Greatest Game Since Elway?

Just think about it. Sunday's unbelievable win against the Chargers wasn't only the game of the short NFL season, but it might have been the greatest win for the Broncos since John Elway's last game, Super Bowl XXXIII all the way back in 1999. There are many cases you can make for the 2005 Divisional Playoff win against Bill Beeeee-licheck and the Patriots and you wouldn't be wrong. Hell, I might even agree with you on that account, but it doesn't in any way diminish the Broncos victory over a hated division rival. In a game that was so wild, Bear Grylls was on the sidelines trying to fashion a makeshift shanty using only Shawne Merriman's syringes and Phillip Rivers' inflated ego, the Broncos emerged victorious thanks to one of the gutsiest coaching decisions in recent memory and a 4th quarter comeback that may remind Broncos fans of a certain #7 in the sky.

1) Let's forget about all the superlatives you could use to describe this football game and let's just focus on the facts. Here's a sample:
Jay Cutler- 36-50, 350 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT
Brandon Marshall- 18 receptions, 166 yds, 1 TD
Tony Scheffler- 6 rec, 64 yds, 2 TD
Eddie Royal- 5 rec, 37 yds, TD, 2 PT conversion catch
Selvin Young- 8 rush, 78 yds
The Bailey Bros- 13 tackles, 1 INT
Mike Shanahan- 2 enormous cajones

Cutler had career highs in completions, attempts, passing yards, and touchdowns. Coming into the game, the only talk was of Chargers QB and resident loudmouth redneck Phillip Rivers talking smack to Cutler in last year's Christmas Eve game in which the Chargers dominated the Broncos 23-3. We all wanted to shut Rivers the hell up and in a way, we did I guess. Rivers still had some damn impressive numbers by throwing for 377 yards, but he didn't get the win which is a direct correlation to the game put up by JC (Jay Cutler, not Jesus Christ, but hell, a few more games like this and I'll be ready to crown him worthy heir to the Elway throne.) Though the offense stalled in the third and most of the fourth quarters, Cutler had a dominating game. His passes were lightning quick, he was putting the ball in places where only his receivers had a chance to catch it, and he led a clutch 4th quarter game winning drive that was reminiscent of, that's right you guessed it, Sir John of Elway. He was cool under pressure, really only made one bad throw on the game (the interception on the goal line with 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter), and exuded the confidence that a top tier quarterback in the NFL should have and needs to have. With the numbers he has put up so far and the way he's controlling the best offense in football thus far, Cutler's name should begin to be mentioned with the upper echelon of quarterbacks in this league.

2) Brandon Marshall had one of the greatest receiving days in NFL history yesterday. That's right, in the 60 years of the NFL, only one receiver had had better single game numbers than the ones Brandon Marshall put up yesterday. That receiver would be Terrell Owens who back in 2000, caught 20 balls in a game. I'm not sure if it was right before or after that he went to the media and told him that his quarterback Jeff Garcia was gay (though the guy was currently dating a Playboy model.....do I smell jealousy, T.O.?) B-Marsh was catching all kinds of passes from JC. Passes with 3 guys on his back, passes near the back of the end zone, passes with Antonio Cromartie trying to decapitate him. It didn't matter where Jay threw the ball, Brandon was going to come down with it. Brandon said he wanted to catch 140 balls this year even with missing the first game due to his suspension. Before yesterday, you might have laughed at him, but now you have to wonder if he's just crazy enough to do it.

3) What more can you say about the kid so far? Eddie Royal didn't put up the kind of numbers he did last week against the Raiders and he only had 37 yards total receiving on the day. But he had the two most important catches of the day when the Broncos, the fans, and the city of Denver needed it most. He hauled in Cutler's 4th and Goal toss with 24 seconds left and also the two point conversion on the ensuing play. You don't expect this kind of poise from a rookie in his second NFL game, and he just adds a wonderful weapon to our suddenly explosive offense.

4) The stones on that man.......Mike Shanahan, we here at Frost Brewed Baseball Mile-High-Salute you, Sir. For two years we have watched Shanny's normally expansive playbook be whittled down to a bland combination of runs and play action passes. There was no more razzle dazzle and, to be honest, no more killer instinct on the part of the coaching staff. This may have been because the Broncos didn't have the weapons they have now, but starting last week, glimpses of the old Shanahan came back into the public spotlight. His admitting that he'll always hate the Raiders, his use of Eddie Royal as receiver, running back, and quarterback in last week's ballgame, and the cherry on top of a knockout sundae sundae sundae, the decision to go for 2 instead of kicking the extra point to tie and send the game to overtime. Yes, we got the benefit of the doubt on a few calls that probably should've gone the other way. Whatever. To all you bitching and moaning about the favorable calls for the Broncos, every team in a given season has calls go their way that probably shouldn't have so just enough with it. The game's over and there's no use crying over it (I'm talking to you Norv Turner.) Shanny's decision to go for the win, knowing that the outcome of the play either makes him a genius or a martyr, took GUTS, but he raced up the Aggro-Crag and ended up on top of the AFC with only the Steelers and superstar-less Patriots to keep him company (The Titans realized that Vince Young pretty much sucks and they could win without him and are also 2-0 along with the surprising Buffalo Bills. ETID is probably very happy.) He showed supreme confidence in his offense and showed the fans that he's going for it this year. The days of the Broncos wallowing in mediocrity are over if Shanny has anything to say about it.

It took me about two hours to get my breath back to a normal rate after yesterday's game, and I haven't been this excited about my beloved Broncos since the 2005 playoffs. My optimism is still cautious but I'm beginning to get that fervor back. Look out.