Week 3 Preview: Saints at Broncos

This week is going to answer a lot of questions about whether or not the Denver Broncos are legitimate contenders to represent the AFC West in the playoffs this year. The catchphrase of the week coming from all of the Broncos detractors (some who even write for the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News) spouting off about how the Broncos were 2-0 last year and look where it got them: 7-9 and without a date for the big dance for the second season in a row. While their points are somewhat valid, the way the Broncos started 2-0 last year and the way they're doing it this year is wildly different. Apples and oranges. Night and day. Will Smith and Woody Allen. The Dalai Lama and Al Davis. In beating the Bills 15-14 and the Raiders 23-20 to open up last season (both on Jason Elam last second field goals), the Broncos racked up about as many yards as they have thus far this season, but Elam accounted for 12 of our 38 points which means that when we got into the Old Spice Red Zone (brought to you by Old Spice) we were about as successful as a beer vendor at a MADD meeting. In two games so far this year, we've totaled an absurd 80 points and nearly 1,000 yards of total offense. Jay Cutler is leading the league in every stastical category for quarterbacks and Brandon Marshall is the top receiver in football receptions-wise, even after missing the first game due to his league mandated suspension.

Things are looking up for our beloved blue and orange bombers, but this week will be a true test as the N'Awlins Saints fly a mile high to take on the Broncos at Invesco. If the Broncos can take this game, it will put them in a great position with the Chargers two losses already (and the fact they're playing Brett Fav-ruh and the Jets on Monday night.) But it will also be a measuring stick for a defense that looked lost at best and abysmal at worst against San Diego last week. Two of the biggest plays the Broncos gave up to the Chargers was a 67 yard screen pass to the fullback Mike Tolbert and the 66 yard touchdown dump off to Darren Sproles that almost spelled doom for Denver. They will need to make sure they cover all their bases on pass plays to avoid deja vu from the Saints because one of the best check-down receiver/running backs in all of football in Reggie Bush is coming to town and he will run all the way to Aurora if the Broncos let him.

Another way Reggie Bush can beat you is on punt returns as he showed with last week's TD runback against the Redskins. Of course, it's scientifically proven that when Reggie Bush taunts the opposing team before scoring a touchdown as he did last week (and in the NFC Championship game in 2006 against the Bears), the Saints are destined to subsequently give up the lead and lose the game in miserable fashion. The Broncos haven't exactly been solid on special teams coverage so far as evidenced by the 57 yard return in Week 1 by Johnnie Lee Higgins of the Raiders (wasn't he the guitarist in GWAR?) and the 103 yard TD return by Darren Sproles last week. Seriously, that dude can fly. Even if you may be able to pick him up with your thumb and forefinger and put him in your pocket, he'll run between your legs before you even know he's on the field. Champ Bailey, on kickoff coverage because we need at least one guy who knows how to tackle, has saved two touchdowns on kickoffs this year by himself as the last line of defense. I have a feeling this will change on Sunday or else Shanahan's going to lie-detector test every single player until they break down and confess to not doing their job correctly.

We haven't had an offense like this in Denver since the 1998 season and this one may even be better. Don't look now, but we're currently on pace to break the Patriots' single season offensive records set last year. Yeah yeah, it's waaaaaaaaay too early to even think about making those kinds of statements, and I'm sorry I just did it, but with the myriad of weapons that Jay Cutler has at his disposal now (B-Marsh, Royale with Cheese, Scheffler, Stokely, and Pittman using his 97" arms to bulldoze through guys at the goal line), we're able to attack you in many different ways. We might not score 40 points a game like we're averaging right now, but if you give us an inch on offense, we'll take a touchdown. That's how the old saying goes, right?

My prediction: Broncos 35, Saints 27.