Save The Broncos!

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

The Broncos never had a chance. We all pretended that they did for a bit, but even after Pumpkin Pie ran in the TD, it never seemed as if the Broncos put any fear into the Colts. Sure, Big Baby Daddy ran big early, but after their first breakdown, the Colts figured out how to effectively choke off the red zone for most of the game. Pumpkin Pie didn’t make a lot of mistakes, but it was going to take an outstanding effort from our favorite NFL pastry to overcome the Colts and his own team; and that kind of game just isn’t in the crust yet.

Despite the Colts losing Harrison and Addai--their 2nd and 3rd best players--for large chunks of the second half, the Broncos rolled over, blew at least one LetPlummerPlay.com staff member’s office pool (yes, he picks them to win every week...and you think we’re haters?) and are now, uh, in first place in the AFC West. This is how bad the AFC West has become. Somehow (thanks to Norv “Stomach” Turner) the Chargers have fizzled and the rest of the division is at 2-2: Raiders, Chiefs, Broncos. While we’re ecstatic that our prediction about Norv’s path of coaching destruction has actually come true, we are less excited about how the Broncos failed to take advantage of the Jaguars last week in their own house and stake out first place.

“The Mastermind” was completely lost against the Colts when Henry came up lame, and unlike Tony Dungy, when he loses both a top receiver and his best runner, Shanny does not have the roster or the back-up plan (both HIS responsibilities) to compete with the big boys anymore. Last years’ loss to the Colts was a valiant effort where the best team gutted out a victory over a slightly lesser opponent. This year was different, as the Broncos couldn’t sustain more than one or two good drives in a row and eventually gave up in the fourth quarter. There’s no fire under these Bronco’s asses, whether it’s Shanahan occasionally slipping into the Art Shell/Norv Turner zone on the sidelines, whether it’s Cutler zoning out on the bench, the offensive line falling asleep every other down, the defensive line crumbling, or simply the ENTIRE TEAM’S final collapse in the 4th quarter.

We’ll complain about him during a loss just like anyone else, but we here at LPP have come around to see Jay Cutler as both a talent and a man. We’ll make fun of the Pumpkin Pie Haircut and we’ll bitch a bit about his mistakes, but now we see why we kept the site up. We aren’t just here for Jake anymore, we’re here for all the “savior” QB’s of the Broncos who didn’t get a proper chance and were blamed for something that in the end wasn’t and isn’t their faults. Now we know there’s something bigger than the QBs to blame for all this. Brian Griese was selected to succeed Elway. Plummer was selected to bring back respect to the Broncos QB position. Cutler was brought in to start over clean and build a new franchise QB. If the first two tries didn’t work under the same head coach, why is this time going to be different? The Broncos have Pro Bowl talent at multiple positions and Shanahan reconstructed the coaching staff (again) to fit his style. It’s not working, and Jay Cutler, a legit stud prospect at QB, is going to suffer for it. Can’t you just picture Pumpkin Pie getting run out of town Griese- or Plummer-style in 3 years and then catching on to another team that will probably know how to use him?

How embarrassing is it going to be when Jay Cutler takes Carolina or Kansas City to the playoffs?

By the way, the man Shanahan blamed for the team’s defensive struggles last year went straight to Tampa Bay, and Larry Coyer has helped hone a defense that was 21st in points allowed last year (finishing 4-12) into a team that’s allowed the fewest points in the NFL and is now sitting atop its division. Gary Kubiak has people buzzing about the Texans...the Texans! The Broncos are floundering with multiple Pro Bowlers, the best secondary in the league, a QB generally considered a blue-chip prospect, and a workhorse of a running back. And the team is struggling against everyone. Maybe we’re just idiots here, but we think that kind of poor guidance starts at the top. Shanahan is no longer “The Mastermind.” He’s just another coach. If things don’t turn around soon, he’ll be just another coach who’s stuck around too long. Don’t coast on 97-98 and keep giving Shanahan a mulligan year after year. Demand excellence from the position where the Broncos need it most! If you think we’re still just insane Jake Plummer lovers, you can kiss our asses! We failed to save the Snake, but our failure is going to inspire us to do bigger things! We aren’t just out to save the last piece of Pumpkin Pie; we’re out to save the entire Broncos team! SAVE THE BRONCOS!

Start holding Shanahan accountable for HIS mistakes, Denver faithful! The team is crumbling despite a load of talent! Put the blame where it belongs and CAN THE SHAN! Trust us, it’s not just because he didn’t...

LET PLUMMER PLAY!!!