ATL96Steeler
Well-Known Member
Not sure I completely agree that this is a bad match up. Defensively speaking I think the Broncos are one of the few teams that really can contain Cam. They have shown this year that they can change how they do defense and still have great success. Against Brady of course it is stick 5 in the box, have your 3-tech players play a bit wider so that Von and Ware can get one-on-one match ups, and cut off those quick slant patterns forcing Brady to have to hold onto the ball a half second longer. Now go back and watch their game against the Packers. People played the Packers completely different after the Broncos dismantled them in week 7 or 8. They played that more contain then pursue style because they knew they had great coverage on the back side. That is the big thing with the broncos is they can play Man Coverage across the board and still win those match ups. It is why I actually do think the Broncos will bring pressure up the middle in this one right into Cam's face trying to force him into some mistakes. Now Cam is probably the best thrower in the league when throwing off his back leg because he can still get plenty of power on those throws but the issue becomes accuracy. Can he still be accurate?
As for the Broncos offense yeah this is a bad match up but wouldn't about every team they play be a bad match up because well offensively they have been inconsistent at best. The one good thing they have actually had is that the 3 middle OL guys have actually done a decent job of forming a nice pocket for the QB to step into. To me this game will come down to the Broncos 2nd and 3rd WR winning their battles for the Broncos to have a decent offense. Josh Norman most likely shuts down DT. So it will be up to Sanders and Fowler/Latimer to step up their game for this one and go out and make a big play in my opinion. If they can hit a few of those passes early on maybe it softens things up for the run game to have some success. I don't expect them to rush for 150 yards but if they can get to that 100 or more rushing yards then the Broncos in my opinion stand a good chance.
I would also say maybe the biggest thing the Broncos have working for them is the emotional advantage. Players throughout these playoffs have said they are playing their butts off to go win this for Manning and Ware. We have seen in the past when such great leaders of teams are on their way out other players who respect the heck out of them do everything possible to up their game.
Honestly I have no clue how this game will go. I definitely see why so many people are picking the Panthers to win this game. They have the more all-around team in this game and the best QB of this past season at the helm. Most everything points to them being the victor but I also know this Bronco team has been one that has fought and clawed above the odds all season long. They actually set a record for most wins by 7 or less points. They keep battling to the end and that kind of heart doesn't usually get measured on paper. I keep listening to the past Bronco players from the 97-98 Super Bowl winning teams and they keep saying talking to these players they see that same drive coming from them. Have to remember that 97 team were the biggest Super Bowl underdogs in NFL history and they found a way to gut one out.
I look at it as a match up favoring CAR too. But, I'm not subscribing to a blowout.
I agree the DEN DEF is special...it took me a while to come to that conclusion. The DL guys for DEN have my full respect...they are the back bone of that DEF even though Ware and Miller are on ctr stage. Idt CAR is going to run roughshod over them at all.
But...the difference I see is Cam...being able to extend plays or make plays running even if to buy time to get pass off. I don't see that from Peyton, not on a consistent basis anyway.
If the game comes down to which QB gets effected the most. I sense Manning will get effected the most...typical drop back passer that has always been taught to climb the pocket to buy time...if Short & Loti are winning that battle inside like they did against SEA and AZ...Manning is going to have a tough day.