in Pop Warner, but he was passed up by bigger kids as a teenager. By his senior season, years of training paid off. He started at cornerback for De La Salle, and intercepted two passes in the first two games. Then he suffered a knee injury the next week.

“And I don’t know what happened after that, bro,” Ward said.

“No colleges were calling. They

THE BRONCOS’ DEFENSE NEEDED AN ATTITUDE TRANSPLANT. IT NEEDED A SNARLING STRONG SAFETY CAPABLE OF TURNING THE ROAD BEYOND THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE INTO A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION.

Veteran safety T.J. Ward, playing against Seattle in a preseason game last month, wasn’t with the Broncos when they lost 43-8 to Russell Wilson and the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

media guide to know why the Browns selected Ward with the 38th pick in the 2010 draft. Just follow the YouTube clips.

Two rise above the rest. In 2008, Ward knocked Cal receiver Verran Tucker off his feet, separating him from his helmet and the ball. In Bellotti’s final game, the 2008 Holiday Bowl, Ward raced toward Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson, a former Chatfield High School star, and lowered the boom. Robinson wobbled back to the huddle.

“He scrambled out, and man, T.J. just unloaded. It motivated our entire sideline. There was a respect for the energy and physicality that T.J. brought to a drill or a game,” Bellotti said. “Our players had the ultimate respect for him. You knew if you were going against T.J. in anything you’d better strap your hat on tight.”

5

Can he cover? Just ask him With the Browns, Ward provided a clenched fist to the defense, their hardest-hitting safety since Eric Turner. He was fined for a hit on Cincinnati’s Jordan Shipley early in his career, and admits he still is adjusting to the NFL’s rules on helmet-to-helmet contact. Ward started all 54 career games in Cleveland, earning all-pro honors last season.

He possesses tree trunks for legs — he’s been squatting 500 pounds for years — and has the ability to accelerate at impact. Ward loves to inspire fear, but grouses about how his tackles have typecast him.

“For some reason, people say I am a guy who can’t cover. Personally, I feel like I am one of the best cover safeties in the league. Just look at my numbers since rookie year, the number of catches, touchdowns allowed, and pass breakups.

I am at the top of the list,” Ward said. “I take a lot of pride in that. As much pride in coming down and hitting people. Whoever stamped me with that label, shame on you!”

Ward didn’t end up in Denver by accident this spring. He wanted to win, a culture learned in high school. As the season drew near,

Mike Bellotti was Oregon’s coach when Broncos safety T.J. Ward joined the Ducks as a walk-on. “He just kept making plays on special teams, and making somebody look bad,” Bellotti says. Andy Cross, The Denver Post Ward practiced one lazy morning at full throttle, instructing teammates to push through drills. He doesn’t force leadership, but players listen to him.

“He’s old school,” Dawkins said.

“He holds guys accountable.”

Ward is comfortable in this scenic backdrop of mountains. It’s a fitting reminder to a career that began with a hill.

“My parents still travel to all of my games. I learned discipline at an early age from them,” Ward said.

“That’s where my work ethic comes from and my attitude comes from, from training like a pro.

“Being tough is a compliment.

But it’s not just about games. It’s your actions, how you carry yourself in practice and in meetings.

You have to pay the price to win a championship, and that’s obviously the plan here.”

Troy E. Renck: trenck@denverpost.com or twitter.com/troyrenck

FORCED FUMBLES DURING HIS FOUR YEARS WITH THE CLEVELAND BROWNS

WARD DIDN’T END UP IN DENVER BY ACCIDENT THIS SPRING. HE WANTED TO WIN ...

T.J. WARD HAD

didn’t have enough film on me. I was kind of forgotten.”

After delaying his college entrance by a year, Ward decided to walk on at Oregon, joining four De La Salle teammates who were on scholarship.

Two days before fall practice in Eugene, Terrance Kelly, one of Ward’s best friends from De La Salle who was on scholarship at Oregon, was shot four times and killed. The loss still haunts Ward, who has T.K. inked on his right biceps.

“My first tattoo,” Ward said, shaking his head. “I think about him all the time.”

Kelly’s passing fueled Ward’s already maniacal drive. Within a few practices, Oregon coach Mike Bellotti, now an ESPN analyst, knew he had someone special.

“He just kept making plays on special teams, and making somebody look bad,” Bellotti said. “It eventually got to a point where we would take him out after a few reps because we were afraid he was going to hurt somebody.”

Ward earned a scholarship. “Justice prevailed,” he said, smirking.

After injuries derailed him, Ward switched from cornerback to safety. It perfectly blended his intelligence and violence, and fit his nickname “Boss.”

“That was my gamer tag on (Xbox) and it just stuck,” he said.

There’s no need to check the

NEW BRONCO

30

DEMARCUS WARE

117 SACKS IN NINE YEARS WITH THE DALLAS COWBOYS One of a number of defensive additions to the Broncos this offseason is DeMarcus Ware, who spent the first nine years of his career as a Dallas Cowboy. AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

CARING FAMILY MADE WARE WHAT HE IS: TOUGH, GENUINE

By Mike Klis The Denver Post

Auburn, Ala. To drive around with Brenda Ware through the woodsy college town of Auburn, Ala., is to appreciate Southern hospitality.

The proud mom of new Broncos defensive end DeMarcus Ware, Brenda made sure many of her brothers, sisters and nieces came around to Grandpa John’s and Grandma Willie’s house to say hi.

It wasn’t that much of an inconvenience. Most of them are there every day, anyway.

Ware used his football riches to buy his mom a nice house in an upscale development here about eight years ago. Brenda takes the 1½-mile drive to her parents’ home every afternoon, where both she and DeMarcus and pretty much all the Wares grew up.

Grandpa John Ware is the patriarch, the family disciplinarian. He wasn’t going to leave his home, so DeMarcus had to settle for adding a front porch and a fourth bedroom.

The front yard is a steep slope until it hits a flat landing just below the house. There is a large, circular, weather-worn wooden table posi-

tioned on the landing, surrounded by nine chairs. Sometimes the barbecue is out there. It’s a perfect vantage point as the kids play in the street below.

“My siblings were my cousins,” Ware said. “Every day we would go to my grandparents’ house. My uncles and my cousins, my aunts. Every day probably about 25 people would go to my grandparents’ house. Playing cards, trampoline, play video games, work on cars, shoot pellet guns. Whatever it is you do as kids, that’s what we did. We had that big family unit every day.

Everybody took care of each other: ‘Hey, we’re hungry right now. We’ve got to figure out how to get food in here.’ That’s the hangout spot. That’s where we go to all hours.”

Down the block, they renamed a street Ware Drive. Because, you

DeMARCUS WARE WAS NOT A BLUE-CHIP RECRUIT BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL

know, of all the Wares.

DeMarcus’ uncle John said hello with a smile, then started working on a concrete project for the nextdoor neighbor. It was raining, but he was wheelbarrowing scrap to the front.

Uncle Larry said hi and talked for a bit, then excused himself to go inside and install the blinds.

“Let’s just say we aren’t Cowboy fans anymore,” Larry said.

Chris doubled as DeMarcus’ uncle and one of his best friends growing up. Brenda was the third of five children born and raised by John and Willie Ware. Chris as the youngest child came along quite a bit later and is only two years older than DeMarcus.

Chris got some of the height gene that has bounced here and there through the Ware clan. Chris left his cabinet-building job at lunchtime to stop by. Then headed back.

Get the idea how DeMarcus Ware wound up playing in 134 consecutive games, a streak covering 8½ seasons, for the Dallas Cowboys?

The most impressive part of the streak was in 2009. Ware was carted off on a backboard with a neck injury one week and had two sacks to help beat previously undefeated

New Orleans the next. That’s tough.

There was a gathering on the front porch to talk about DeMarcus. Aunt Patricia and her daughter Laquetta were there. There were chats about his time with the Cowboys, how for all his wondrous exploits — 20 sacks in 2008, 19½ sacks in 2011, an average of 14.7 sacks in a seven-year stretch from 2006-12 — Dallas was never close to winning a Super Bowl.

“They don’t have a quarterback,” Larry yelled from inside the house, as he was putting up blinds.

That brought laughter to the porch. Ware was always supportive of Dallas quarterback Tony Romo.

But he can’t stop his relatives from having opinions like any other fans.

The Wares figure it will be different in Denver.

“When DeMarcus was with Dallas, I wasn’t really a fan of Denver, but I’ve always liked Peyton Manning,” Brenda said. “I’d like to meet him one day. I told DeMarcus I’d like to take a picture with him.”

Ware is a worker, too. As a kid, he used to fix bikes for kids in the neighborhood. When Brenda moved DeMarcus and his younger sister Jakeithia to the apartment

WARE » 32W

SACKS AND TACKLES Demarcus Ware had 20 sacks in 2008 and thinks he can repeat that with Denver. He had 574 combined tackles in his nine-year career with the Dallas Cowboys.

Source: NFL

COMBINED TACKLES SACKS

58 2005

8

71 11.5 2006

84 2007

14

84 2008

20

57 11

66 15.5

58 19.5

2009

2010

2011

56 11.5 2012

40 6 2013

Jeff Neumann, The Denver Post

32

DEMARCUS WARE

WARE «FROM 31W projects at 56 Booker Street, he mowed grass for the Auburn Housing Authority.

When DeMarcus was in high school and Auburn was playing at home on Saturdays, his mom would drop him off at the Goal Post Convenient Store and he’d walk the final three blocks to the Jordan-Hare Stadium.

“I would go there three hours early and I would get the concessions license, and I would sell Cokes,” DeMarcus said. “If I could go out there and make $100, that was great for me.”

Think about that. Ware grew up in Auburn’s backyard. No, the Tigers had DeMarcus in their kitchen.

And the program never knew who he was. Never recruited him.

“He showed up here, he was 6-4, weighing 196,” said Troy coach Larry Blakeney. “Probably the reason Auburn didn’t. … When he left here he was 6-5½, 250. I might be a fudge off.”

Troy, Ala. Outside the Troy football coaching offices, there is an NFL gallery of prominent Trojans who made it to the Sunday league.

Blakeney, the school’s legendary, 66-year-old coach, is fidgeting uncomfortably on a couch a day after back and ankle surgery.

Talk about tough.

He took the program from Troy State to Troy University, from Division II to Division I-AA to Division I-A, or whatever they call it now, in 2001, Ware’s freshman year.

“Most of our players come here without any scrapes,” Blakeney said. “There are guys who just don’t get it. Most of the time those are guys who didn’t have what DeMarcus had at home. His mother is strong, and his granddaddy is salt.

“And DeMarcus sort of took the bull by the horns as a young man, and he took to academics well. In business. Which is not a sneezing curriculum here. I enjoyed having him here. Of course, he made a lot of plays, man. He wore those folks from Missouri out. Him and Osi.” All those kids playing Pop Warner

from California to Maine, Washington to Maine, and two defensive linemen named Osi Umenyiora and DeMarcus Ware play together at Auburn High School and Troy.

Together, Ware and Umenyiora have 199½ NFL sacks. Umenyiora had moved on to the New York Giants as a second-round draft pick in 2004, when Troy established its place on the big-college football map with a 24-14 upset of a No. 17 Missouri team that featured quarterback Brad Smith and running back Damien Nash. Ware had a sack and two tackles for a loss.

Richard Shaughnessy, Troy’s strength and conditioning coach since 1996, has charts that say Ware weighed 196 pounds after high school with an Olympic lift of only 140 pounds. He got up to 211 pounds as a freshman, 224 as a sophomore, 235 as a junior and played at 240 pounds as a senior.

By the NFL scouting combine, Ware was 251 pounds and Olympic lifting 400 pounds.

After his senior season, Ware was hearing he was going to be a sixth-round draft pick, so he finished up his final semester while

working out for the combine. After his strong performance in Indianapolis, Ware was widely projected for the third round.

“The scouts were saying, ‘Well, he’s undersized, he’s a step slow,’ and I said: ‘Let me tell you this: If Osi is a second round draft pick?

DeMarcus is two of Osi,’ Shaughnessy said.

Why is that?

“Works harder. Humble. Does what he’s supposed to do,” Shaughnessy said. “It’s a totally different bear. The attitude, the person. I’m going, ‘Come on, man. Osi’s a good player but this kid is a great player.’ ” When Ware ran his 40-yard dashes in 4.48 and 4.46 seconds during a drizzly rain at his Pro Day, he was suddenly thrust into the first round.

The Cowboys had two first-round selections: No. 11 and No. 20. “(Coach Bill) Parcells wanted Merriman or Spears,” Ware said. “(Owner) Jerry Jones wanted me.”

Ware went No. 11 to Dallas, Shawne Merriman was selected No. 12 by San Diego, and the Cowboys got Marcus Spears at No. 20.

A couple of weeks later, Ware became the first in his family to get a college degree.

Southlake, Texas

New Broncos defensive end DeMarcus Ware puts in off-the-field work to keep him among the NFL’s elite pass rushers as he enters his 10th professional season. AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

In the heat of summer, DeMarcus Ware is working out among the people.

There are many pro athletes who are regulars at Impact Performance Fitness, including baseball’s Josh Hamilton and basketball’s LaMarcus Aldridge.

But Ware moves easily along with his personal trainer, Kevin Kordish, between the regular crowd working up a sweat on cardio machines. As Kordish takes Ware from one core exercise to another, the client uses his between time to pantomime passrushing techniques. Punch with the left, dip with the right. He talks about setup. About how a passrushing defensive end needs to play off his defensive tackle.

He demonstrated various maneuvers.

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

41

Broncos defensive end DeMarcus Ware certainly puts in his time working out, but he’s happy to blend in and be one of the guys in any setting rather than put on airs. AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post las, he was our No. 1 priority.”

Dove Valley Ware knows it’s possible to play his best football with the Broncos — better than he did with the Cowboys — because of the big guy on the other side of his new locker room.

Peyton Manning was a first-ballot Hall of Famer during his time with the Indianapolis Colts. But Manning has raised his level of play during his second life with the Broncos. Look it up.

Ware is close to having Hall of Fame credentials himself. He is 18th on the all-time sack list but needs only 16 more to move into the top 10, 25 more to pass Hall of Famer Michael Strahan for fifth.

With Manning and fourth-quarter altitude on his side, Ware thinks he

can eclipse his best years in Dallas.

“I never played on a team when we were consistently ahead early,” he said. “And now you have to pass the ball when I’m fresh.

“One of my goals — there’s still one play in my head that would have me two years with 20 sacks. I sacked the dude and they gave me a half a sack because another guy came in and fell over him. So I got 19½ sacks that year. So I said: ‘You know what? I’m going to do it again.’ You want a goal of mine?

That’s one of my goals. It’s a big goal, but I want to do it.”

What’s striking about Ware is his mild-mannered, polite demeanor.

Over the years, he has been an open book. The New York Times did a story about the failed pregnancies with his former wife, the

“I THOUGHT (DeMARCUS WARE) WAS THE GUY WHO HAD THE MOST LEFT.” – BRONCOS GENERAL MANAGER JOHN ELWAY

adoption of daughter Marley, the birth of DeMarcus Jr. “I know a lot of people who live sheltered lives and they’re not happy,” Ware said. “When you said how I blend in with the normal people (at the fitness center), that’s how I want it to be. Let everybody know I am normal. Some of the things I’ve done and able to do, I’ve been blessed. But at the end of the day, I’m just like you.

“I’ve seen guys who want to put themselves on a pedestal, and they get treated like they’re up on a pedestal. But if I can sit down with you in a bar somewhere chillin’ — hey, what’s up, man — you wouldn’t think of me as a Denver Bronco player, or whatever. Maybe because of a build you might guess he does something, but he’s not that dude with security around him, bringing attention to himself.

“I learned that from my granddaddy. He told me never put yourself ahead of other people.”

YARD TOUCHDOWN ON AN INTERCEPTION RETURN IN 2008

“Sometimes, you get them with the Okie-Doke,” Ware said, smiling.

It’s a move of deception. A look over here and burst over there.

How many Okie-Doke sacks does he have among his 117?

“Okie-Doke sacks? You don’t get many. I’ve had maybe eight, 10,” he said.

It’s mid-July, a week before Ware has to return to Denver for the start of training camp. He had been a Cowboy while training here with Kordish before. But after seven Pro Bowl berths and a place on the NFL’s 2000 all-decade team, the Cowboys released him March 12.

They dumped him to get rid of his $12.25 million salary because he had only six sacks last season and because he was about to turn 32.

“It was a big blow,” Ware said, sweat pouring from his gleaming shaved head. “Because I feel like I gave the Cowboys a lot every week, week in and week out.

When you get to the point where some people, I’m not saying who, feel like you’ve lost it, you didn’t play as well the last two years, to me that’s like a dagger. But when that dagger comes out, how strong can I get? Can I prove my critics wrong?”

When the Cowboys released Ware on the first day of free agency, arrangements were made that night for him to fly to Denver the next morning. Soon after arriving, he signed a contract that will pay him $13 million this year and $7 million in 2015.

“I thought he was the guy who had the most left,” Broncos general manager John Elway said. “He had the bad elbow last year, and I thought what was holding him back was not his age, but a couple injuries, and that was not his history. When he got released from Dal-

RIGHT GUARD LOUIS VASQUEZ

34

TOUGH GUY OFFENSIVE LINE

0 SACKS ALLOWED LAST SEASON

T

he first thing you notice about Louis Vasquez is his size. Guards aren’t supposed to be this big. He’s 6-foot-5, 335 pounds. He transfers his size into chilling strength. The former Texas Tech star bench-pressed 225 pounds 39 times at the NFL combine, helping convince the San Diego Chargers to select him in the third round of the 2009 draft. He was good in San Diego for four seasons. He blossomed into greatness during his first year in Denver a season ago. “He’s so strong when he gets ahold of you, it’s hard to get loose,” cornerback Chris Harris said. Cardinals linebacker Sam Acho explained

that Vasquez plays with nastiness. He is mean and precise. He became the first Broncos guard to earn all-pro honors since the league merger in 1970. Beyond his power, his best ability is his reliability. Vasquez didn’t allow a sack last season, didn’t miss a snap in 1,207 and has started 70 consecutive games to begin his career. Said Broncos great Terrell Davis, now an NFL analyst: “He just never loses. What you see is a guy who’s technical, a tactician, and the other thing is — you have to have the demeanor of a defensive-minded person, you have to be a nasty dude. And I get that from him.” — Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post Photo by John Leyba, The Denver Post

LINEBACKERS

35

MLB NATE IRVING

TOUGH GUY

GAMES STARTED IN 2013 REGULAR SEASON

3

T

here is no yellow brick road leading to Nate Irving’s locker. He finds himself an NFL starter because of patience and stubbornness. All Broncos linebackers are tough, and any could fill this space without much argument. Irving gets the nod. First off, Irving shouldn’t be here. He wrecked his sports utility vehicle June 28, 2009, and could easily have died. The car flipped, and the roof smashed just above his head. Rescuers didn’t find him

for 90 minutes as he suffered a fractured left leg, a separated left shoulder, a cracked rib and a punctured lung. Irving returned to North Carolina State after a year’s absence and earned second-team All-America honors. Irving was nicknamed “Predator” in college, presumably because “Axe” or “T-Rex” was taken.

He was so close to losing his life, Irving plays with a gratitude that’s tough to duplicate. — Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post

Photo by John Leyba, The Denver Post

SAFETY T.J. WARD

36

TOUGH GUY SECONDARY

112 COMBINED TACKLES LAST YEAR

H

e doesn’t have legs; he has trunks. The media guide insists he’s a strong safety, but when he wanders near the line of scrimmage it feels like a lie. “Maybe I am creating a hybrid position,” T.J. Ward said. He’s part linebacker, part strong safety and all mayhem. The origins of Ward’s toughness can easily be traced — just follow the YouTube links. They begin in college, where Ward climbed his way from walk-on to Oregon’s defensive linchpin. As a junior, Ward separated Cal receiver Verran Tucker from the ball and his helmet. In coach Mike Bellotti’s last game, Ward crushed Oklahoma State’s Zac

Robinson in the head, leaving the former Chatfield High star woozy. “The sound of T.J.’s hits are just different. Teams feed off his physicality and energy,” Bellotti said. The Broncos signed Ward to be an enforcer, their version of Seattle’s Kam Chancellor. His nickname is “Boss,” a fitting man to lead the secondary. Ward sacked Russell Wilson in his first preseason game and smashed Colin Kaepernick, forcing an incompletion, in his second. In a league where fake tough guys talk about their prowess, Ward lets the groans of ball carriers provide his résumé.

— Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post Photo by John Leyba, The Denver Post

RUNNING BACKS

37

RB MONTEE BALL

TOUGH GUY

4.7 RUSHING AVERAGE IN 2013

B

efore talking about Montee Ball’s toughness, let’s acknowledge he’s in a tough spot. His value this season will be linked to his blocking as much as his running. Keeping Peyton Manning’s jersey clean and his body safe from blitzers is grunt work. Ball revels in it. He never has shied away from rolling up his sleeves. Ball showed his strength and desire for the game by returning sooner than expected to practice during training camp after an appendectomy. It hurt to be away from the team because he loves football. He rushed for 184 touchdowns in high school and college. His

time at Wisconsin offers a glimpse of what Broncos’ fans can expect this season. He carried the ball 924 times. No wonder his college coach thinks Ball can handle the rigors of 250 rushing attempts. “Yes, he can do it,” Bret Bielema, now the Arkansas coach, said. “There were a number of occasions in the third and fourth quarters of our games that no one wanted to tackle him. We had worn teams down, and you’d see players fall down in their alley or something like that. What that really was is that no one wanted to mess with Montee Ball.” — Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post Photo by John Leyba, The Denver Post

WR DEMARYIUS THOMAS

38

TOUGH GUY WIDE RECEIVERS

TOUCHDOWNS LAST SEASON

14

D

emaryius Thomas wasn’t having any of it. Told that Yasiel Puig might be bigger and stronger than Bo Jackson, the man featured on the wide receiver’s shirt, Thomas balked. “There was no one like Bo,” Thomas said. Thomas conjures images of Jackson. He’s tough to cover — he’s taller than cornerbacks, just as fast and can adjust to the ball in the air — and even tougher to tackle. Thomas entered the conversation of elite receivers last

season, when he led all NFL receivers with 704 yards after the catch. “Watching him on film, you know he’s fast. It was definitely a surprise how strong he is,” Tennessee Titans cornerback Jason McCourty said. Thomas runs routes sharpened by years of after-practice work, allowing him to catch passes in stride. He goes from D.T. to D-Train, chugging into and past overmatched defensive backs. — Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post

Photo by John Leyba, The Denver Post

DEFENSIVE LINE

39

DT TERRANCE KNIGHTON

TOUGH GUY

INTERCEPTION LAST SEASON

1

O

nly the media call him “Pot Roast.” It’s catchy and beefy, not unlike the man himself. Terrance Knighton earned the nickname from a teammate in Jacksonville based on his dinner order on a team flight. The other possibility was “Shrimp Alfredo,” so clearly he made the right choice. Knighton fits in the Broncos’ scheme better than he does his jersey. He weighs somewhere around 350 pounds. Unlike Gilbert Brown, who ate himself out of the league, Knighton is more like Sam Adams.

You want tough? Try blocking him. He doesn’t tackle running backs, he

eclipses them. Size is only part of his game. He possesses wicked strength to shed blockers and shove them aside to get a tackle or disrupt a running play.

Ask former Pro Bowl defensive end Alfred Williams what makes a player tough — beyond playing through pain. “Someone who never quits. They keep coming at you,” Williams said. Knighton never stops. So confident is the tackle, the Broncos granted his wish to line up at wide receiver for a play in practice. All he did was catch a touchdown pass and strut back to the huddle.

He’s tough and a tough act to follow. — Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post Photo by John Leyba, The Denver Post

OVERVIEW

40

BRONCOS OFFENSE

115.1 QB RATING FOR PEYTON MANNING IN 2013, BEST IN THE LEAGUE Running back Montee Ball, trying to avoid New York Giants linebacker Jacquian Williams, figures to get much more attention this season than he did as a rookie in 2013, and he welcomes the pressure of helping the Broncos’ ground game become more stout. John Leyba, Denver Post file

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

By Christopher Dempsey The Denver Post

T

he most frightening prospect to defenses facing the Broncos’ record-setting offense this season starts with what Denver saw in film study from last season.

The Broncos scored 606 points, gained 7,317 yards, averaged 4.1 yards per carry in the running game and saw their quarterback, Peyton Manning, slice through the Swiss cheese defense opponents threw his way for single-season NFL records of 5,477 yards passing and 55 touchdowns.

And yet every time the Broncos turned on the film, there was an overwhelming sense that they left plays — and points — on the field.

And thus these players, who make up the NFL’s most feared offense, come into this season having determined they can do more.

Which, of course, is an unreal

prospect, isn’t it, Wes Welker?

“Yeah,” Welker said. “But, if you watch it, there’s still a lot of mistakes and a lot of plays that we could definitely make out there and get better from.”

Given what happened last season, the prospect of the Broncos’ offense becoming more efficient is likely already keeping opposing defensive coordinators up at night.

“We’re such a creative offense,” Broncos tight end Julius Thomas said. “We’ll do anything that somebody just suggests, and then go out there and try to perfect it. Really, that’s what we’re working on. This spring, we got to look at the tape

TALENT, PLANNING AND CREATIVITY ARE A POWERFUL MIX

and see ways we can improve. And that’s what we’re doing, just trying to get everybody dialed in, just trying to do more.”

Part of doing more is getting more out of the running game, and this is where second-year back Montee Ball comes in. He missed the majority of training camp and the preseason after having an appendectomy, but he is the man the Broncos are leaning on to put more punch into the rushing attack.

Ball is very much looking forward to the task.

“I like it. I like the pressure,” Ball said. “I like the expectations that are being said about me, because I believe it’s going to make me better, which is going to make the offense better and the team better. I want to live up to those expectations. I’m working really hard to.”

The Broncos fast-tracked Ball into a starring role when they allowed last year’s starter, Knowshon Moreno, to walk this summer in

free agency. Ball had his successes and his struggles last season, his first after being drafted in the second round from Wisconsin.

The Broncos are looking for more balance in their attack. They improved in the run game from 2012 to 2013 in yards (1,873), rushing touchdowns (16) and yards per carry (4.1).

But there’s more to be achieved.

“Obviously we’re going to put the ball in the air — we have great receivers and we have No. 18 back there,” Ball said. “But we’re most definitely going to run it as well.

We’ve been putting a lot of emphasis in the run game here in practice, because it’s only going to help us.

We want to be as balanced as possible. It’s going to be good, man.

We’re working hard. You can see people focusing on it in meeting rooms and really excited.”

Christopher Dempsey: cdempsey@denverpost.com or twitter.com/dempseypost

WANTING MORE FROM THE RUN The Broncos insist film study has shown them that improvements on a record-setting 2013 season can be made pretty much across the board.“We’re not saying we are going to eclipse our numbers,” tight end Julius Thomas says, “but we know we can improve. And that’s what we’re shooting for.” The running game is in the spotlight. Montee Ball takes over as the starting back, and the Broncos hope with him comes more home run ability on a snap-to-snap basis.

— Christopher Dempsey, The Denver Post

Source: NFL

BRONCOS RUSHING NUMBERS AND RANK

15th 2,566 1,873

Rushing yards

17th 4.1

5.1

Yards per carry

2013 DENVER

Seventh

NFL BEST

10th

23 16

107

18th

20

133 9

Rushing TDs

Rushing first downs

Rushing gains of 20+

Jeff Neumann, The Denver Post

5 2013 BRONCOS’ RECORD NUMBER OF PLAYERS IN A SEASON WITH AT LEAST 10 TOUCHDOWNS

EVEN AFTER HIGH-FLYING 2013 SEASON, BRONCOS LOOKING FOR OFFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT

STATS

42

BRONCOS OFFENSE RECONFIGURING THE BRONCOS’ OFFENSIVE LINE

The Broncos succumbed to the pressure of the Super Bowl — particularly the pressure up the middle in Peyton Manning’s face. Manning was not sacked in the playoffs until he faced the Seahawks. Seattle exposed the cracks in the Broncos’ offensive line, revealing left tackle Ryan Clady’s value. Clady missed the final 14 regular-season games and the postseason with a foot injury. His recovery created options with one goal: getting the best five linemen on the field.

Center Manny Ramirez was never in danger of losing his job to free agent Will Montgomery. Ramirez has worked in high-tempo offenses dating back to college and is comfortable with Manning’s audibles.

With Clady back, Chris Clark, Clady’s replacement last season, moved back to right tackle. He fits the profile but was inconsistent in the preseason. The club committed to the move, in part, because it wanted to experiment with Orlando Franklin, the former right tackle, at left guard.

PLAYERS AND POSITIONS

Franklin compares guard work to fighting in a phone booth. He continues to improve his footwork and gives the Broncos two maulers at guard, joining star Louis Vasquez.

chris clark

zane beadles

manny ramirez

louis vasquez

orlando franklin

left tackle

left guard

center

right guard

right tackle

The change began wiith Clady’s return to left He’s a three-time Pro o Bowler, and a bodygu for Manning.

Returns from ankle/foot injury

42 QB HITS ALLOWED BY BRONCOS OFFENSIVE LINE IN 2013, LOWEST IN THE NFL

Free agent Zane Beadles signs with the Jacksonville Jaguars

ryan clady

Moves from left tackle to right tackle, where he filled in for Clady

Moves from right tackle to left guard

2013 OFFENSE LINE SUMMARY running gap outside left tackle

left tackle/left guard

18

31

run average

4.0

4.2

yards

174 43

RUSHING DIRECTION

longest run

attempts

right guard/right tackle

outside right tackle

18

25

13

4.0

3.7

4.7

3.1

259

253

215

261

97

62

64

58

56

31

left guard/ center

center/ right guard

45

chris clark

zane beadles

manny ramirez

louis vasquez

orlando franklin

7

4

5

3

11

19

32

14

13

18

qb hits allowed

6

9

2

2

4

qb sacks allowed

7

1

0

2

super bowl starter

penalties

qb hurries allowed

Sources: Pro Football Focus, NFL Stats

1

Severiano Galván, The Denver Post

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

PEYTON’S PLACE TO THROW Chances are good that Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will complete a pass of fewer than 10 yards down the middle of the field on any given offensive play. Manning completed 54.4 percent of his passes in 2013 down the middle of the field for 2,977 yards and 28 touchdowns. The highest number of those -- 205 -- were for 9 yards or fewer.

intercept touchdo owns

y yards complettions atteempts

intercept touchdo owns

y yards complettions atteempts

3

rating

58.5

286 9 31

1

134.6

0

3

119.6

intercept touchdo owns

0 1

y yards complettions atteempts

44 9 9

106.8

118.2

64.7

0

105.9

10

131.1

506 60 77 0 0

7

133.6

429 49 54

83.3

24 6 7

54.4%

22.1%

113.3

270 14 39

9

1,435 153 205 0

rating

1 2

590

37 58

q

490 13 27

5

5

478 57 70

0 2

rating

99.0

523 16 25

0 4

402 27 38

q

7

23.6%

pass direction average total yards by direction total touchdowns by direction

peyton’s passing

from the snap

shotgun

74.6%

under center

14.2%

pistol*

11.2%

1,210 13 in the pocket

standard drop

96.1%

rollouts

1.5%

scrambles

2.4%

*the qb is a few yards behind the center with a running back lined up behind him

2,977 28

1,290 14

what route Quick outs Crossing routes Slants Outs Ins Comebacks Hitches Corners Posts Go routes Halfback “nonscreens” Screens

time to throw 7.8 % 10.5 5.5 12.2 8.6 1.7 7.3 0.6 5.0 15.2 14.2 11.1

(seconds)

2.0 or less

36.5%

2.1 - 2.5

26.1%

throwing to... wide receiver

39.4%

slot

23.1%

2.6 - 3.0

23.5%

3.6 or longer

4.4%

3.1 - 3.5

8.7%

running back

18.6%

tight end

18.9%

nfl average: 2.0 or less: 26.4% 3.6 or longer: 17.0%

Percentages don’t always add up to 100 because of rounding.

Sources: Pro Football Focus, NFL Stats

Severiano Galván, The Denver Post

COMPLETIONS BY THE BRONCOS IN 2013, BEST IN THE LEAGUE

intercept touchdo owns

q

461

yyards complettions atteempts

3 3

BRONCOS OFFENSE & KICKING TEAM STARTERS

TEAM ROSTER

44

17

BACKUPS

SEASONS FOR PEYTON MANNING

By Mike Burrows, The Denver Post

18

28

88

83

10

80

Peyton Manning, quarterback

Montee Ball, running back

Demaryius Thomas, wide receiver

Wes Welker, wide receiver

Emmanuel Sanders, wide receiver

Julius Thomas, tight end

6-foot-5, 230 pounds, 38, 17th season, Tennessee

5-10, 215, 23, second season, Wisconsin

6-3, 229, 26, fifth season, Georgia Tech

5-9, 185, 33, 11th season, Texas Tech

5-11, 180, 27, fifth season, SMU

Only five-time MVP in NFL history. Coming off historic season when he set league records for yards passing (5,477) and touchdown passes (55). Propelled the Broncos to league season record for points (606). Already ranks No. 2 in franchise history in career TD passes (92).

Ranked second on the team in rushing last season with 559 yards as a second-round draft pick. The last six weeks of the season, ranked second in the NFL in average yards per carry (6.5). Gained 117 yards on 13 carries at Kansas City. Didn’t play much in the preseason this summer because of his appendectomy.

Limited to 13 games last year because of concussion issues, yet finished his first Denver season with 73 catches for 778 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns. Career totals: 841 receptions for 9,358 yards and 48 touchdowns. Fivetime Pro Bowl pick.

Played his first four seasons with Pittsburgh, producing 161 catches for 2,030 yards and 11 touchdowns. Signed with Denver in mid-March as a free agent. He replaces Eric Decker, now with the New York Jets. Set career highs in starts (10), catches (67), yards (740) and touchdowns (six) last season.

did you know: The

did you know: Ball is

Already a two-time Pro Bowl pick. Ranks second in Broncos history in yards receiving (3,698) and touchdown catches (30) through a player’s first four seasons.

Last season, ranked second in the NFL in TD catches (14) and fourth in yards receiving (1,430) on 92 catches. Set a Super Bowl record with 13 receptions.

6-5, 250, 26, fourth season, Portland State

Broncos are 28-8 in Manning’s starts, including playoff games. They were 13-23 in their last 36 games preceding his arrival.

the only player in major-college football history to score 500 points in his career.

did you know: Welker

mas is his birthday.

signed with San Diego as an undrafted rookie in 2004 and was cut 4V months later.

twitter:

twitter: @WesWelker

did you know: Christ-

@DemaryiusT

twitter: @ballrb28

did you know: When

he left SMU, he had school reception records for career catches (235), yards (3,791), touchdowns (34) and 100-yard games (16).

Pro Bowl pick last season. Set franchise record for TD catches (12) by a tight end.

Finished with 65 receptions for 788 yards, averaging 12.1 yards per catch in his first year as a fulltime starter. did you know: Thomas

averaged 10.8 points and 5.9 rebounds as a senior with the Portland State basketball team while setting a school record by shooting 67 percent from the field. twitter:

@Julius_Thomas

twitter:

@ESanders_10

17 Brock Osweiler, quarterback

22 C.J. Anderson, running back

12 Andre Caldwell, wide receiver

14 Cody Latimer, wide receiver

19 Isaiah Burse, wide receiver

84 Jacob Tamme, tight end

6-foot-8, 240 pounds, 23, third season, Arizona State Second-round pick in the 2012 draft. Has been Peyton Manning’s top backup since he was drafted.

Had a terrific preseason game at San Francisco this summer, completing 10-of-13 passes for 105 yards and one touchdown.

5-8, 224, 23, second season, California Bowling ball-type back who played in the Super Bowl as an undrafted rookie.

6-1, 200, 29, seventh season, Florida Averaged 12.5 yards on 16 catches for Denver last season and scored three times. twitter: @Acaldwell17

6-2, 215, 21, rookie, Indiana Second-round draft pick. If he stays healthy, will play a lot this year.

5-10, 187, 22, rookie, Fresno State Former high school quarterback who passed for 6,890 yards and rushed for 4,003. Could be Denver’s kickoff and punt returner.

6-3, 230, 29, seventh season, Kentucky Made only one start last year but played enough to get 20 catches.

twitter:

@CjAndersonRB9

23 Ronnie Hillman, running back 5-10, 195, 22, third season, San Diego State Speed back who’s trying to break away from a history of fumbling. twitter:

@MrHillman2U

40 Juwan Thompson, running back 5-11, 225, 22, rookie, Duke Turned heads in Denver’s preseason opener against Seattle, gaining 59 yards on six carries. Another undrafted back. Received a $3,500 signing bonus. twitter:

@JuwanJuju23

twitter:

@CodyLatimer14

twitter:

@JacobTamme

85 Virgil Green, tight end 6-5, 255, 26, fourth season, Nevada Has only 17 catches in his NFL career, but look for him to be Julius Thomas’ top backup. twitter: @VGreen85

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

KICKING GAME 78

74

66

65

75

4

5

Ryan Clady, left tackle

Orlando Franklin, left guard

Manny Ramirez, center

Louis Vasquez, right guard

Chris Clark, right tackle

Britton Colquitt, punter

Matt Prater, place-kicker

6-6, 315, 28, seventh season, Boise State

6-7, 320, 26, fourth season, Miami

6-3, 320, 31, eighth season, Texas Tech

6-5, 335, 27, sixth season, Texas Tech

First team all-pro in 2009 and 2012. Threetime Pro Bowl selection. Played in only two games last year because of a foot injury. Has played in 82 games in his Denver career, all starts.

Didn’t miss a game until last year. Was the 12th pick of the 2008 draft, Mike Shanahan’s last firstround selection with the Broncos.

Three-year starter at right tackle. Moved to left guard after Zane Beadles signed with Jacksonville as a free agent. Second-round pick in the 2011 draft.

First rookie right tackle in Broncos history to start every regular-season game.

Played left guard and left tackle at Miami.

Full-time starter last year as Peyton Manning’s snapper after making 11 starts for Denver at right guard in 2012. Has been a starter in 45 of the 57 games he has played in his NFL career, including playoff games. Helped the Broncos allow the fewest sacks (20) in the league last year.

First team all-pro last year in his first Denver season. Played the first four years of his NFL career with San Diego, making 54 starts for the Chargers. Signed with Denver as a free agent in mid-March 2013. Didn’t allow a sack last year and didn’t commit a penalty in 2012.

6-5, 305, 28, sixth season, Southern Mississippi

6-foot-3, 205 pounds, 29, sixth season, Tennessee

5-10, 195, 30, eighth season, Central Florida

did you know: Ramirez was an all-Big 12 lineman who set a Texas Tech weightlifting record by bench pressing 550 pounds.

did you know:

When the Broncos lost Ryan Clady to a foot injury last year, Clark replaced him at left tackle. Now he’s at right tackle, replacing Orlando Franklin, who has moved to left guard. Clark was on Minnesota’s practice squad in 2008 and 2009. Has made 20 starts for Denver, including six in 2011.

Among the best in the NFL at his position. Ranks first in Broncos history in gross average (45.8 yards per punt) and net average (39.3). His career-high averages are 47.4 (gross) in 2011 and 42.1 (net) in 2012.

Signed with Denver as an undrafted rookie in 2009, but was cut before the season started. Re-signed with the Broncos on Dec. 30 that year.

Became their fulltime punter in 2010.

Will miss the season’s first four games while serving an NFL suspension. Second team all-pro last year, when he set an NFL record with a 64-yard field goal Dec. 8 against Tennessee at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

Ranks first in Broncos history in field-goal accuracy at 82.9 percent, having converted 141-of-170 attempts. Had the most accurate season in team history last year at 96.2 percent (25-of26). Since the 1970 merger, he ranks No. 1 in the league in fieldgoal accuracy on attempts 50 yards or longer at 77.8 percent (21-of-27).

did you know: Clady’s

brother, Chris, was a defensive lineman at CSU-Pueblo in 2009.

did you know: Franklin

was born in Jamaica and moved to Toronto with his family when he was 3. twitter:

@OFranklin74

twitter: @RyanClady

Vasquez was the only Denver player last year who didn’t miss a snap on his side of the ball. He was on the field for a total of 1,207 snaps.

did you know: Clark

signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted rookie in 2008 and was cut before the season started.

Colquitt has never had a punt blocked in 70 games with Denver, including playoff games.

twitter:

@LouisVasquez65

71 Paul Cornick, tackle

63 Ben Garland, guard

64 Will Montgomery, center

6-6, 310, 25, first season, North Dakota State Member of Denver’s practice squad from 2012-13. Entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie two years ago.

6-5, 308, 26, first season, Air Force Captain in the Colorado Air National Guard. Attended high school at Central in Grand Junction.

6-3, 304, 31, ninth season, Virginia Tech Made 16 starts for Washington in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Also has played for Carolina and the New York Jets.

twitter:

@BenGarland63

did you know:

79 Michael Schofield, tackle 6-6, 301, 23, rookie, Michigan Third-round draft pick. Made starts for the Wolverines at right tackle and left guard. twitter: @SchoBlue75

46 Aaron Brewer, long snapper 6-5, 230, 24, third season, San Diego State Has been in every game the Broncos have played since the start of the 2012 season. did you know: Brewer

made five solo tackles as a San Diego State senior snapping for the Aztecs’ punter.

did you know: Prater

was cut by Detroit, Miami and Atlanta before coming to Denver in 2007.

8 Brandon McManus, place-kicker 6-3, 201, 23, rookie, Temple Denver acquired him after Matt Prater’s suspension was announced. Has a powerful leg. Was 60-for83 (.723) on field-goal attempts at Temple.

Also averaged 45.4 yards per punt. twitter:

AGE OF THE BRONCOS’ OFFENSE/KICKING TEAM

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38

@thekidmcmanus

OVERVIEW

46

BRONCOS DEFENSE

41 SACKS FOR THE BRONCOS IN 2013, RANKED 13TH Broncos strong safety T.J. Ward (43) sacks Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in an Aug. 7 preseason game. Denver no doubt could have made use of Ward’s physical play Feb. 2 against Seattle in the Super Bowl, but he played last season for the Cleveland Browns. AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

TOUGHNESS, ATTITUDE KEY TO DEFENSE’S SEARCH FOR “IT”

By Christopher Dempsey The Denver Post

F

IN AN OFFSEASON OF ACQUISITIONS, THE BRONCOS HIRED ATTITUDE AND TOUGHNESS.

brought in for their skill — they were brought in for their brawn as well. The Broncos’ defensive makeover is in the mold of the Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers, units that physically imposed their will on fragile offenses. The Broncos wanted an injection of that swagger, of that dominating presence that engulfs the opponent.

“It’s all about attitude,” Irving said. “If we want something we have to go out and get it. We have to have that mind-set to be rough, rugged guys that go out there and take what we want.”

Getting a healthy Von Miller back at linebacker helps immensely. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament late last season and was a spectator throughout the playoffs. Miller on one side of the defensive line and Ware on the other will be as difficult a pass-rushing tandem to handle as there is in the NFL. But most prominent in Miller’s mind is how the defense evolves and adjusts throughout the season.

“When we’re met with trials and

tribulations, and adversity, how will we overcome that?” Miller said.

“How will we handle that? How will we handle success? Just going out there and finding that ‘it factor.’

There’s a lot of good defenses out there, but there’s not a lot of them that have that ‘it.’ You really can’t describe that ‘it,’ but we’re certainly striving to get it, and the only way to get it is to go out there every day at practice and work at it.”

As for goals?

“We want to be No. 1 overall in all categories for defenses to accomplish,” Moore said. “We want to finish games out. We want to create turnovers. We want to play at a level that you’ve never seen before.

We have the group. We have the talent. We have a great coaching staff. All we have to do each week is go out there and play like our butts are on fire. If we do that, we’ll be as good as they come.”

Christopher Dempsey: cdempsey@denverpost.com or twitter.com/dempseypost

TAKEAWAYS DROUGHT Last season, the Broncos ranked 16th in takeaways, with 26. While that wasn’t what they were looking for, it was the second consecutive season of improvement. As recently as 2010, the Broncos were among the bottom three teams in the league in creating turnovers. This year’s defense has made getting more takeaways a point of emphasis. The Broncos are looking to finish with their first positive turnover margin since 2009.

— Christopher Dempsey

Source: NFL

TOTAL TAKEAWAYS TOTAL TURNOVERS

30 23 18 27 18 30 24 25 26 26 (+7)

(-9)

(-12)

(-1)

(even)

2009 ranked Ninth

2010 ranked 30th

2011 ranked 27th

2012 ranked 16th

2013 ranked 16th

Jeff Neumann, The Denver Post

22 2013 RANK IN POINTS ALLOWED

ew things were more infuriating to Broncos defensive players last season, and into the offseason, than the notion that on some level they were soft.

The issues were more complex than that, they argued.

“Last year, we all got banged up, a little dinged up, and that’s part of the game,” safety Rahim Moore said.

And yet there were tough-guy lessons learned from the devastating Super Bowl defeat to the Seattle Seahawks that were not lost on Broncos management. Sure, injuries had a significant role in a defensive deterioration over the course of the regular season and into the playoffs. The Broncos’ defense was missing five significant players in the Super Bowl.

But in a focused offseason of acquisitions, Broncos executives hired attitude and toughness.

Hello, defensive end DeMarcus

Ware, who at his best remains one of the most-feared pass rushers in the league. Hello, T.J. Ward, the woodlaying safety whose reputation for big hits is so large he pretty much never has to talk about it. His teammates constantly rave about it for him. Hello, Aqib Talib, the in-yourface cornerback who has made a name for himself by being a player who can shut down almost every No. 1 receiver in the league.

“They bring different perspectives to the team,” linebacker Nate Irving said. “And we introduce them to new things. We’re able to learn and grow from each other.”

But Irving understands those particular players weren’t just

STATS

48

BRONCOS DEFENSE TOUGHENING UP THE DEFENSE The numbers explain: 19 years experience, 23 interceptions, 117 sacks added at three positions.

Teams that lose the Super Bowl and return the reigning NFL MVP don’t require a makeover. But

FREE SAFETY

general manager John Elway, smarting after

STRONGSIDE LINEBACKER

Seattle’s demolition at MetLife Stadium, knew botox was required. The focus shifted to the defense, where there will be eight new starters since the Super Bowl. Elway wanted players who could help give the unit an edge, an identity, something besides the Ed McMahon chuckle to Manning’s Johnny Carson offense.“We want the

20

MIKE ADAMS SUPER BOWL STARTER 16 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013

26

RAHIM MOORE 2014 STARTER 10 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013

56

58

NATE IRVING SUPER BOWL STARTER 15 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013

VON MILLER 2014 STARTER NINE REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013

group to have an attitude,” Elway said. Enter strong

LAST YEAR

THIS YEAR

LAST YEAR

THIS YEAR

safety T.J. Ward, whose diary of havoc is chronicled

An injury to Rahim Moore forced Adams into a starter’s spot late in the season. He was adequate, but given his age (33) and potential role (nickelback), the Broncos let him defect as a free agent.

Moore has shown no ill effects from compartment syndrome suffered in his left leg that required seasonending surgery last November.

With Von Miller suspended and injured, the Broncos juggled. Nate Irving played outside effectively.

Miller is the Broncos’ best defensive player. He causes havoc. His smile and health have returned, meaning his devastating production should follow suit.

through YouTube hits. Hello, cornerback Aqib Talib, who is relentless in effort and not afraid to lower the shoulder against opposing running backs. And

.384 THIRD-DOWN CONVERSION PERCENTAGE AGAINST THE BRONCOS IN 2013, RANKED 16TH

welcome, DeMarcus Ware, whose Hall of Fame résumé is missing only playoff excellence after enduring nearly a decade of mediocrity in Dallas.

“We can’t wait for the regular-season games,” Chris

4.00

Harris said. “We have added the talent. We are looking forward to the real tests.” The Broncos will

3.00

feature a battery of different starters than they

4.40

3.78 2.73

3.80

lined up against the Seahawks. NFL reporter Troy E. Renck analyzes the notable changes: Note: SK = sacks; INT = interceptions; FF = forced fumbles

SK INT FF 2013

LEFT CORNERBACK

24

CHAMP BAILEY SUPER BOWL STARTER FIVE REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013

PER GAME TACKLES COMBINED SOLO

SK INT FF 2013

31

97

MALIK JACKSON SUPER BOWL STARTER 16 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013

95

THIS YEAR

LAST YEAR

THIS YEAR

Talib can take out big-time weapons. He mauled the Saints’ Jimmy Graham last season in one of his best games.

Peyton Manning called him the toughest corner the Broncos faced last season.

Jackson might have been the defense’s most underrated player.

Wolfe has bulked up and should build on his strong rookie season after suffering a serious neck injury and seizure last year, leading to committee duty.

2.40 SK INT FF 2013

SUPER BOWL & 2014 STARTER 13 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013

LAST YEAR

THIS YEAR

First-round pick Williams benefited from slow growth, becoming a contributor and run stopper as the season progressed.

Williams continues to progress, making plays with deflections in the passing game, while improving at occupying blockers.

2.63

2.69

PER GAME TACKLES COMBINED SOLO

SK INT FF 2013

92 SYLVESTER WILLIAMS

DEREK WOLFE 2014 STARTER 11 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013

A rash of injuries devastated the group, and Bailey got torched in the Super Bowl.

3.15

PER GAME TACKLES COMBINED SOLO

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

LAST YEAR

2.80

SK INT FF 2013

LEFT DEFENSIVE END

AQIB TALIB 2014 STARTER 13 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013

3.00

1.93

1.88 SK INT FF 2013

Sources: Pro Football Focus, NFL Stats, 2014 Broncos Media Guide

SK INT FF 2013

1.45

1.46

1.00

PER GAME TACKLES COMBINED SOLO

0.92 SK INT FF 2013

PER GAME TACKLES COMBINED SOLO

SK INT FF 2013

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

356.0

LAST SEASON’S DEFENSIVE NUMBERS Opponents yards (AND RANK) (19th)

5.3

Opponents yards/play (16th)

MIDDLE LINEBACKER

56

59

THIS YEAR

LAST YEAR

Lenon was a stopgap, making the remarkable journey from XFL star to Super Bowl starter.

Irving is finally ready, the Broncos believe, to man the middle. He is a sound tackler, but can he rediscover the knack for big plays that defined his college career at North Carolina State?

Trevathan made a strong case as the Broncos’ defensive MVP. However, he broke his shin bone in training camp and likely will 8.06 miss the first four games.

5.50 2.73

SK INT FF 2013

54

BRANDON MARSHALL 2014 STARTER ONE REGULAR-SEASON GAME PLAYED IN 2013 THIS YEAR

It speaks to how much defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio thinks of Marshall that he gave him play-calling chores after Trevathan’s injury.

Marshall appears suited to hold down the position until Trevathan’s return.

33

DUKE IHENACHO SUPER BOWL STARTER 15 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013

43

T.J. WARD 2014 STARTER 16 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013

LAST YEAR

THIS YEAR

As a rookie, Ihenacho starred in training camp but didn’t even start the preseason finale this summer. He’s a big hitter with potential, though missed tackles hurt him.

Ward grew up a coach’s son. He knows the game and “is an intimidating figure who will make his presence known,” said former Broncos safety Brian Dawkins.

7.00

4.87 3.73

4.69

2.00 SK INT FF 2013

SK INT FF 2013

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

PER GAME TACKLES COMBINED SOLO

SK INT FF 2013

SK INT FF 2013

RIGHT DEFENSIVE END

98 TERRANCE KNIGHTON

90

SHAUN PHILLIPS SUPER BOWL STARTER 16 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013

SUPER BOWL & 2014 STARTER 16 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013

LAST YEAR

THIS YEAR

Knighton blossomed in Jack Del Rio’s system, giving the Broncos their version of Vince Woolfork.

Plays best in big games.

Unlike his uniform, Knighton fits perfectly in the Broncos’ scheme.

He’s an agile run-stopper and a vocal leader on a coalescing unit.

THIS YEAR

Ware provides leadership, quickness and intelligence. He’s hungry to prove he still can play at a high level after the Dallas Cowboys made him a salary-cap casualty.

1.75

1.13 SK INT FF 2013

94

DEMARCUS WARE 2014 STARTER 13 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013

Phillips posted double-digit sacks, but the Broncos didn’t see consistent pressure, letting him leave as a free agent.

2.19

SK INT FF 2013

45

DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIE SUPER BOWL STARTER 15 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013

SK INT FF 2013

25

CHRIS HARRIS 2014 STARTER 16 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013 THIS YEAR

LAST YEAR

Rodgers-Cromartie offered similar coverage skills to Aqib Talib but is not the same presence in the running game. The Broncos wanted him back, but Rodgers-Cromartie rebuffed their offer.

3.08

2.07

2.15

PER GAME TACKLES COMBINED SOLO

PER GAME TACKLES COMBINED SOLO

RIGHT CORNERBACK

LAST YEAR

1.94

PER GAME TACKLES COMBINED SOLO

399

Total points allowed (22nd)

STRONG SAFETY

2.00

1.93

PER GAME TACKLES COMBINED SOLO

24.9

Points allowed per game (22nd)

Harris performed at a Pro Bowl level last year before leaving with an ACL injury.

4.06 3.63

1.67 SK INT FF 2013

SK INT FF 2013

PER GAME TACKLES COMBINED SOLO

SK INT FF 2013

Severiano Galván & Jeff Neumann, The Denver Post

OPPONENTS’ PLAYS PER GAME AGAINST THE BRONCOS IN 2013, RANKED 20TH

DANNY TREVATHAN SUPER BOWL STARTER 16 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013

LAST YEAR

1.14

41

Sacks (13th)

WEAKSIDE LINEBACKER

NATE IRVING 2014 STARTER 15 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013

1.57

38

Opponents third-down % (16th)

65.5

51

PARIS LENON SUPER BOWL STARTER 14 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES PLAYED IN 2013

21.2

First downs allowed (27th)

BRONCOS DEFENSE STARTERS

TEAM ROSTER

50

95 Derek Wolfe, left end 6-foot-5, 285 pounds, 24, third season, Cincinnati After two years with Denver, has made 10 sacks and 27 starts. Limited to 11 games last season because of illness but has fully recovered. Denver’s first pick in the 2012 draft as a second-round selection. did you know: Wolfe and Barney Chavous (1973) are the only defensive linemen in Broncos history to make every start as rookies.

92

98

94

Sylvester Williams, defensive tackle

Terrance Knighton, nose tackle

DeMarcus Ware, right end

Von Miller, strongside linebacker

6-2, 313, 25, second season, North Carolina

6-3, 331, 28, sixth season, Temple

6-4, 258, 32, 10th season, Troy

6-3, 250, 25, fourth season, Texas A&M

First-round pick in the 2013 draft. Made four starts as a rookie, finishing with one fumble recovery, two sacks and 19 tackles. Made a big leap in performance late in the season.

Made a terrific contribution to Denver’s run to the Super Bowl. By the end of the season, he ranked among the NFL’s best interior defensive linemen. Made all 16 starts and finished with one interception, one fumble recovery, three sacks and 31 tackles. Signed with Denver in mid-March 2013 as a free agent. Tough to block because of his size and strength.

Played nine years for Dallas, producing 117 sacks.

First team all-pro four times. Seven-time Pro Bowl selection. Made 20 sacks in 2008 and 19V sacks in 2011. Ranks 18th in NFL history in career sacks. Former first-round draft pick signed with Denver in mid-March as a free agent.

First team all-pro in 2012 and a two-time Pro Bowl pick. His season last year was wrecked by a sixgame suspension and a season-ending knee injury. Made only nine starts, finishing with five sacks.

Has 35 sacks in 40-game career, including Broncosrecord 18V sacks in 2012.

Runner-up for NFL defensive player of the year that season. NFL defensive rookie of the year in 2011 after being the No. 2 pick in the draft.

did you know: Williams was a walk-on at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College before starring at North Carolina. twitter: @Sylwil92

INTERCEPTIONS IN NEW BRONCOS CORNERBACK AQIB TALIB’S TENURE WITH BUCCANEERS AND PATRIOTS

23

did you know: Ware has

did you know: Knighton was an all-conference basketball player at Windsor (Conn.) High School.

sacked the Manning brothers 15V times. Eli accounts for 14V of those sacks, the most of any QB that Ware has taken down.

Twitter: @MrKnighton2u

twitter: @DeMarcusWare

did you know: Denver is

6-3 in games when Miller has more than one sack.

He’s had two three-sack games, both victories. twitter: @Millerlite40

By Mike Burrows, The Denver Post

BACKUPS

58

97 Malik Jackson, left end

96 Mitch Unrein, defensive tackle

76 Marvin Austin, nose tackle

93 Quanterus Smith, right end

55 Lerentee McCray, linebacker

6-5, 293, 24, third season, Tennessee Backing up Derek Wolfe but will play a lot. Made five starts and six sacks last season.

6-4, 306, 27, fourth season, Wyoming Eaton product has made three starts and 47 tackles in 46 games with the Broncos.

Twitter: @MitchellJUnrein

6-2, 312, 25, fourth season, North Carolina Cut by Dallas, Miami and the New York Giants before signing with Denver in May. So impressive in training camp, he might become a starter here.

Twitter: @AnchorManAustin

6-5, 255, 24, second season, Western Kentucky Didn’t play last season because of a knee injury suffered in college. Sun Belt defensive player of the year in 2012.

6-3, 249, 24, second season, Florida Didn’t play last season as an undrafted rookie because of an ankle injury.

Backing up Von Miller.

Twitter: @Liiive_55

twitter:

@TheMalikJackson

AGE OF THE BRONCOS’ DEFENSE

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

56

59

21

Nate Irving, middle linebacker

Danny Trevathan, weakside linebacker

Aqib Talib, left cornerback

6-1, 245, 26, fourth season, North Carolina State

6-1, 240, 24, third season, Kentucky

6-1, 205, 28, seventh season, Kansas

Including playoff games, has made only six starts in his NFL career, which began as a third-round pick in the 2011 draft.

Denver needs him to be a full-time starter this year.

Played enough last season to make 34 tackles, including one sack.

Former sixth-round draft pick played a big role on Denver’s defense last season, finishing with two sacks, three interceptions and 124 tackles. In franchise history, only former safety Steve Atwater had more tackles (129 in 1989) among players who were in their first year as a full-time starter.

Trevathan likely will be sidelined through Denver’s first three games because of a leg injury suffered during training camp. He’s expected to return for Game 4 (Oct. 5 vs. Arizona).

Champ Bailey’s successor in the Denver secondary.

First-round pick by Tampa Bay in the 2008 draft.

Played against Denver in the AFC title game last season with New England. Second team all-pro in 2013. Has 23 interceptions in his NFL career with Buccaneers and Patriots, but has never made 16 starts in a season because of injuries.

Signed with Denver in mid-March as a free agent.

did you know: Irving had

39V tackles for lost yardage during his Wolfpack career.

Twitter: @JusSayNate

did you know: Trevathan

led the SEC in tackles as a junior and senior at Kentucky.

did you know: Talib scored

on a 60-yard interception return against Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl of the 2007 season.

43 T.J. Ward, strong safety 5-11, 200, 27, fifth season, Oregon Signed with Denver in mid-March as a free agent. Big hitter who played his first four NFL seasons with Cleveland, making five interceptions, 54 starts and 340 tackles.

Second team all-pro last year. Broncos acquired him to put more pop in their secondary. Secondround pick in the 2010 draft. did you know: Ward

played for three national championship teams (2001-03) in high school at De La Salle in Concord, Calif.

26

25

Rahim Moore, free safety

Chris Harris Jr., right cornerback

6-1, 195, 24, fourth season, UCLA

5-10, 199, 25, fourth season, Kansas

Thrilled to be back on the field after a scary leg injury (acute lateral compartment syndrome) limited him to 10 starts last season. Fully recovered and good to go. Has four interceptions with the Broncos, including two last season. Second-round pick in the 2011 draft.

Coming off knee surgery, but is expected to be ready for the season opener. Was on the field for 92.3 percent of Denver’s defensive snaps last season, leading the defense with 1,042 snaps played. Made three interceptions last year and had three in 2012. Made four starts as an undrafted rookie in 2011, ranking No. 1 among rookie DBs in the league that year with 65 tackles.

did you know: When he

left UCLA, Moore ranked fourth in school history with 14 interceptions.

did you know: Harris has a

history of contributing immediately. He made 10 starts for Kansas as a freshman, when he played in the secondary with Aqib Talib.

twitter: @BossWard43

twitter: @ChrisHarrisJr

twitter: @Grindin_59

57 Lamin Barrow, linebacker

54 Brandon Marshall, linebacker

29 Bradley Roby, cornerback

6-1, 237, 23, rookie, LSU Fifth-round draft pick.

Backing up Nate Irving. twitter: @5_X_7

6-1, 238, 24, third season, Nevada Likely starter at the weakside slot until Danny Trevathan recovers from his leg injury. Has made only one tackle in his NFL career. twitter: @BMarshh54

5-11, 194, 22, rookie, Ohio State First-round draft pick.

Backing up Aqib Talib.

Likely will play a lot in nickel packages. twitter: @BradRoby_1

47 Corey Nelson, linebacker 6-1, 226, 22, rookie, Oklahoma Seventh-round draft pick had impressive training camp. Played high school football in Dallas and was Texas’ Class 5A defensive player of the year in 2009. twitter: @C_Ne7son

53 Steven Johnson, linebacker 6-1, 237, 26, third season, Kansas Played in 11 games as an undrafted rookie in 2012, leading the Broncos with 10 tackles on special teams. Last year, against Philadelphia, blocked a punt and returned it 17 yards for a touchdown. twitter: @SMJ2852

32 Tony Carter, cornerback 5-9, 175, 28, sixth season, Florida State Provides valuable experience. Made two starts, three interceptions and 35 tackles in 27 games the past two seasons. twitter: @tonycarter904

30 David Bruton, safety

38 Quinton Carter, safety

6-2, 217, 27, sixth season, Notre Dame Has made only four starts in the Broncos’ secondary, but is among their most valuable players because of his stellar play on special teams. In last year’s season opener, he blocked a Baltimore punt that led to a touchdown. Five weeks later, he made a 35-yard run on a fake punt against Jacksonville. twitter: @D_Brut30

6-1, 200, 26, fourth season, Oklahoma Made 10 starts in 2011 as a rookie. Knee problems kept him out of all but three games from 2012-13.

Backing up Rahim Moore. twitter: @SinCityBuck

36 Kayvon Webster, cornerback 5-11, 198, 23, second season, South Florida Made one interception, two starts and 38 tackles last year as a rookie. Backing up Chris Harris Jr. twitter: @kayvonwebster

31 Omar Bolden, cornerback 5-10, 195, 25, third season, Arizona State Former safety and fourthround draft pick. Made his first start in Denver’s secondary last year. twitter: @Os_Island

BENJAMIN HOCHMAN

52

COLUMN

23 INTERCEPTIONS BY AQIB TALIB IN SIX SEASONS IN THE NFL “I love practicing against him, because we know we’re going against the best,” Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase says of cornerback Aqib Talib, above, who signed with the Broncos in March. John Leyba, The Denver Post

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

’m in the fitting room of adjectives, trying on words like a pair of risky and risqué pants.

Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib is … sassy?

Sassy? Yeah, that’s it. Sassy. Aqib Talib is sassy — a confident, moody, livewire-y, delicious addition to Denver’s secondary.

Back in March, he showed up at Dove Valley, happy to be here and all that springtime stuff. But it’s now almost autumn, soon fall in full, and here’s the Talib we’ve heard about.

“I call him the split personality,” Broncos teammate DeMarcus Ware said of his fellow defensive freeagent signee. “You don’t know what you’re going to get. … It was just great to see him sort of get out of his shell, because he was quiet when we first got here. And now he’s all over the locker room; he’s all into the huddle.”

Talib’s sass should strengthen Denver’s defense, because it is complemented — no, validated — by his toughn\ess. The man yearns to tackle with vicious hits, though he sometimes doesn’t have to, because his guy doesn’t usually catch the ball. He has a hawk mentality — or even, dare I, a Seahawk mentality.

“You can’t ask for more at that position,” said Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase, who twice game-planned for Talib last season, when Talib played for the New

England Patriots. “The guy hits.

The guy covers. I love practicing against him, because we know we’re going against the best. Demaryius (Thomas) gets that work every day, and so do the other guys.

“One of the funniest things is trying to get something by him, telling him before practice, ‘Hey, I got something for you today.’ Every once in a while, you’ll get him.”

If the sass complements the toughness, the Broncos will have a Pro Bowler on their hands. The thing to watch is whether the sass ever becomes a disruption. It’s a risk well worth taking. Talib vs.

Thomas was a heavyweight match last season. Now Denver has punch on both sides of the ball.

Can Talib stay healthy? He

never really has. The good thing is he’s always trying to get in on a tackle, but the bad thing is the injury-prone player is always trying to get in on a tackle. He has never played 16 games in a season, so I don’t see it happening this season, but as long as he’s healthy in the postseason, Denver will be tough — and tough to beat.

“He approaches each play (seriously),” Ware said. “I mean, even when we’re watching film, he’ll tell me what I’m doing maybe in the fire zone or three coverage.

‘Hey, this is exactly where you need to drop it. These right

BENJAMIN HOCHMAN DENVER POST COLUMNIST

here are the pass routes that you want to see behind you.’ So he helps me out, and having a guy like that, knowing everything about the defense, that’s the type of guy you want.

“Sometimes he’s going to be the silent, quiet guy who wants to get into the receiver’s face and really smash him — or he’s going to be the guy dancing on the sideline, teaching you dance moves and making you laugh. He’s a great guy.”

Hey, Aqib! Can you describe the toughness of this new-look defense?

“Agaiiiiiin?” Talib said in a highpitched squawk. “How many times are guys going to ask me the same question? I’ve answered this question 35 times! We’re going to try to be a tough group. We’re going to try to be assignment-sound, and we’re going to be physical.”

Later, he was asked to name the best cornerback in the NFL, knowing he’s on the shortlist but maybe below Richard Sherman, Patrick Peterson, Joe Haden and, we’ll see, his replacement in New England, Darrelle Revis.

“That’s an offseason question, and it is now in season,” he declared, “so you can ask me that question in March, and I’ll have an answer for you then.”

Benjamin Hochman: bhochman@denverpost.com or twitter.com/hochman

56 SOLO TACKLES IN AQIB TALIB’S SECOND SEASON IN THE NFL, HIS FIRST AS A STARTER

I

TALIB BRINGS VOLATILE MIX OF UNPREDICTABILITY

TEAM SALARIES

54

NFL THE COST OF A SUPER BOWL TEAM The two teams to reach the Super Bowl last year, Denver and Seattle, both spent more on the offensive side of the ball than on the defensive side. Despite having the No. 1 defense, Super Bowl winner Seattle spent more on offense (and overall) than Denver. Peyton Manning was the highest-paid player between the teams. He made more than all of Seattle’s linebackers and safeties combined. Russell Wilson, the starting quarterback for Seattle, wasn’t even the highest-paid quarterback on his team.

KEY PLAYERS/SALARIES Peyton Manning, QB: $17,500,000

Knowshon Moreno, RB: $3,287,000

Wes Welker, WR: $4,150,000 Demaryius Thomas, WR: $2,592,750 Eric Decker, WR: $1,506,039

DENVER BRONCOS

Joel Dreessen, TE: $3,666,666 Julius Thomas, TE: $651,000

Quarterbacks: $18,716,295

Offense: $65,886,162

Running backs: $5,013,752

Ryan Clady, OT: $12,600,000 Chris Clark, LT: $1,548,666 Orlando Franklin, RT: $1,188,000

Wide receivers: $9,248,789

Louis Vasquez, G: $3,250,000

Tight ends: $8,013,902

Total: $121,096,964 NO.

Offensive tackles: $16,327,842

Manny Ramirez, C: $1,231,666 Mike Adams, S: $2,000,000 Rahim Moore, FS: $1,213,125

Offensive guards: $6,318,916

OAKLAND HAD THE LOWEST TOTAL TEAM BUDGET IN 2013: $65,783,589

32

Centers: $2,246,666

Defense: $48,936,969

Safeties: $5,858,346

Duke Ihenacho, S: $480,000 Champ Bailey, CB: $10,750,000 Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB: $2,900,000

Cornerbacks: $18,114,225 Chris Harris, CB: $555,668

Linebackers: $12,923,647

Special teams: $6,273,833

Defensive ends: $5,694,016

Von Miller, OLB: $4,921,213 Wesley Woodyard, OLB: $3,250,000

Defensive tackles: $6,346,735 Nate Irving, LB: $728,750 Danny Trevathan, LB: $506,018

TOP FIVE

Robert Ayers, DE: $2,241,250 Shaun Phillips, DE: $1,400,000 Peyton Manning, QB $17,500,000 16 regularseason games

Ryan Clady, OT: $12,600,000 Two regularseason games

Champ Bailey, CB: $10,750,000 Five regularseason games

Von Miller, OLB: $4,921,213 Nine regularseason games

Wes Welker, WR: $4,150,000 13 regularseason games

Kevin Vickerson, DT: $2,500,000 Terrance Knighton, DT: $1,750,000

Matt Prater, K: $3,312,500 Britton Colquitt, P: $2,000,000 Trindon Holliday, KR/WR: $480,000

AVERAGE NFL OFFENSE SPENDING,

Top

Bottom

Eagles Seahawks Titans

Raiders Browns Dolphins

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

Top

Bottom

Bengals

Raiders

Chiefs Steelers

Browns Dolphins

KEY PLAYERS/SALARIES

AVERAGE NFL DEFENSE SPENDING,

Russell Wilson, QB: $681,085 Marshawn Lynch, RB: $8,500,000

Percy Harvin, WR: $4,900,000 Golden Tate, WR: $880,000

Quarterbacks: $1,521,085 Running backs: $10,799,653

Zach Miller, TE: $11,000,000

Wide receivers: $16,831,423

Offense: $69,886,210

Russell Okung, LT: $9,540,000

Tight ends: $12,778,788

Total: $124,819,329

Breno Giacomini, RT: $4,750,000

Offensive tackles: $15,447,003 Offensive guards: $5,953,258

Paul McQuistan, G: $3,375,000 James Carpenter, G: $2,084,046

Centers: $6,555,000 Max Unger, C: $6,000,000

Safeties: $8,160,795

Defense: $52,140,619

Kam Chancellor, S: $3,878,404

Cornerbacks: $3,983,251

Earl Thomas, S: $2,898,215

Linebackers: $7,377,232 Brandon Browner, CB: $773,756

Defensive ends: $25,013,832

Special teams: $2,792,500

Walter Thurmond, CB: $607,640 Richard Sherman, CB: $600,606

Defensive tackles: $7,605,509

TOP FIVE

Bruce Irvin, OLB: $1,931,546 Heath Farwell, ILB: $1,666,666

Zach Miller, TE: $11,000,000 14 regularseason games

Sidney Rice, WR: $9,700,000 Eight regularseason games

Russell Okung, LT: $9,540,000 Eight regularseason games

Marshawn Lynch, RB: $8,500,000 16 regularseason games

Chris Clemons, DE: $8,166,666 14 regularseason games

Chris Clemons, DE: $8,166,666 Red Bryant, DE: $7,600,000 Michael Bennett, DE: $4,800,000

NOTE: Yearly salaries for players are based on their guaranteed base salary and a

number of bonuses — including reaching certain incentives — during the season.

Team figures can be hard to calculate, because players can go from practice squad to starting during the season, get cut, get injured and have their compensation go through all sorts of accounting gimmicks to keep the team under the cap limit.

These figures are our best estimate when comparing contracts with rosters.

Positions indicated are — in some instances — what the player was drafted as, not what position he played during the season.

Brandon Mebane, DT: $5,200,000 Tony McDaniel, DT: $605,000

Jon Ryan, P: $1,405,000 Steven Hauschka, K: $620,000

Infographic by Jeff Neumann, The Denver Post. Sources: Over the Cap, NFL, Sportrac

1

DREW BREES OF THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS WAS THE NFL’S HIGHEST-PAID PLAYER; HE MADE $18.4 MILLION

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

NO.

Sidney Rice, WR: $9,700,000

WOODY PAIGE

56

COLUMN

5 NUMBER OF TIMES THE BRONCOS HAVE COMPILED A 13-3 REGULAR-SEASON RECORD Reigning league MVP Peyton Manning has enjoyed premier pass protection with the Broncos, as this play from last season’s postseason game against San Diego shows. Denver’s offense allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL last season (20). Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

riskaidekaphobia is the fear of 13. Triskaidekamarinophobia is the fear of a Miami Dolphins quarterback wearing No. 13.

Only six Broncos have worn a jersey bearing the supposed unluckiest number of all — 13. No one does now.

Have no fear. For the third consecutive regular season the Broncos will win 13. That record would be an NFL record.

Should the Broncos be numb to that number, or must their opponents be leery? Is it a curse or providence?

Since the NFL lengthened each team’s regular-season schedule to 16 games in 1978, 36 teams have finished 13-3 in the regular season. Five, including last season’s Seattle Seahawks, have won the Super Bowl.

The Broncos are not among them. Neither are Peyton Manning nor John Elway, who have some 13s in their background.

The Broncos are the only NFL team to compile a 13-3 record five times — 1984, 1996, 2005, 2012 and 2013. As a result, they lost their first playoff game three times, the AFC championship game once and, sigh, the Super Bowl last February.

Manning’s teams in Indianapolis and Denver have ascended to 13-3 in four seasons, and he didn’t win the Super Bowl any of those years. Elway had two 13-3 seasons as a player, now two more as an executive.

(Of course, the Broncos, Manning and Elway have won Super Bowls with other records, just not 13-3.)

Although, as proved conclusively by the Broncos again the past two seasons, 13-3 is no lock-cinch to win the Super Bowl. Actually, the chances are about 13 percent. In 2014, they would take a 13-3 mark willingly and cheerfully. The Broncos will get there.

No other team in the league, not even champion Seattle, will get to 13-3.

With Manning, the Broncos have won seven of eight home games each of the past two seasons. This season they win all eight, starting with the sure thing against the Colts in the opener. The Colts’ defense is so-so. Other than the 49ers on Oct. 19, the home schedule will be rather uncomplicated. Buffalo and Miami? The Broncos really have three bye weeks with those two teams on the schedule.

The Missouri teams can forget it. Kansas City is back down, and St. Louis lost its quarterback, Sam Bradford, again.

The Chargers aren’t quite as proficient as in 2013, and the Raiders are pathetic, again.

The Broncos’ three losses on the road will be to Seattle, New England and Cincinnati. The Bengals will need that Dec. 22 Monday night game against the Broncos to get in the playoffs. The Broncos will be fine without it, especially since they wind up at home against the Raiders, and Brock Osweiler will play a lot again, as he did in the finale last season at Oakland.

The 13 number could be critical because the Patriots and the Colts will win 12.

My predictions: NFC East: Philadelphia (11-5), New York Giants (8-8), Dallas (7-9), Washington (6-10).

NFC North: Green Bay (11-5), Chicago (9-7), De-

WOODY PAIGE DENVER POST COLUMNIST

troit (7-9), Minnesota (6-10).

NFC South: New Orleans (10-6), Atlanta (9-7), Carolina (7-9), Tampa Bay (4-12).

NFC West: San Francisco (12-4), Seattle (11-5), Arizona (7-9), St. Louis (6-10).

AFC East: New England (12-4), New York Jets (9-7), Miami (6-10), Buffalo (4-12).

AFC North: Baltimore (10-6), Cincinnati (10-6), Pittsburgh (9-7), Cleveland (5-11).

AFC South: Indianapolis (12-4), Houston (7-9), Tennessee (5-11), Jacksonville (2-14).

AFC West: Denver (13-3), San Diego (9-7), Kansas City (8-8), Oakland (4-12).

The 49ers and the Packers will have the playoff byes in the NFC. In the NFC championship game, the 49ers will win at home against the Packers.

The Broncos, 13-3, and the Colts, by virtue of their home victory over the Patriots, receive byes.

New England wins at home over the Bengals, and Baltimore whips the Jets. The Broncos blow out the Ravens, and the Patriots win at Indy. So, for the AFC championship, the Broncos drub New England. Again.

Denver and San Francisco in Super Bowl 49 for the first time in 25 years. Broncos 31, 49ers 13.

Equinophobia. Fear the Broncos.

Woody Paige: woody@woodypaige.com or twitter.com/woodypaige

5

NUMBER OF 13-3 TEAMS TO GO ON TO WIN THE SUPER BOWL

T

SUPER SITUATION: BRONCOS TURN 13 INTO LUCKY NUMBER

CHUCK BEDNARIK

58

TOUGH STUFF

1 PENNSYLVANIA NATIVE CHUCK BEDNARIK WAS DRAFTED FIRST OVERALL BY THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES IN 1949 Philadelphia Eagles great Chuck Bednarik stands victorious after delivering a vicious hit that knocked out New York Giants star Frank Gifford on Nov. 20, 1960. Gifford was hospitalized several days with what was called a “deep brain concussion.” John G. Zimmerman, Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

By Nick Kosmider The Denver Post

C

CHUCK BEDNARIK: AS TOUGH AS THEY COME

huck Bednarik can’t recall all the plays he made during the 1960 NFL championship game. Certain memories for the 89-year-old have fallen victim to the dissolving effects of time.

But when the Pro Football Hall of Fame legend recently stepped onto Franklin Field — the site of that iconic game — to be honored at a Philadelphia Eagles practice, the feelings left soaking in the turf more than five decades earlier came rushing back.

“When I’m on that field,” he said recently from his home in Coopersburg, Pa., “I feel like they oughta put me in and let me play.”

Being on the field meant something different for Bednarik than it does for today’s players. Considered by many to be the toughest player in NFL history, the man they called “Concrete Charlie” was the last of the 60-minute men who played both ways. In that 1960 title game, won by his Eagles over the Green Bay Packers 17-13, the only time the then-35-year-old Bednarik rested was during Eagles kickoffs.

“I was born and raised to play both ways,” he said. “My parents came from Czechoslovakia. We were poor and had a hard way of living, on and off the field. I was brought up the tough way.”

Bednarik grew up in the hardscrabble town of Bethlehem, Pa., where his father worked in the open-furnace belly of the town steel mill. Bednarik planned to

follow his father’s footsteps into the mill, but when the United States was dragged into World War II, he joined the Army Air Forces and served 30 missions as a B-24 waist gunner.

Upon his return home in 1945, Bednarik enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania, where he became an All-American playing center and linebacker. He was drafted by the hometown Eagles in 1949 and played with them during his entire 14-season career, during which he missed only three games.

The league he joined was not the

lucrative money machine it is today. Not only did players work jobs in the offseason to pay the bills, many worked second jobs during the NFL season in order to support their families.

“Chuck tells a story,” said his sonin-law, Ken Safarowic, “that he would pick up the coach, Greasy Neale or Buck Shaw, they’d go to practice, eat a sandwich, and then he’d go out and sell concrete in the afternoon. The married guys had to keep second jobs. They never expected to make money playing in the NFL.” Instead, they were expected to

Washington Redskins running back “Bullet” Bill Dudley is raised off his feet as Chuck Bednarik of the Philadelphia Eagles makes a solid tackle Nov. 12, 1950, in Washington. WCA, Associated Press file

lay their bodies on the line every day, and few did it with the tenacity of Bednarik.

By the 1960 season, the two-way player had largely disappeared. For the previous two seasons, Bednarik had been playing solely at center.

But injuries to a host of Eagles linebackers left Shaw little choice but to turn to Bednarik.

His return to defense led to one of the most iconic plays in NFL history. On Nov. 20, 1960, in a game between the Eagles and New York Giants at Yankee Stadium, Bednarik delivered a punishing blow to Giants running back Frank Gifford that reverberates to this day. Coming across the middle after catching a pass, Gifford was clotheslined

by Bednarik and slammed violently to the turf. A famous photo depicts Bednarik standing menacingly over the running back’s unconscious body.

“That might be the most-signed picture in the history of football,” said Safarowic, who has written a book about his father-in-law’s life.

“I can’t count the number of thousands he has signed over the years.

Just about every house in Philadelphia has that picture.”

It was a picture that illustrated an era defined by toughness.

Asked if he thinks any players in today’s game could play both ways, Bednarik said he couldn’t answer.

“I don’t watch the game,” he said.

“It’s simple. They’ve got too many guys on each team.”

Nick Kosmider: 303-954-1516 or nkosmider@denverpost.com

PREVIEW

60

AFC

By Nick Kosmider The Denver Post

PATRIOTS S NO PATSY IN QUEST FOR AFC TITLE

ince Tom Brady became New England’s starting quarterback in 2001, the Patriots have missed the playoffs only twice.

One of those postseason absences came in 2008, when Brady missed the season because of a knee injury.

During his 13 years the Patriots won three Super Bowls and five AFC championships — and have appeared in the conference title game eight times, including the past three years.

That track record is a good enough reason to believe the Patriots have as good a chance of representing the AFC in Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale, Ariz., as any other team.

They have bona fide talent in a secondary that has struggled to form cohesion in recent seasons, whether because of injuries or a lack of talent.

The biggest offseason addition for the Patriots was cornerback Darrelle Revis, a longtime rival with the New York Jets who still possesses the ability to neutralize an opponent’s top receiver.

Brady is thrilled to have such a weapon playing on his team instead of throwing against him.

“You don’t know what he sees, or what he knows,” Brady said of Revis during an interview with a Boston radio station in August, “but he always is in the right place and has incredible instincts for a corner when he sometimes runs the routes

AFC WEST

AFC EAST

Three consecutive titles means the West goes through Denver. But even with the $32 million additions of DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib and T.J. Ward on defense, the Broncos might not be able to waltz to a fairly comfortable margin in the division, as they did a season ago. A difficult schedule and an improving Chargers team could make the Broncos sweat the division outcome until at least early December.

The Patriots have won this division 10 of the past 11 seasons. The Dolphins’ 2008 crown, won while Tom Brady missed the season with a knee injury, is the only blemish on New England’s decadeplus of dominance.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Broncos (13-3) Prediction: 12-4 The Broncos have done everything the past two seasons with Peyton Manning as their quarterback except win a Super Bowl. Only a championship will provide satisfaction now.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Patriots (12-4)

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Dolphins: Tannehill is 15-17 in two seasons as a starter. His third year should answer whether he is Miami’s longterm solution at quarterback.

Prediction: 11-5 The Patriots have to face quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck and Philip Rivers on the road this season. Good thing they added highlevel cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner to the fold.

Jets (8-8) Prediction: 9-7 The Jets finished .500 despite having a rookie quarterback, Geno Smith, who couldn’t take care of the ball (19 turnovers). Improvement from Smith should mean a wildcard berth.

Chargers (9-7) Prediction: 10-6 The additions of cornerbacks Brandon Flowers and first-round pick Jason Verrett should be a big boost for a defense that was the fourthworst in the NFL against the pass last season.

Dolphins (8-8)

Chiefs (11-5) Hannah Foslien, Getty Images E Matt Schaub, QB, Raiders: Schaub

will become the 17th starting quarterback for the Raiders since Rich Gannon led Oakland to the Super Bowl in 2003.

Eric Fisher, OT, Chiefs: After an upand-down rookie season at right tackle, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft is back to the left side he played in college where he must fill in for departed veteran Branden Albert.

Ladarius Green, TE, Chargers: The talented 24-year-old could be in for a Julius Thomas-type breakthrough in his third NFL season.

Prediction: 7-9 Kansas City won’t sneak up on anybody this season, and after losing three-fifths of their starting offensive line and dynamic punt returner Dexter McCluster, the Chiefs are due for a step back.

Raiders (4-12) Prediction: 5-11 Even if rookie linebacker Khalil Mack becomes the 2012 version of Von Miller, the Raiders lack the horses on offense to compete with the Broncos and the rest of the division.

Keith Srakocic, The Associated Press E Sammy Watkins, WR, Bills: The

Bills gave up a lot to move up to select Watkins fourth in May’s NFL draft. Will the former Clemson star be worth the investment?

Dee Milliner, CB, Jets: After a strong rookie season, New York expects even more from the former Alabama star, who will be asked to carry water for an unproven secondary.

Prediction: 8-8 Miami set out to improve an offensive line that surrendered a franchise-worst 58 sacks last season.

Veteran offensive tackle Branden Albert was a key offseason acquisition, but the Dolphins could be without center Mike Pouncey (hip) for the first half of the season.

Bills (6-10) Prediction: 5-11 Losing safety Jairus Byrd to New Orleans is a huge blow defensively for the Bills, but their bigger concern is whether quarterback EJ Manuel can develop chemistry with receiver Sammy Watkins.

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

(before) the receivers.”

On the other side of the field will be another new face, Brandon Browner, an imposing, 6-foot-4, 221-pound corner who helped the Seattle Seahawks start 7-1 last year before he suffered a groin injury. He was later suspended for violating the league’s substanceabuse policy.

Browner’s suspension will extend to the first four games of this season, but New England should be able to withstand a stretch against the Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings,

Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs without him.

When Browner returns, he’ll bring a physical style of play that helped guide Seattle to a No. 1 ranking in pass defense last season.

“He knows how to win,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said.

The question is whether a revamped secondary is enough to lead the Patriots, who were thumped 26-16 by the Broncos in the AFC championship game last season, to another Super Bowl appearance.

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady went 24-of-38 for 277 yards and one touchdown in a 26-16 loss to the Broncos in the AFC championship game last season.

SINCE TOM BRADY BECAME NEW ENGLAND’S STARTING QUARTERBACK IN 2001, THE PATRIOTS HAVE MISSED THE PLAYOFFS ONLY TWICE.

Hyoung Chang, Denver Post file

AFC NORTH

AFC SOUTH The Colts were 6-0 within the division last season. The Texans, Titans and Jaguars made key offseason moves that should help them be more competitive, particularly on defense. But none of them will dethrone the Colts, who should contend with the Broncos and Patriots for AFC supremacy.

A division that usually features a tooth-and-nail fight to the finish was won by the Bengals in a runaway last season. The playoffs didn’t include either the Ravens or the Steelers for the first time since 1999. Cincinnati, which has two new coordinators, is the favorite, but it’s in for a more bitter fight.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Colts (11-5)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Cincinnati (11-5)

Trent Richardson, RB, Colts: With Vick Ballard out for the season, Richardson must improve on his underwhelming first season in Indianapolis.

F Arian Foster, RB, Texans: Houston needs Foster, who missed most of last season with a back injury, to return to elite form after it lost productive backup Ben Tate in free agency.

Prediction: 12-4 Quarterback Andrew Luck has won 23 games in his first two seasons as a starter, including last season’s thrilling playoff victory over the Chiefs. The return of veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne from an ACL injury will help Luck take another step forward.

Johnny Manziel, QB, Browns: Brian Hoyer was named Cleveland’s starter for the season opener against the Steelers, but Johnny Football will still draw more attention than any other player in the division.

Prediction: 11-5 Quarterback Andy Dalton earned big money in the offseason from the Bengals. With that payment comes an expectation he’ll finally perform in the playoffs.

Ravens (8-8) Prediction: 9-7 Without Ray Lewis and Ed Reed last season, Baltimore was missing an element of toughness on defense.

Physical rookie linebacker C.J. Mosley should help fill that void.

Titans (7-9) Prediction: 8-8 The addition of offensive tackles Michael Oher and rookie Taylor Lewan could give Tennessee one of the league’s best offensive lines, and rookie running back Bishop Sankey is a potential breakout star for firstyear Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt.

Steelers (8-8)

Texans (2-14) Prediction: 7-9 Houston went from 10th in scoring defense in 2012 to tied for 24th last season, when the Texans lost their final 14 games. Will top pick Jadeveon Clowney be able to help the defense right the ship?

Steve Nehf, The Denver Post

Jake Locker, QB, Titans: The former University of Washington star has yet to play more than 11 games in a season. Tennessee needs a full, productive season out of Locker.

Jaguars (4-12) Prediction: 6-10 Jacksonville has been hurt by injuries at wide receiver during training camp, a problem the Jaguars can’t afford with Justin Blackmon set to sit out the entire season after repeated violations of the league’s substance-abuse policy.

Justin K. Aller, Getty Images E Ryan Shazier, LB, Steelers: Pitts-

burgh is hopeful the promising rookie from Ohio State can be next in a long line of great Steelers linebackers.

Steve Smith, WR, Ravens: After being released by the Panthers in March, the five-time Pro Bowl receiver has something to prove.

Prediction: 7-9 Ben Roethlisberger can mask Pittsburgh’s glaring offensive inefficiencies for only so long. Wide receiver Antonio Brown is coming off a career year, but the Steelers have few other weapons.

Browns (5-11) Prediction: 6-10 Whether it’s Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel at quarterback, the Browns will struggle in the passing game without wide receiver Josh Gordon.

PREVIEW

62

NFC

By Troy E. Renck The Denver Post

SEAHAWKS LOOK TO STAR IN “THE FAST AND THE PHYSICAL” SEQUEL NFC WEST

It was only four seasons ago, in 2010, that the West didn’t have a single winning team. Now, it’s arguably the best division in football, with three teams — Seattle, San Francisco and Arizona — all winning at least 10 games last season. All three are poised to repeat the feat.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Seahawks (13-3) Prediction: 13-3 Seattle lost a bit of depth to free agency in the offseason, but Pete Carroll has built a winning formula that should keep the Seahawks from experiencing a Super Bowl hangover.

O

renton, wash.» n Feb. 2, the NFL shuddered from trouble, a disturbance that amounted to the shifting of tectonic plates. The Broncos arrived at the Super Bowl with the greatest offense in league history.

They didn’t post a first down until the second quarter. When the confetti sprinkled down on MetLife Stadium late Sunday evening, the embarrassment was complete: Seahawks 43, Broncos 8.

If winning the final game creates trends, then bravado will reign this season. In between screams for autographs, and a deejay spinning Rage Against the Machine’s “Bulls On Parade” at training

NFC EAST

Victory doesn’t come easy in a division that hasn’t had an 11-game winner since 2009. But the Eagles provide the promise of excitement heading into the second season of coach Chip Kelly’s tenure, with quarterback Nick Foles registering as one of the league’s biggest surprises last season. As usual, the division’s biggest enigma, the Cowboys, is difficult to predict.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Eagles (10-6)

Darren Sproles, RB, Eagles: It’s hard to think of too many players who fit better into Kelly’s dynamic offense than Sproles, the former Saint who is dangerous in multiple roles.

Prediction: 11-5 Jeremy Maclin, who tore an ACL just before the 2013 season, has his first chance to play in Kelly’s offense, and he’ll be charged with replacing DeSean Jackson as Foles’ top receiver.

49ers (12-4) Prediction: 11-5 NaVorro Bowman will miss much of the season, and the loss of one of the league’s best linebackers will hurt. But don’t expect the 49ers to fall out of the playoff picture.

Giants (7-9) Prediction: 9-7 The Giants finished the 2013 season 7-3 after an abysmal 0-6 start, then added a number of key pieces in free agency, including former Broncos cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and former Seahawks corner Walter Thurmond.

Cardinals (10-6)

Dilip Vishwanat, Getty Images E Greg Robinson, OL, Rams: After

leading Auburn to the Bowl Championship Series title game from his left offensive tackle position last season, the No. 2 pick in May’s draft might start this year at right guard.

Percy Harvin, WR, Seahawks: Harvin was injured most of last season, and he showed Seattle what it was missing when he began the second half of the Super Bowl with a kickoff return for a touchdown.

Carlos Hyde, RB, 49ers: After a strong training camp, San Francisco has high hopes for the second-round pick from Ohio State who will get plenty of action behind Frank Gore.

Prediction: 10-6 Arizona is on the rise under second-year coach Bruce Arians, who brought the Cardinals to the doorstep of the playoffs during his first season in the desert.

Rams (7-9) Prediction: 7-9 Rookie defensive tackle Aaron Donald adds more punch to an already fearsome defensive line, which includes talented ends Robert Quinn and Chris Long. The Rams will be without quarterback Sam Bradford, who suffered a torn ACL in St. Louis' third preseason game. It is the same injury that forced Bradford to miss all but five games in 2013.

camp, Seahawks safety Earl Thomas fielded a simple question: Can Seattle be better this season?

His answer was chilling for anyone in the 80202 ZIP code.

“Our defense definitely can. We left so many positive plays on the field,” Thomas said. “We were so athletic, we were able to maximize what we did right. We know we can improve. What we are trying to do, what we are here for, is to redefine what people think about secondaries.”

The Seahawks bring attitude, a clenched fist. They ranked first in fewest points and yards allowed last season. They feed off the “Legion of Boom” secondary. Leaving quiet efficiency to IBM, the Seahawks step on throats and tell their gasping opponents

Cowboys (8-8)

Ronald Martinez, Getty Images E Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys: Romo is

coming off one of his best seasons, but he is also returning from back surgery. Dallas needs its starting quarterback healthy to have hope.

Rashad Jennings, RB, Giants: Jennings parlayed a strong 2013 season with the Raiders into a four-year, $14 million deal to be the Giants’ featured back. If his 73-yard touchdown run in New York’s second preseason game is any indication, he’ll be a dangerous weapon.

Prediction: 7-9 Dallas has hit the .500 mark the past three seasons, and an already-inept defense that lost pass rushers DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher in free agency and linebacker Sean Lee to a season-ending injury doesn’t appear ready to lift the Cowboys to the playoffs.

Redskins (3-13) Prediction: 6-10 Washington’s hope for improvement under new coach Jay Gruden begins and ends with the health of third-year quarterback Robert Griffin III.

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

of their pending expiration date.

The biggest threat to their dominance is history. No defending Super Bowl champion has won a playoff game the next season since the 2005 New England Patriots. And those Patriots were knocked out in the divisional round by the Broncos.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (twice), New York Giants (twice) and even the 15-1 Packers were eliminated with a whimper.

One thing about the Seahawks: They aren’t big on the big picture.

Their focus centers on “how can we be the best fundamental team, be the best at what we do,” defensive coordinator Dan Quinn explained. Their motto in the raucous environment at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center

was basic: “24/7, Leave No Doubt.” It was written on the coaches’ shirts.

“I definitely think we are further ahead than we were a year ago,” quarterback Russell Wilson said.

Seattle remains the favorite in the NFC West, which is what the American League East used to be in the big leagues when the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox traded haymakers.

It’s Big Boy football. Chin strap required.

The Seahawks are counting on their defense — consider it “The Fast and the Physical” sequel — to navigate a difficult schedule that includes dates against the Broncos and San Francisco 49ers (twice). The offense works in ways that the Broncos’ doesn’t. The Seahawks lean heavily

NFC SOUTH

Talk of the South always begins with the same question: Will this be the season a team finally repeats as champion? Since division realignment in 2002, no team has won back-to-back South titles.

The Panthers, the 2013 champions, have a tough hill to climb to become the first.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Saints (11-5)

Devonta Freeman, RB, Falcons: The rookie from Florida State dazzled in training camp and could be counted on heavily behind aging and injury-prone veteran Stephen Jackson.

Prediction: 13-3 New Orleans was undefeated at home last season, and with only one road game this season against a 2013 playoff team (Carolina), the Saints have a favorable path to a top playoff seed.

on running back Marshawn Lynch — Seattle ranked fourth in the NFL on the ground a year ago — and as soon as opponents sell out to stop him, Wilson riddles them with a big play.

The Seahawks’ biggest question mark is uncertainty along the offensive line and how much tread Lynch has left on his tires.

Nonetheless, Seattle is favored to return to the Super Bowl.

The championship, to the Seahawks, was the first of what they believe can be many more.

“We understand that teams are coming for us. We know that as competitors,” Thomas said. “I don’t have to have my butt whupped to get up for a game or stay focused on our goal. Every game is a big game for us.”

NFC NORTH

This division was ugly, yet entertaining, last season, with Aaron Rodgers returning from a broken clavicle to lead the Packers to the North crown in the final week of the regular season. Should Rodgers be healthy for the duration, Green Bay is the team to beat again this season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Packers (8-7-1)

Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Vikings: New offensive coordinator Norv Turner will have no trouble finding creative ways to use the secondyear receiver/returner/dynamic playmaker.

Prediction: 12-4 A full season of having to game plan against Rodgers and breakout running back Eddie Lacy, last season’s offensive rookie of the year, will give defensive coordinators fits.

Bears (8-8) Prediction: 10-6 The addition of Lamarr Houston and Jared Allen on the defensive line can’t be understated for the Bears, who owned the third-worst defense in the NFL last season.

Panthers (12-4) Prediction: 9-7 Quarterback Cam Newton is working with a new stable of receivers behind a largely reconfigured offensive line. An adjustment period is inevitable.

Lions (7-9) Prediction: 9-7 Stafford, Johnson and the rest of the Lions keep putting up fancy numbers, but that hasn’t translated to victories. Will coach Jim Caldwell be able to morph a talented roster into a playoff run in his first season?

Falcons (4-12)

Bob Leverone, The Associated Press E Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Panthers:

Carolina will need immediate production from the 28th pick in May’s draft as it aims to replace its top four receivers from a season ago.

Jairus Byrd, S, Saints: New Orleans had the second-best pass defense in the NFL last season. Now that defense includes one of the best safeties in the game. Look out.

Prediction: 9-7 When Julio Jones and Roddy White are healthy, they form perhaps the best receiving duo in the NFL. The two were injured much of last season, a major reason a team one victory from the Super Bowl in 2012 fell so hard.

Buccaneers (4-12) Prediction: 6-10 New coach Lovie Smith has the pedigree to turn the tide in Tampa Bay, but it won’t happen overnight.

THE SEAHAWKS BRING ATTITUDE, A CLENCHED FIST. THEY RANKED FIRST IN POINTS AND YARDS ALLOWED LAST SEASON. THEY FEED OFF THE “LEGION OF BOOM” SECONDARY.

Mark Zaleski, The Associated Press E Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Packers:

Green Bay had no interceptions from its safeties last season, so it used its first-round pick on Clinton-Dix, who picked off five during his sophomore season at Alabama.

Golden Tate, WR, Lions: He will catch plenty of passes from Matthew Stafford, but the biggest benefit the former Seahawks receiver provides might be his ability to draw attention away from Calvin Johnson.

Vikings: (5-10-1) Prediction: 5-11 Longtime assistant Mike Zimmer finally gets his shot as a head coach.

He has his work cut out for him, and he’ll have to find a way to not be so reliant on superstar running back Adrian Peterson.

— Nick Kosmider

TOUGH SCHEDULE

64

BRONCOS BRONCOS EMBRACE TOUGH SCHEDULE

B

ONLY

Receiver Demaryius Thomas and the Broncos swept the season series against AFC West rival Kansas City in 2013, but the Chiefs will get a chance to avenge those losses Sept. 14 and Nov. 30. Joe Amon, Denver Post file

ased on the winning percentages of their opponents from the 2013 season, the Broncos check in with the second-toughest schedule — on paper — in the NFL this year.

Only the Oakland Raiders have a tougher schedule and, frankly, that’s because the Broncos are on it twice. A broader look reveals one interesting development: The AFC West plays the NFC West this season, and because those two divisions collectively had the best records in the league last season, meeting every other team from those two divisions

constitutes the top eight-toughest schedules this season.

“I don’t look at the schedule very often, but I kind of like it,” Broncos tight end Julius Thomas said. “It’s good to be challenged during the regular season. We understand we have a tough schedule, and we’re looking forward to playing it. The way I look at it is, if you want to be the best team in the NFL, you’ve got to be willing to beat the best opponents. We accept the challenge fully.”

Christopher Dempsey, The Denver Post

TEAMS ON THE BRONCOS’ SCHEDULE HAD A LOSING RECORD IN 2013

3

MANNING OPPONENTS A look at how the Broncos have fared with Peyton Manning at quarterback against the teams on this season’s schedule: WEEK 1

Colts

Record: 0-1 GAME 1: Oct. 20, 2013,

at Indianapolis Score: 39-33, Colts Recap: Three turnovers put the Broncos in an early hole, and a late rally couldn’t overcome Andrew Luck’s three touchdown passes.

Recap: It was easy sailing in the regular-season finale, as Manning threw three touchdown passes and the Broncos locked up the AFC’s top seed.

Recap: Few reminders are needed of February’s flop.

From the first play of the game, Denver was overmatched.

GAME 3: Nov. 17, 2013,

WEEK 4

Bye

Chiefs

at Sports Authority Field Score: 27-17, Broncos Recap: The Chiefs entered the game with a 9-0 record built on a terrorizing defense. But they barely touched Manning, who threw for 323 yards and one touchdown.

Record: 4-0

GAME 4: Dec. 1, 2013,

No games

GAME 1: Nov. 25, 2012,

at Kansas City Score: 35-28, Broncos Recap: It was a dream day for wide receiver Eric Decker, who caught four of Manning’s five touchdown passes.

WEEK 2 AND WEEK 13

at Kansas City Score: 17-9, Broncos Recap: Demaryius Thomas caught four passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, and the Broncos overcame a slow start to “win tough,” defensive end Elvis Dumervil said, over the cellar-dwelling Chiefs.

GAME 2: Dec. 30, 2012,

at Sports Authority Field Score: 38-3, Broncos

WEEK 3

Seahawks Record: 0-1 GAME 1: Feb. 2, 2014,

Super Bowl XLVIII Score: 43-8, Seahawks

Recap: The Broncos overcame a 24-0 halftime deficit to tie for the fourth-biggest regularseason comeback in NFL history. Manning threw three touchdown passes during the second half.

Game 2: Nov. 18, 2012,

WEEK 5

Cardinals No games WEEK 6

Jets 49ers

at Sports Authority Field Score: 30-23, Broncos Recap: In one of his finest games during a stellar rookie season, linebacker Von Miller sacked Philip Rivers three times.

Game 3: Nov. 10, 2013,

WEEK 7

No games WEEK 8 AND WEEK 15

Chargers Record: 4-1 GAME 1: Oct. 15, 2012,

at San Diego Score: 35-24, Broncos

at San Diego Score: 28-20, Broncos Recap: In the Broncos’ first game without coach John Fox, who was recovering from heart surgery, Manning threw four touchdown passes, including three to Thomas.

Game 4: Dec. 12, 2013,

at Sports Authority Field Score: 27-20, Chargers

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

John Leyba, The Denver Post

Recap: In the Broncos’ only home loss during the 2013 season, San Diego dominated possession at nearly a 2-to-1 clip, and rookie Keenan Allen caught two touchdown passes.

Game 5: Jan. 12, 2014,

AFC divisional playoff, at Sports Authority Field Score: 24-17, Broncos Recap: Broncos fans watched nervously as the Chargers nearly erased a 17-0 fourthquarter deficit, but Manning converted three third downs on Denver’s final possession to hold off San Diego.

Game 2: Nov. 24, 2013 Score: 34-31, OT, Patriots Recap: This gut-wrenching defeat saw the Broncos waste a 24-0 lead. A special-teams miscue in overtime then set the stage for a chip-shot Patriots field goal for the victory.

Game 3: Jan. 19, 2014, AFC championship game, at Sports Authority Field

Score: 26-16, Broncos Recap: Manning threw for 400 yards and two touchdowns in the 15th matchup between him and Brady, capping a recordbreaking season with a trip to the Super Bowl.

not have gone more smoothly.

He threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns, including one at the end of an 80-yard, game-opening drive.

Game 2: Dec. 6, 2012, at Oakland

Score: 26-13, Broncos Recap: Knowshon Moreno ran for 119 yards on a career-high 32 carries, pacing a workmanlike effort that included four Matt Prater field goals.

Game 3: Sept. 23, 2013,

Record: 1-2

Raiders

at Sports Authority Field Score: 37-21, Broncos Recap: Manning set an NFL record by throwing his 12th touchdown pass in the opening three games, and the Broncos jumped out to a 17-0 lead and didn’t look back.

Game 1: Oct. 7, 2012,

Record: 4-0

Game 4: Dec. 29, 2013,

Game 1: Sept. 30, 2012,

at Oakland Score: 34-14, Broncos Recap: Manning set the NFL season record for yards passing (5,477) with a 5-yard touchdown toss to Demaryius Thomas that made it 31-0 at halftime.

WEEK 9

Patriots at New England Score: 31-21, Patriots Recap: In a game that wasn’t as close as the score, Denver surrendered 252 yards rushing, including 151 from Stevan Ridley.

WEEK 10 AND WEEK 17

at Sports Authority Field Score: 37-6, Broncos Recap: Manning’s first game within his new division could

WEEK 11

Rams No games WEEK 12

Dolphins No games WEEK 14

Bills No games WEEK 16

Bengals Record: 1-0 Game 1: Nov. 4, 2012,

at Cincinnati Score: 31-23, Broncos Recap: Trindon Holliday set a Broncos record with a 105-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and Manning overcame two interceptions to rally the Broncos from an early fourthquarter deficit.

Nick Kosmider, The Denver Post

4 DENVER OPPONENTS THIS SEASON WON THEIR DIVISIONS IN 2013

The NFC West’s San Francisco 49ers figure to be a tough regular-season opponent for Denver on Oct. 19 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. When the teams met in a preseason game Aug. 17, 49ers running back Carlos Hyde found little room against Aqib Talib, left, T.J. Ward (43) and Nate Irving.

AFC EAST

Denver Broncos

Oakland Raiders

INDIANAPOLIS

6:30 P.M.

SEPT. 7

@ N.Y. JETS

SEPT. 14

KANSAS CITY

2:25 P.M.

SEPT. 14

HOUSTON

SEPT. 21

@ SEATTLE

2:25 P.M.

SEPT. 21

SEPT. 28

BYE

OCT. 5

ARIZONA

OCT. 12

@ N.Y. JETS

OCT. 19

New England Patriots

SEPT. 7

@ CHICAGO

11 A.M.

SEPT. 7

@ MIAMI

11 A.M

2:25 P.M.

SEPT. 14

MIAMI

11 A.M.

SEPT. 14

@ MINNESOTA

11 A.M

@ NEW ENGLAND

11 A.M.

SEPT. 21

SAN DIEGO

11 A.M.

SEPT. 21

OAKLAND

SEPT. 28

MIAMI (LONDON)

11 A.M.

SEPT. 28

@ HOUSTON

11 A.M.

SEPT. 29

@ KANSAS CITY

6:30 P.M 6:30 P.M

11 A.M

OCT. 5

BYE

OCT. 5

@ DETROIT

11 A.M.

OCT. 5

CINCINNATI**

11 A.M.

OCT. 12

SAN DIEGO

2:05 P.M.

OCT. 12

NEW ENGLAND

11 A.M.

OCT. 12

@ BUFFALO

SAN FRANCISCO**

6:30 P.M.

OCT. 19

ARIZONA

2:25 P.M.

OCT. 19

MINNESOTA

11 A.M.

OCT. 16

N.Y. JETS

OCT. 23

SAN DIEGO

6:25 P.M.

OCT. 26

@ CLEVELAND

2:25 P.M..

OCT. 26

@ N.Y. JETS

11 A.M.

OCT. 26

CHICAGO

11 A.M

NOV. 2

@ NEW ENGLAND

2:25 P.M.

NOV. 2

@ SEATTLE

2:25 P.M.

NOV. 2

BYE

NOV. 2

DENVER

2:25 P.M.

NOV. 9

@ OAKLAND

2:05 P.M.

NOV. 9

DENVER

2:05 P.M.

NOV. 9

KANSAS CITY

NOV. 16

@ ST. LOUIS

11 A.M.

NOV. 16

@ SAN DIEGO

2:05 P.M.

NOV. 13

@ MIAMI

NOV. 23

MIAMI

2:25 P.M.

NOV. 20

KANSAS CITY

6:25 P.M.

NOV. 23

NOV. 30

@ KANSAS CITY**

6:30 P.M.

NOV. 30

@ ST. LOUIS

11 A.M.

DEC. 7

BUFFALO

2:05 P.M.

DEC. 7

SAN FRANCISCO

2:25 P.M.

DEC. 14

@ SAN DIEGO

2:05 P.M.

DEC. 14

@ KANSAS CITY

11 A.M.

DEC. 22

@ CINCINNATI

6:30 P.M.

DEC. 21

BUFFALO

DEC. 28

OAKLAND

2:25 P.M.

DEC. 28

@ DENVER

Kansas City Chiefs

NOV. 9

BYE

6:25 P.M.

NOV. 16

@ INDIANAPOLIS**

N.Y. JETS

11 A.M.

NOV. 23

DETROIT

NOV. 30

CLEVELAND

11 A.M.

NOV. 30

@ GREEN BAY

2:25 P.M

DEC. 7

@ DENVER

2:05 P.M.

DEC. 7

@ SAN DIEGO**

6:30 P.M

DEC. 14

GREEN BAY

11 A.M.

DEC. 14

MIAMI

11 A.M

2:25 P.M.

DEC. 21

@ OAKLAND

2:25 P.M.

DEC. 21

@ N.Y. JETS

11 A.M

2:25 P.M.

DEC. 28

@ NEW ENGLAND

11 A.M.

DEC. 28

BUFFALO

11 A.M

San Diego Chargers

SEPT. 7

TENNESSEE

11 A.M.

SEPT. 14

@ DENVER

SEPT. 21 SEPT. 29

11 A.M.

11 A.M 6:25 P.M

6:30 P.M 11 A.M

QB Geno Smith

2:05 P.M.

Buffalo Bills 11 A.M.

QB Ryan Tannehill

12TH CONSECUTIVE SEASON PEYTON MANNING’S AND TOM BRADY’S TEAMS HAVE FACED EACH OTHER

SEPT. 7

QB Tom Brady

RB Fred Jackson

RB C.J. Anderson

RB Maurice Jones-Drew

AFC WEST

QB Philip Rivers

NOV.

2

AFC

TE Anthony Fasano

TEAM SCHEDULES

66

New York Jets

Miami Dolphins

SEPT. 8

@ ARIZONA

8:20 P.M.

SEPT. 7

NEW ENGLAND

11 A.M.

SEPT. 7

OAKLAND

2:25 P.M.

SEPT. 14

SEATTLE

2:05 P.M.

SEPT. 14

@ BUFFALO

11 A.M.

SEPT. 14

@ GREEN BAY

2:25 P.M

11 A.M

@ MIAMI

2:25 P.M.

SEPT. 21

@ BUFFALO

11 A.M.

SEPT. 21

KANSAS CITY

2:25 P.M.

SEPT. 22

CHICAGO

6:30 P.M

NEW ENGLAND

6:30 P.M.

SEPT. 28

JACKSONVILLE

2:05 P.M.

SEPT. 28

@ OAKLAND (LONDON)

11 A.M.

SEPT. 28

DETROIT

OCT. 5

@ SAN FRANCISCO

2:25 P.M.

OCT. 5

N.Y. JETS

2:25 P.M.

OCT. 5

BYE

OCT. 5

@ SAN DIEGO

OCT. 12

BYE

OCT. 19

@ SAN DIEGO

OCT. 26 NOV. 2

11 A.M 2:25 P.M

OCT. 12

@ OAKLAND

2:05 P.M.

OCT. 12

GREEN BAY

11 A.M.

OCT. 12

DENVER

2:05 P.M.

OCT. 19

KANSAS CITY

2:05 P.M.

OCT. 19

@ CHICAGO

11 A.M.

OCT. 16

@ NEW ENGLAND

ST. LOUIS

11 A.M.

OCT. 23

@ DENVER

6:25 P.M.

OCT. 26

@ JACKSONVILLE

11 A.M.

OCT. 26

BUFFALO

N.Y. JETS

11 A.M.

NOV. 2

@ MIAMI

NOV. 2

SAN DIEGO

11 A.M.

NOV. 2

@ KANSAS CITY

11 A.M

NOV. 9

@ BUFFALO

11 A.M.

NOV. 9

BYE

NOV. 9

@ DETROIT

11 A.M.

NOV. 9

PITTSBURGH

11 A.M

NOV. 16

SEATTLE

11 A.M.

NOV. 16

OAKLAND

2:05 P.M.

NOV. 13

BUFFALO

6:25 P.M.

NOV. 16

BYE

NOV. 20

@ OAKLAND

6:25 P.M.

NOV. 23

ST. LOUIS

2:05 P.M.

NOV. 23

@ DENVER

2:25 P.M.

NOV. 23

@ BUFFALO

NOV. 30

DENVER**

6:30 P.M.

NOV. 30

@ BALTIMORE

11 A.M.

DEC. 1

@ N.Y. JETS

6:30 P.M.

DEC. 1

MIAMI

DEC. 7

@ ARIZONA

2:05 P.M.

DEC. 14

OAKLAND

DEC. 21 DEC. 28

11 A.M.

11 A.M. 6:25 P.M 11 A.M

11 A.M 6:30 P.M

DEC. 7

NEW ENGLAND**

6:30 P.M.

DEC. 7

BALTIMORE

11 A.M.

DEC. 7

@ MINNESOTA

11 A.M.

DEC. 14

DENVER

2:05 P.M.

DEC. 14

@ NEW ENGLAND

11 A.M.

DEC. 14

@ TENNESSEE

@ PITTSBURGH

11 A.M.

DEC. 20

@ SAN FRANCISCO

TBD*

DEC. 21

MINNESOTA

11 A.M.

DEC. 20

NEW ENGLAND

11 A.M

SAN DIEGO

11 A.M.

DEC. 28

@ KANSAS CITY

11 A.M.

DEC. 28

N.Y. JETS

11 A.M.

DEC. 28

@ MIAMI

11 A.M

Photo credits: Top row, from left: Steve Nehf, The Denver Post; Ezra Shaw, Getty Images; Joe Sargent, Getty Images; Jared Wickerham, Getty Images.

Bottom row, from left: Grant Halverson, Getty Images; John Froschauer, The Associated Press; Chris O’Meara, The Associated Press; John Grieshop, Getty Images.

11 A.M 2:05 P.M

*2:30 OR 6:15 P.M. **FLEX – SUBJECT TO CHANGE

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

CINCINNATI

11 A.M.

SEPT. 7

@ PITTSBURGH

SEPT. 11

PITTSBURGH

6:25 P.M.

SEPT. 14

SEPT. 21

@ CLEVELAND

11 A.M.

SEPT. 21

SEPT. 28

CAROLINA

11 A.M.

SEPT. 28

BYE

QB Chad Henne

Houston Texans 11 A.M.

SEPT. 7

WASHINGTON

NEW ORLEANS

11 A.M.

SEPT. 14

@ OAKLAND

BALTIMORE

11 A.M.

SEPT. 21

@ N.Y. GIANTS

SEPT. 28

BUFFALO

20

Jacksonville Jaguars 11 a.m.

SEPT. 7

@ PHILADELPHIA

11 a.m.

2:25 P.M.

SEPT. 14

@ WASHINGTON

11 a.m.

11 a.m.

SEPT. 21

INDIANAPOLIS

11 a.m.

11 a.m.

SEPT. 28

@ SAN DIEGO

2:05 P.M.

11 a.m.

OCT. 5

@ INDIANAPOLIS

11 A.M.

OCT. 5

@ TENNESSEE

11 A.M.

OCT. 5

@ DALLAS

OCT. 5

PITTSBURGH

11 a.m.

OCT. 12

@ TAMPA BAY

11 A.M.

OCT. 12

PITTSBURGH

11 A.M.

OCT. 9

INDIANAPOLIS

6:25 P.M.

OCT. 12

@ TENNESSEE

11 a.m.

OCT. 19

ATLANTA

11 A.M.

OCT. 19

@ JACKSONVILLE

11 A.M.

OCT. 20

@ PITTSBURGH

6:30 P.M.

OCT. 19

CLEVELAND

11 a.m.

OCT. 26

@ CINCINNATI

11 A.M.

OCT. 26

OAKLAND

2:25 P.M.

OCT. 26

@ TENNESSEE

11 a.m.

OCT. 26

MIAMI

11 a.m.

NOV. 2

@ PITTSBURGH**

11 A.M.

NOV. 2

PHILADELPHIA

11 a.m.

NOV. 2

@ CINCINNATI

11 a.m.

NOV. 9

TENNESSEE

6:25 P.M.

NOV. 9

BYE

NOV. 9

DALLAS (LONDON)

11 a.m.

NOV. 16

BYE

11 A.M.

NOV. 16

@ CLEVELAND

11 a.m.

NOV. 16

BYE

NOV. 24

@ NEW ORLEANS

NOV. 30

SAN DIEGO

6:30 P.M.

NOV. 2

TAMPA BAY

11 A.M.

NOV. 6

@ CINCINNATI

NOV. 16

HOUSTON

6:30 P.M.

NOV. 23

@ ATLANTA

11 A.M.

NOV. 23

CINCINNATI

11 a.m.

NOV. 23

@ INDIANAPOLIS

11 a.m.

11 A.M.

NOV. 30

@ BUFFALO

11 A.M.

NOV. 30

TENNESSEE

11 a.m.

NOV. 30

N.Y. GIANTS

11 a.m.

11 a.m.

@ MIAMI

11 A.M.

DEC. 7

INDIANAPOLIS

11 A.M.

DEC. 7

@ JACKSONVILLE

11 a.m.

DEC. 7

HOUSTON

DEC. 14

JACKSONVILLE

11 A.M.

DEC. 14

CINCINNATI

11 A.M.

DEC. 14

@ INDIANAPOLIS

11 a.m.

DEC. 14

@ BALTIMORE

DEC. 21

@ HOUSTON

11 A.M.

DEC. 21

@ CAROLINA

11 A.M.

DEC. 21

BALTIMORE

11 a.m.

DEC. 18

TENNESSEE

DEC. 28

CLEVELAND

11 A.M.

DEC. 28

@ BALTIMORE

11 A.M.

DEC. 28

JACKSONVILLE

11 a.m.

DEC. 28

@ HOUSTON

Cincinnati Bengals

Pittsburgh Steelers

SEPT. 7

@ BALTIMORE

11 A.M.

SEPT. 7

CLEVELAND

SEPT. 14

ATLANTA

11 A.M.

SEPT. 11

@ BALTIMORE

SEPT. 21

TENNESSEE

11 A.M.

SEPT. 21

SEPT. 28

BYE

OCT. 5

@ NEW ENGLAND**

6:30 P.M.

11 a.m.

Tennessee Titans

Indianapolis Colts 11 A.M.

11 a.m.

6:25 P.M.

QB Jake Locker

RB Trent Richardson

RB Giovani Bernard

QB Ben Roethlisberger

DEC. 7

SEPT. 7

@ DENVER

6:30 P.M.

SEPT. 7

@ KANSAS CITY

6:25 P.M.

SEPT. 15

PHILADELPHIA

6:30 P.M.

SEPT. 14

DALLAS

11 a.m.

11 a.m.

@ CAROLINA

6:30 P.M.

SEPT. 21

@ JACKSONVILLE

11 a.m.

SEPT. 21

@ CINCINNATI

11 a.m.

SEPT. 28

TAMPA BAY

2:25 P.M.

OCT. 5

@ JACKSONVILLE

SEPT. 28

TENNESSEE

11 a.m.

SEPT. 28

@ INDIANAPOLIS

11 a.m.

11 A.M.

OCT. 5

BALTIMORE

11 a.m.

OCT. 5

CLEVELAND

11 a.m.

11 A.M.

OCT. 9

@ HOUSTON

6:25 P.M.

OCT. 12

JACKSONVILLE

11 a.m.

OCT. 19

CINCINNATI

11 a.m.

OCT. 19

@ WASHINGTON

11 a.m.

HOUSTON

11 a.m.

OCT. 12

CAROLINA

11 A.M.

OCT. 12

@ CLEVELAND

OCT. 19

@ INDIANAPOLIS

11 A.M.

OCT. 20

HOUSTON

6:30 P.M.

OCT. 26

BALTIMORE

11 A.M.

OCT. 26

INDIANAPOLIS

2:25 P.M.

OCT. 26

@ PITTSBURGH

2:25 P.M.

OCT. 26

NOV. 2

JACKSONVILLE

11 A.M.

NOV. 2

BALTIMORE**

6:30 P.M.

NOV. 3

@ N.Y. GIANTS

6:30 P.M.

NOV. 2

BYE

NOV. 6

CLEVELAND

6:25 P.M.

NOV. 9

@ N.Y. JETS

11 A.M.

NOV. 9

BYE

NOV. 9

@ BALTIMORE

NOV. 16

@ NEW ORLEANS

11 A.M.

NOV. 17

@ TENNESSEE

NOV. 16

NEW ENGLAND**

6:30 P.M.

NOV. 17

PITTSBURGH

NOV. 23

@ HOUSTON

11 A.M.

NOV. 23

BYE

NOV. 30

@ TAMPA BAY

11 A.M.

NOV. 30

NEW ORLEANS

6:30 P.M.

11 a.m.

6:30 P.M.

NOV. 23

JACKSONVILLE

11 a.m.

NOV. 23

@ PHILADELPHIA

11 a.m.

11 A.M.

NOV. 30

WASHINGTON

11 a.m.

NOV. 30

@ HOUSTON

11 a.m.

DEC. 7

PITTSBURGH

11 A.M.

DEC. 7

@ CINCINNATI

11 A.M.

DEC. 7

@ CLEVELAND

11 a.m.

DEC. 7

N.Y. GIANTS

DEC. 14

@ CLEVELAND

11 A.M.

DEC. 14

@ ATLANTA

11 A.M.

DEC. 14

HOUSTON

11 a.m.

DEC. 14

N.Y. JETS

2:05 P.M.

DEC. 22

DENVER

6:30 P.M.

DEC. 21

KANSAS CITY

11 A.M.

DEC. 21

@ DALLAS

2:25 P.M.

DEC. 18

@ JACKSONVILLE

6:25 P.M.

DEC. 28

@ PITTSBURGH

11 A.M.

DEC. 28

CINCINNATI

11 A.M.

DEC. 28

@ TENNESSEE

11 a.m.

DEC. 28

INDIANAPOLIS

11 a.m.

11 a.m.

Photo credits: Top row, from left: Brandon Wade, The Associated Press; Rick Osentoski, The Associated Press; Christian Petersen, Getty Images; Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images. **FLEX – SUBJECT TO CHANGE Bottom row, from left: John Grieshop, Getty Images; Justin K. Aller, Getty Images; Joe Robbins, Getty Images; Sean Gardner, Getty Images

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2005, THE NFL WILL MAKE A NON-HOLIDAY RETURN TO SATURDAY AFTERNOONS

SEPT. 7

DEC.

QB Johnny Manziel

RB Jonathan Grimes

AFC SOUTH

OLB Courtney Upshaw

AFC NORTH

NFC NFC EAST

Arizona Cardinals SEPT. 14

@ N.Y. GIANTS

SEPT. 21

SAN FRANCISCO

SEPT. 28

BYE

OCT. 5

@ DENVER

OCT. 12

WASHINGTON

OCT. 19 OCT. 26 NOV. 2

@ DALLAS

NOV. 9

ST. LOUIS

NOV. 16 NOV. 23

San Francisco 49ers 8:20 P.M.

TE Zach Ertz

Dallas Cowboys SAN FRANCISCO

Philadelphia Eagles

SEPT. 7

@ DALLAS

2:25 P.M.

SEPT. 7

11 A.M.

SEPT. 14

CHICAGO

6:30 P.M.

SEPT. 14 @ TENNESSEE

2:05 P.M.

SEPT. 21

@ ARIZONA

2:05 P.M.

SEPT. 21 @ ST. LOUIS

SEPT. 28

PHILADELPHIA

2:25 P.M.

SEPT. 28 NEW ORLEANS

2:05 P.M.

OCT. 5

KANSAS CITY

2:25 P.M.

OCT. 5

HOUSTON

2:25 P.M.

OCT. 13

@ ST. LOUIS

6:30 P.M.

OCT. 12

@ SEATTLE

2:25 P.M.

@ OAKLAND

2:25 P.M.

OCT. 19

@ DENVER**

6:30 P.M.

OCT. 19

N.Y. GIANTS

2:25 P.M.

PHILADELPHIA

2:05 P.M.

OCT. 26

BYE

OCT. 27

WASHINGTON

6:30 P.M.

11 A.M.

NOV. 2

ST. LOUIS

2:05 P.M.

NOV. 2

ARIZONA

2:25 P.M.

NOV. 9

@ NEW ORLEANS

11 A.M.

NOV. 9

@ JACKSONVILLE (LONDON) 11 A.M.

DETROIT

2:25 P.M.

NOV. 16

@ N.Y. GIANTS

11 A.M.

NOV. 16 BYE

@ SEATTLE

2:05 P.M.

NOV. 23

WASHINGTON

2:25 P.M.

NOV. 23 @ N.Y. GIANTS**

2:25 P.M. 11 A.M. 11 A.M. 6:30 P.M. 11 A.M.

11 A.M.

6:30 P.M.

NOV. 30

@ ATLANTA

2:05 P.M.

NOV. 27

SEATTLE

6:30 P.M.

NOV. 27 PHILADELPHIA

2:30 P.M.

DEC. 7

KANSAS CITY

2:05 P.M.

DEC. 7

@ OAKLAND

2:25 P.M.

DEC. 4

@ CHICAGO

6:25 P.M.

DEC. 11

@ ST. LOUIS

6:25 P.M.

DEC. 14

@ SEATTLE

2:25 P.M.

DEC. 14

@ PHILADELPHIA**

6:30 P.M.

DEC. 21

SEATTLE**

6:30 P.M.

DEC. 20

SAN DIEGO

TBD*

DEC. 21

INDIANAPOLIS

2:25 P.M.

DEC. 28

@ SAN FRANCISCO

2:25 P.M.

DEC. 28

ARIZONA

2:25 P.M.

DEC. 28

@ WASHINGTON

St. Louis Rams SEPT. 7

MINNESOTA

SEPT. 14

@ TAMPA BAY

SEPT. 21

DALLAS

SEPT. 28

BYE

OCT. 5

@ PHILADELPHIA

OCT. 13

SAN FRANCISCO

OCT. 19

Seattle Seahawks 11 A.M.

SEPT. 7

JACKSONVILLE

SEPT. 15

@ INDIANAPOLIS

11 A.M.

SEPT. 21

WASHINGTON

SEPT. 28

@ SAN FRANCISCO

OCT. 5

ST. LOUIS

OCT. 12

N.Y. GIANTS**

OCT. 19

BYE

OCT. 26

@ ARIZONA

NOV. 2

@ HOUSTON

NOV. 10

CAROLINA

NOV. 16

@ GREEN BAY

11 A.M.

NOV. 23

TENNESSEE

11 A.M.

6:30 P.M. 11 A.M. 2:25 P.M. 11 A.M. 6:30 P.M. 2:05 P.M. 11 A.M. 6:30 P.M.

NOV. 27

@ DALLAS

4:30 P.M.

DEC. 7

SEATTLE

2:25 P.M.

DEC. 14

DALLAS**

6:30 P.M.

DEC. 20

@ WASHINGTON

DEC. 28

@ N.Y. GIANTS

TBD* 11 A.M.

QB Robert Griffin III

11 A.M.

RB Rashad Jennings

QB Russell Wilson

FIRST TIME THAT AN AFC TEAM HASN’T PLAYED ON THANKSGIVING

SAN DIEGO

RB Benny Cunningham

NOV.

27

SEPT. 8

QB Tony Romo

QB Colin Kaepernick

NFC WEST

RB Andre Ellington

TEAM SCHEDULES

68

New York Giants

Washington Redskins

SEPT. 4

GREEN BAY

6:30 P.M.

2:05 P.M.

SEPT. 8

@ DETROIT

SEPT. 14

@ SAN DIEGO

2:05 P.M.

SEPT. 7

@ HOUSTON

11 A.M.

11 A.M.

SEPT. 14

ARIZONA

11 A.M.

SEPT. 21

DENVER

2:25 P.M.

SEPT. 14

JACKSONVILLE

11 A.M.

SEPT. 21

HOUSTON

11 A.M.

SEPT. 28

BYE

SEPT. 21

@ PHILADELPHIA

SEPT. 25

@ WASHINGTON

6:25 P.M.

SEPT. 25

N.Y. GIANTS

6:25 P.M.

11 A.M.

5:10 P.M.

11 A.M.

OCT. 6

@ WASHINGTON

6:30 P.M.

6:30 P.M.

OCT. 5

ATLANTA

OCT. 12

DALLAS

2:25 P.M.

OCT. 6

SEATTLE

6:30 P.M.

SEATTLE

11 A.M.

OCT. 12

@ PHILADELPHIA**

6:30 P.M.

OCT. 19

@ ST. LOUIS

11 A.M.

OCT. 12

@ ARIZONA

2:25 P.M.

OCT. 26

@ KANSAS CITY

11 A.M.

OCT. 19

@ DALLAS

2:25 P.M.

OCT. 26

@ CAROLINA

11 A.M.

OCT. 19

TENNESSEE

NOV. 2

@ SAN FRANCISCO

2:05 P.M.

OCT. 26

BYE

NOV. 2

OAKLAND

2:25 P.M.

OCT. 27

@ DALLAS

NOV. 9

@ ARIZONA

2:25 P.M.

NOV. 3

INDIANAPOLIS

6:30 P.M.

NOV. 9

N.Y. GIANTS

2:25 P.M.

NOV. 2

@ MINNESOTA

NOV. 16

DENVER

NOV. 9

@ SEATTLE

2:25 P.M.

NOV. 9

BYE

NOV. 23

@ SAN DIEGO

11 A.M.

NOV. 16

@ KANSAS CITY

2:05 P.M.

NOV. 23

ARIZONA

11 A.M.

NOV. 16

SAN FRANCISCO

2:05 P.M.

NOV. 23

DALLAS**

11 A.M.

11 A.M.

NOV. 16

TAMPA BAY

6:30 P.M.

NOV. 23

@ SAN FRANCISCO

11 A.M. 6:30 P.M. 11 A.M. 11 A.M. 2:25 P.M.

NOV. 30

OAKLAND

11 A.M.

NOV. 27

@ SAN FRANCISCO

6:30 P.M.

DEC. 7

@ WASHINGTON

11 A.M.

NOV. 30

@ JACKSONVILLE

11 A.M.

DEC. 7

@ PHILADELPHIA

2:25 P.M.

NOV. 30

@ INDIANAPOLIS

11 A.M.

DEC. 11

ARIZONA

6:25 P.M.

DEC. 7

@ TENNESSEE

11 A.M.

DEC. 14

SAN FRANCISCO

2:25 P.M.

DEC. 7

ST. LOUIS

11 A.M.

DEC. 21

N.Y. GIANTS

2:05 P.M.

DEC. 14

WASHINGTON

DEC. 21

@ ARIZONA**

6:30 P.M.

11 A.M.

DEC. 28

@ SEATTLE

2:25 P.M.

DEC. 21

@ ST. LOUIS

DEC. 28

ST. LOUIS

2:25 P.M.

DEC. 28

PHILADELPHIA

11 A.M.

DEC. 14

@ N.Y. GIANTS

2:05 P.M.

DEC. 20

PHILADELPHIA

11 A.M.

DEC. 28

DALLAS

Photo credits: Top row, from left: Ross D. Franklin, The Associated Press; Rob Carr, Getty Images; Tom Pennington, Getty Images; Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images.

Bottom row, from left: Dilip Vishwanat, Getty Images; Otto Greule Jr., Getty Images; AJ Mast, The Associated Press; Patrick Smith, Getty Images.

TBD* 11 A.M.

*2:30 OR 6:15 P.M. **FLEX – SUBJECT TO CHANGE

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

QB Matt Ryan

TE Jimmy Graham

Chicago Bears

Green Bay Packers

Atlanta Falcons

New Orleans Saints

26

SEPT. 7

BUFFALO

SEPT. 4

@ SEATTLE

6:30 P.M.

SEPT. 7

NEW ORLEANS

11 A.M.

SEPT. 7

@ ATLANTA

SEPT. 14

@ SAN FRANCISCO

6:30 P.M.

SEPT. 14

N.Y. JETS

2:25 P.M.

SEPT. 14

@ CINCINNATI

11 A.M.

SEPT. 14

@ CLEVELAND

11 A.M. 11 A.M.

SEPT. 22

@ N.Y. JETS

6:30 P.M.

SEPT. 21

@ DETROIT

11 A.M.

SEPT. 18

TAMPA BAY

6:25 P.M.

SEPT. 21

MINNESOTA

11 A.M.

SEPT. 28

GREEN BAY

11 A.M.

SEPT. 28

@ CHICAGO

11 A.M.

SEPT. 28

@ MINNESOTA

2:25 P.M.

SEPT. 28

@ DALLAS

OCT. 5

@ CAROLINA

11 A.M.

OCT. 2

MINNESOTA

6:25 P.M.

OCT. 5

@ N.Y. GIANTS

11 A.M.

OCT. 5

TAMPA BAY

OCT. 12

@ ATLANTA

11 A.M.

OCT. 12

@ MIAMI

11 A.M.

OCT. 12

CHICAGO

11 A.M.

OCT. 12

BYE

OCT. 19

MIAMI

11 A.M.

OCT. 19

CAROLINA

11 A.M.

OCT. 19

@ BALTIMORE

11 A.M.

OCT. 19

@ DETROIT

OCT. 26

@ NEW ENGLAND

11 A.M.

OCT. 26

@ NEW ORLEANS**

6:30 P.M.

OCT. 26

DETROIT (LONDON)

7:30 A.M.

OCT. 26

GREEN BAY**

6:30 P.M.

NOV. 2

BYE

NOV. 2

BYE

OCT. 30

@ CAROLINA

6:25 P.M.

NOV. 9

CHICAGO**

NOV. 9

@ TAMPA BAY

11 A.M.

NOV. 9

SAN FRANCISCO

6:30 P.M. 11 A.M. 11 A.M.

NOV. 2

BYE

NOV. 9

@ GREEN BAY**

NOV. 16

MINNESOTA

11 A.M.

NOV. 16

PHILADELPHIA

11 A.M.

NOV. 16

@ CAROLINA

11 A.M.

NOV. 16

CINCINNATI

11 A.M.

NOV. 23

TAMPA BAY

11 A.M.

NOV. 23

@ MINNESOTA

11 A.M.

NOV. 23

CLEVELAND

11 A.M.

NOV. 24

BALTIMORE

6:30 P.M.

NOV. 27

@ DETROIT

10:30 A.M.

NOV. 30

NEW ENGLAND

2:25 P.M.

NOV. 30

ARIZONA

2:05 P.M.

NOV. 30

@ PITTSBURGH

11 A.M.

DEC. 4

DALLAS

6:25 P.M.

DEC. 8

ATLANTA

6:30 P.M.

DEC. 8

@ GREEN BAY

6:30 P.M.

DEC. 7

CAROLINA

11 A.M.

DEC. 15

NEW ORLEANS

6:30 P.M.

DEC. 14

@ BUFFALO

11 A.M.

DEC. 14

PITTSBURGH

11 A.M.

DEC. 15

@ CHICAGO

DEC. 21

DETROIT

11 A.M.

DEC. 21

@ TAMPA BAY

11 A.M.

DEC. 21

@ NEW ORLEANS

11 A.M.

DEC. 21

ATLANTA

11 A.M.

DEC. 28

@ MINNESOTA

11 A.M.

DEC. 28

DETROIT

11 A.M.

DEC. 28

CAROLINA

11 A.M.

DEC. 28

@ TAMPA BAY

11 A.M.

Detroit Lions SEPT. 8

N.Y. GIANTS

SEPT. 14

@ CAROLINA

Minnesota Vikings 5:10 P.M.

11 A.M.

6:30 P.M.

QB Josh McCown

RB Jonathan Stewart

6:30 P.M.

QB Matt Cassel

WR Jeremy Ross

6:30 P.M.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Carolina Panthers

SEPT. 7

@ ST. LOUIS

11 A.M.

SEPT. 7

@ TAMPA BAY

11 A.M.

SEPT. 14

NEW ENGLAND

11 A.M.

SEPT. 14

DETROIT

SEPT. 7

CAROLINA

2:25 P.M.

11 A.M.

SEPT. 14

ST. LOUIS

2:05 P.M. 6:25 P.M.

2:25 P.M.

SEPT. 21

GREEN BAY

11 A.M.

SEPT. 21

@ NEW ORLEANS

11 A.M.

SEPT. 21

PITTSBURGH

6:30 P.M.

SEPT. 18

@ ATLANTA

SEPT. 28

@ N.Y. JETS

11 A.M.

SEPT. 28

ATLANTA

2:25 P.M.

SEPT. 28

@ BALTIMORE

11 A.M.

SEPT. 28

@ PITTSBURGH

11 A.M.

OCT. 5

BUFFALO

11 A.M.

OCT. 2

@ GREEN BAY

6:25 P.M.

OCT. 5

CHICAGO

11 A.M.

OCT. 5

@ NEW ORLEANS

11 A.M. 11 A.M.

OCT. 12

@ MINNESOTA

11 A.M.

OCT. 12

DETROIT

11 A.M.

OCT. 12

@ CINCINNATI

11 A.M.

OCT. 12

BALTIMORE

OCT. 19

NEW ORLEANS

11 A.M.

OCT. 19

@ BUFFALO

11 A.M.

OCT. 19

@ GREEN BAY

11 A.M.

OCT. 19

BYE

7:30 A.M.

OCT. 26

@ TAMPA BAY

11 A.M.

OCT. 26

SEATTLE

11 A.M.

OCT. 26

MINNESOTA

11 A.M.

NOV. 2

WASHINGTON

11 A.M.

OCT. 30

NEW ORLEANS

6:25 P.M.

NOV. 2

@ CLEVELAND

11 A.M.

NOV. 9

BYE

NOV. 10

@ PHILADELPHIA

6:30 P.M.

NOV. 9

ATLANTA

11 A.M.

2:25 P.M.

NOV. 16

@ CHICAGO

11 A.M.

NOV. 16

ATLANTA

NOV. 16

@ WASHINGTON

11 A.M.

11 A.M.

NOV. 23

GREEN BAY

11 A.M.

NOV. 23

BYE

NOV. 23

@ CHICAGO

11 A.M.

10:30 A.M.

NOV. 30

CAROLINA

11 A.M.

NOV. 30

@ MINNESOTA

11 A.M.

NOV. 30

CINCINNATI

11 A.M.

11 A.M.

DEC. 7

N.Y. JETS

11 A.M.

DEC. 7

@ NEW ORLEANS

11 A.M.

DEC. 7

@ DETROIT

11 A.M.

DEC. 14

TAMPA BAY

11 A.M.

DEC. 14

@ CAROLINA

11 A.M.

GREEN BAY

11 A.M.

NEW ORLEANS

11 A.M.

OCT. 26

@ ATLANTA (LONDON)

NOV. 2

BYE

NOV. 9

MIAMI

NOV. 16

@ ARIZONA

NOV. 23

@ NEW ENGLAND

NOV. 27

CHICAGO

DEC. 7

TAMPA BAY

11 A.M.

11 A.M.

DEC. 14

MINNESOTA

11 A.M.

DEC. 14

@ DETROIT

11 A.M.

DEC. 21

@ CHICAGO

11 A.M.

DEC. 21

@ MIAMI

11 A.M.

DEC. 21

CLEVELAND

11 A.M.

DEC. 21

DEC. 28

GREEN BAY

11 A.M.

DEC. 28

CHICAGO

11 A.M.

DEC. 28

@ ATLANTA

11 A.M.

DEC. 28

Photo credits: Top row, from left: Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images; Frederick Breedon, Getty Images; Scott Cunningham, Getty Images; Stacy Reveret, Getty Images.

Bottom row, from left: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images; Hannah Foslien, Getty Images; Bob Leverone, The Associated Press; Brian Blanco, The Associated Press.

**FLEX – SUBJECT TO CHANGE

GET UP EARLY; THE KICKOFF IN LONDON WILL BE AT 7:30 A.M. – DETROIT @ ATLANTA

11 A.M.

OCT.

TE Brandon Bostick

NFC SOUTH

QB Jay Cutler

NFC NORTH

RICH “TOMBSTONE” JACKSON

70

TOUGHEST BRONCO EVER

DESPITE PLAYING ONLY GAMES, JACKSON MADE THE 1971 PRO BOWL

7

More than four decades have passed since Rich “Tombstone” Jackson played defensive end for the Broncos, but he easily recalls his glory days before a knee injury cut short his career. He played for Denver from 1967-72. Rusty Costanza, Special to The Denver Post

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

TOUGHEST BRONCO THERE EVER WAS: “TOMBSTONE”

By Benjamin Hochman The Denver Post

T

new orleans» he man they call Tombstone sports a skull on his necklace, an apropos prop, something that can be worn only by a man they call Tombstone — or perhaps his contemporary, the Grim Reaper.

He doesn’t merely stand; he looms.

And his menacing Fu Manchu looks like, at any moment, it could leap off his face and strangle you.

Tombstone begins to describe his signature attack move, a vicious head slap, and a visiting reporter asks Tombstone to re-enact this on him.

“But then,” Tombstone says, “you wouldn’t be able to write the article.”

Tombstone is 73 years old.

His other name is Rich Jackson, and you might not know of him.

But you should. He is, after all, the toughest Bronco there ever was.

“When I think of him, I think of pain,” Chiefs Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson said. “I can remember he nailed me and knocked the breath out of me.”

Tombstone tore into town in 1967, and for the next five seasons, the Denver defensive end buried a bunch of quarterbacks while broadcasters eulogized.

“People want to know why they call me Tombstone. That’s the termination of life, a symbol of death, the end of the road — how you like that?” Tombstone said from his beautiful home on the West Bank of New Orleans.

“When I came to line up across somebody, I just had the mentality of ‘search and destroy.’ I would look straight through the linemen

at the quarterback, and when I took off, it was just like the guys weren’t there. I had moves to eliminate that person. I prided myself that no one lineman could block me.”

He was voted All-AFL in 1968.

Again in 1969. Then in 1970, the first season of the AFL-NFL merger, he became the Broncos’ first Pro Bowl starter. Sure enough, Tombstone made the Pro Bowl again in 1971, despite playing only seven games.

“Ferocious,” said former Broncos teammate Billy Thompson, when asked to describe Tombstone. “Ferocious and unrelenting.”

But Tombstone missed much of ’71 with a knee injury, which would eventually prove to be the only

“WHEN I THINK OF HIM, I THINK OF PAIN,” CHIEFS HALL OF FAME QUARTERBACK LEN DAWSON SAYS ABOUT “TOMBSTONE”

thing that could shut him down.

He was out of football by 1973.

Just how torrential was the 255pound Tombstone? He played 67 games for the Broncos, and according to the team he had 43 sacks, which would average out to 10.3 sacks in today’s 16-game season.

The team’s single-season sack leaders since 1997 have averaged 10.1.

OK, enough with the numbers.

They’re complementary to what truly transformed Rich into Tombstone. The hunger. The incalculable, ineluctable fear, which wasn’t simply instilled into opponents, but was seemingly injected.

Oh, and was he strong! Tombstone was stone. And those head slaps. He literally cracked opponents’ helmets, notably Bill Hayhoe of Green Bay, as Tombstone’s Broncos protégé Lyle Alzado described in an autobiography. Opposing linemen would see stars, except for the star darting past

TOMBSTONE » 72W

BRONCOS SACK LEADERS Rich “Tombstone” Jackson would have 10.27 averaged 10.27 sacks in a 16-game season, almost Rich equal to the “Tombstone” Broncos’ sack Jackson’s leader’s 10.3 average average over the last 10 years.

10.5

4

8.5

12.5

5

17

5.5

11.5

18.5

10

2004 Reggie Hayward

2005 John Lynch, Trevor Pryce, Ebenezer Ekuban

2006 Elvis Dumervil

2007 Elvis Dumervil

2008 Elvis Dumervil, Ebenezer Ekuban

2009 Elvis Dumervil

2010 D.J. Williams

2011 Von Miller

2012 Von Miller

2013 Shaun Phillips

Jeff Neumann, The Denver Post. Source: NFL

72

TOUGHEST BRONCO EVER

TOMBSTONE «FROM 71W them, straight for the passer.

“Deacon Jones gets all the credit for the league outlawing the head slap, but he has said, ‘No, it was Rich Jackson,’ ” said Jim Saccomano, the former Broncos vice president of corporate communications, who retired last season, his 36th with the team. “I’m going to tell you — if you’re an offensive lineman, and Rich Jackson slaps you, honest to God, you’re looking out your ear hole.”

Sitting at his dining room table earlier this month, Tombstone looked at a picture with his fierce brown eyes.

“That’s the great Jim Otto,” said Tombstone, pointing at the Hall of Fame center from the Raiders in a framed photo. “And he’s on his back. I just really destroyed him.

And then you had Gene Upshaw, bless his soul, he couldn’t block me, he’d try to trap me, and I would stuff him back.

“I would punish you. And if you had to play us twice, the next time around you’re leery, because I knew on film day, you were going to be the focus of attention. The coach was going to keep running the thing back and forth — ‘Look at Jackson beating you up!’ ”

His mother’s integrity Call him a mama’s boy. No, really, do it. Truth is, the man they call Tombstone is one. Little Rich was 4 when his father died, so Tombstone’s beloved mother, Katherine, raised the family, often while on welfare.

Loving his mother didn’t make him vulnerable; it made him venerable. He soaked up her integrity, he was a disciple of her discipline.

Now, mama’s boy was big — 6feet-3, 195 pounds in high school — but she didn’t want him playing football. But how could he not play football? His mother became a jani-

Broncos defensive end Rich Jackson says he stared right through intimidated offensive linemen at the opposing quarterback he planned to sack. Denver Post file tor at his school, Landry High in New Orleans, and she didn’t finish work until supper time — well after football practices or games.

“She didn’t know I was on the team,” he said. “One day she said, ‘Who is that Jackson boy they’re talking about?’ ” Tombstone’s mother was Mrs. Katherine Jackson — later in life, he would sure enough marry a

Mrs. Katherine Jackson, his bride of 37 years. His wife keeps him in check, all right, the way her namesake would. This was seen while he shared this anecdote at the table, and his wife interrupted, with a sly grin, saying: “I think he thinks his mama didn’t know. She knew. I guarantee you she knew. She let him think she didn’t know.”

His athleticism became some-

thing of Landry locker room lore.

There was the time he chased an opponent for nearly 70 yards before making the score-saving tackle. But he couldn’t fully enjoy the moment. See, the sole of his shoe popped out during his mad dash.

He had only one pair of shoes, and Mama might start asking questions.

So he wrapped tape around his size 13, thus preserving the shoe —

NFL SPECIAL SECTION • THE DENVER POST • SEPTEMBER 7, 2014

Merilatt at old Mile High, mesmerized by this talent among talents.

But then, reality sinks in. A 1971 knee injury, the same season he made the Pro Bowl, reduced a cocky immortal into “I’m mortal.”

He played four games with Denver in 1972 before being shipped to Cleveland. And that was it.

“The sky would’ve been the limit,” his teammate Thompson said.

Paul Zimmerman, “Dr. Z,” is our nation’s pre-eminent football writer/historian. For decades he wrote for Sports Illustrated and appeared on television. In 1999, SI asked Dr. Z to field an all-century dream team. Starting at defensive end, Rich “Tombstone” Jackson.

“In his prime,” Zimmerman wrote, “he was the very best run-pass defensive end the game has seen.”

Different sport now Once he turns on the television, he doesn’t need the remote, because the thing just stays on The Golf Channel. Tombstone loves it, he can’t get enough golf — though he’ll admit, watching the experts on there frustrate him. “Because they have instructions on there, and they always keep me all screwed up.”

Sometimes his wife will lunch with the ladies, and when they get around to talking about their husbands, Katherine Jackson will say:

“Richard could walk into surgery and try to tell that man how to operate! That’s just him.”

Tombstone in full is Tombstone in fullbacks’ faces — confident, borderline arrogant.

After Tombstone gushed about football and golf and his years as a successful educator, he was asked, “Is there anything you’re not good at?”

“He’s not good at being quiet,” his wife interrupted, laughing.

“And he’s not good at dancing, that’s for sure.”

Tombstone can be over the top at times, but one wonders if he’s actually being half-serious and half-facetious? He’s likable, after all, with a sense of humor. He’s a caring father and grandfather. And he likes to inspire people, but he makes sure it’s on his terms. He talked for nearly half an hour about his strategies and accomplishments teaching physical education and as a school administrator.

“I think what makes me proudest,” Katherine said, “is when we’re out and about in the community, we run into his students from when he was an administrator, and they say, ‘Mr. Jackson, I used to think you were so crazy! But Mr. Jackson, you saved my life!’ It’s not something out of the ordinary, because he didn’t let them get away with anything. He was really tough on them.

And he didn’t let the teachers get

away with not teaching them. As an older person, they recognize how valuable it was. They’ll say, ‘I really thank you for what you did for me.’ ” He brought up the Hall of Fame three separate times. He’s not bitter, though he’s bothered that Canton doesn’t recognize greatness with an asterisk. Even though he was one of the lions of his time, as so many have said, his time was too short.

Asked what might have been, Tombstone said, “I would have kept playing (well), it was just, like, routine — making all-pro and all that stuff was just routine.”

Making all-pro was just routine.

He said it so casually, so honestly, so heartbreakingly.

The reporter looked at Tombstone — skull on his necklace, loving wife to his side — and had to ask one final question.

“What does Tombstone want written on his tombstone?”

“The termination of life, a symbol of death, the end of the road,” he said, repeating his favorite mantra with a laugh. “Or you want it to say — the best that ever done it.

“I know people who say that’s really cocky. I just laugh most of the time.

I really don’t know how to answer it.

The best that ever done it.”

Benjamin Hochman: bhochman@denverpost.com or twitter.com/hochman

“HE’S WHAT MADE ME A BRONCO FAN, REALLY. THE BRONCOS WERE KIND OF THE LAUGHINGSTOCK OF THE AFL. … AND THAT WAS THE ONLY THING TO WATCH THE BRONCOS FOR, GUYS LIKE JACKSON. HE PLAYED LIKE AN ABSOLUTE ANIMAL,” SAYS GREG MERILATT, 67, A SEASON-TICKET HOLDER FOR FOUR DECADES

67 GAMES RICH JACKSON PLAYED FOR THE BRONCOS

or, to use Tombstone terminology, mummifying it. Sure enough, classmates thought it was some sort of cool new fad. He has always had a knack for pulling things off that others just couldn’t.

Tombstone went an hour across the road to college at Southern University, in Baton Rouge, where he not only excelled at football but set records in track and field.

Tombstone made his NFL debut with Oakland in 1966, but the Raiders wedged him in at linebacker.

Before the next season, the Raiders traded him to that team from that cow town. In 2006, Raiders owner Al Davis would say of Denver’s Tombstone, “He’s the best player they ever had.”

Ask a Broncos fan about the great Jackson, and they’ll likely say Tom. When Denverites think of No. 87, they likely think of Ed McCaffrey.

Or Eric Decker. But for people of a certain age, No. 87 is forever Rich “Tombstone” Jackson.

“He’s what made me a Bronco fan, really,” said Greg Merilatt, 67, a season-ticket holder for four decades. “The Broncos were kind of the laughingstock of the AFL. …

And that was the only thing to watch the Broncos for, guys like Jackson. He played like an absolute animal.”

Rich Jackson was a nice man.

Tombstone was a bad boy.

“He took pity on nobody,” said former Broncos running back Floyd Little, who’s in the Hall of Fame. “I had to block him at practice — he didn’t care if you were the starting running back, the (heck) with you. … The offensive linemen that I know, they feared Rich. You can talk to a lot of the Hall of Fame offensive tackles and they’ll tell you: He was a force to be reckoned with.”

All of this, of course, makes his story so sad.

In sports, few phrases are more heartbreaking that “what might have been.” At first, these tantalizing words fire some people up, because suddenly they’re next to

HAVE FUN AT THE GAMES

74

BRONCOS

BRONCOS PREDICTIONS Mike Klis

101% BRONCOS’ REPORTED ATTENDANCE PERCENTAGE FOR 2013

Woody Paige

Troy E. Renck

How many times have the Broncos won 13, or more, in the regular season in the Pat Bowlen era? This will be the seventh. The others were 1984, 1996, 1998 (14-2), 2005, 2012 and 2013.

Denver will be better than a year ago but have a worse record. The schedule has fangs, and November will test the team’s depth. A return to the AFC championship game appears certain, but advancing to the Super Bowl will require a road victory in the playoffs.

Benjamin Hochman

Mark Kiszla

10-6 13-3 11-5 12-4 11-5

Broncos went 4-0 and averaged 47.3 points per game vs. the NFC East last season. They will average three less touchdowns against the NFC West.

Super Bowl champions. Finally everything will come together, and the Broncos will win one for Mr. B and No. 18 will be cemented as the best of his generation.

Tougher regularseason schedule and a tougher road to the Super Bowl might make for a tougher Denver team in the championship game.

BAG POLICY ON GAME DAY

Isabella Juarez stood with her brother, Michael, of El Paso while bringing her game face to the Broncos-Chargers playoff game last season at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

Craig F. Walker, Denver Post file

What fans can and cannot bring into Sports Authority Field at Mile High for Broncos games this season, as regulated by the NFL: • One clear bag no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches, or a 1-gallon clear freezer bag.

• In addition, fans may carry a small clutch bag or purse no larger than 6½ inches by 4½ inches, with or without a strap.

• Each ticket holder, including children, may carry an approved clear bag and a clutch purse.

• Diapers and wipes may be carried in a clear bag.

However, diaper bags are not permitted.

• Additional clothing, blankets, etc. are permitted but should be carried loosely or in an approved clear bag.

• Blankets should be carried over the shoulder when entering the stadium so they can be screened faster.

• Small cameras, binoculars and cellphones may be carried in or inside an approved clear bag.

• Seat cushions are permitted, but they must not be wider than 18 inches and must have no pockets, zippers or concealable areas.

There are no provisions to leave items at the gates.

Fans will be asked to take prohibited items back to their car, if they have not entered the stadium, or dispose of prohibited items at the gate.

Tara Lutzens, The Denver Post

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