Knowshon Moreno picks up yardage in Broncos 20-17 win over the Patriots on Sunday
                                      (Photo courtesy Eric Lars Bakke, Denver Broncos Football Club)



The Denver Broncos moved to 5-0 by beating the New England Patriots on Sunday. The win was the biggest yet in the short head coaching career of Josh McDaniels. McDaniels came to Denver after being a successful assistant on 3 Super Bowl Champion New England Patriot teams. When the 32 year old McDaniels was announced as the Broncos new head coach, many fans and critics scratched their heads. To make matters worse, McDaniels traded Jay Cutler and brought in Kyle Orton...the Broncos were headed for their worst season ever! Wow how things have changed as the Broncos and Josh McDaniels have silenced critics across the country.

The Broncos 20-17 win over the New England Patriots showed just how good of a team Josh McDaniels and  his staff put together. Many thought the Broncos were simply fortunate to have an easy schedule after beating Cincinnatti, Cleveland and Oakland. The critics all said, if the the Broncos could beat the mighty Dallas Cowboys, they might be pretty good. Well the Broncos beat the Cowboys and there were still questions about how good the Broncos really were. Well, I think the win over the Patriots is about all I need to see to call the Broncos a legitimate Super Bowl contender. The Broncos had to grind out a tough battle and comeback against a team that has won 3 Super Bowls in less than 10 years.

Key Reasons for the 5-0 start:

Coaching: The offense and defense have looked good so far in 2009. The defense was coming off a terrible season and 8 new starters were brought in as the team switched from the 4-3 to 3-4. Mike Nolan has done an excellent job as the defensive coordinator and has helped make the transition look easy. The offense was coming off a good year in 2008, but there was still room for improvement. Kyle Orton is doing a great job of not turning the ball over (unlike Jay Cutler) and making throws to whoever is open. The running game has been great as Knowhson Moreno and Correll Buckhalter have helped the Broncos average nearly 150 yards per game.

Kyle Orton: He may not have a pretty face like Tom Brady, or have a rocket arm like Jay Cutler, but Kyle Orton is a winner. Orton came to Denver with a ton of criticism about a lack of arm strength and slow feet in the pocket. Orton has done everything the Broncos could have hoped for. Even after a preseason injury to the pointer finger on his throwing hand, Orton has played well. He had to wear a glove on his throwing hand for the first 4 games, yet he still didn't turn the ball over or fail to hit his receivers at key times. Orton has played very well and was chosen as the week 5 AFC Offensive Player of the Week. Season stats: 1236 yards, 7 touchdowns, 1 interception, 63.1% completion percentage, 97.4 quarterback rating.

Brian Dawkins: Dawkins is a living legend in Philadelphia, where he was the heart of the Eagles for many years. When the Broncos signed Dawkins, many around the NFL thought they overpaid for a player with diminishing skills. Dawkins may not be the same player he was ten years ago, but he's pretty darn close. Dawkins stats don't really do justice to the influence he's made on the Broncos defense. He brings a toughness and accountability that the team desperately needed in the transition from the 4-3 to 3-4. Dawkins makes big time hits and seems to have a knack for being at the right place at the right time. Season stats: 25 tackles, 6 passes defensed, 2 fumble recoveries.

Brandon Marshall: If you would have told me a month ago that Brandon Marshall was going to be a huge playmaker, I would have asked what team he was playing for. Marshall had a tumultuous offseason and was suspended for much of the preseason. He was unhappy with his contract and wanted to be paid like the other #1 receivers in the NFL. After the first couple games it looked like Marshall would only be a small part of the Broncos offense. The last two games, he's been much more than that. He caught the winning touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys and added 2 more against the Patriots on Sunday.  Season stats: 24 receptions, 283 yards, 4 touchdowns

Elvis Dumervil: So much for Dumervil being too small. He had to prove himself as a defensive end after being drafted in the 4th round in 2006. All he did was lead the Broncos in sacks each of his first 3 seasons. When the Broncos decided to switch to the 3-4 defense I wasn't sure what Dumervil would bring to the table. In his first 5 games this season, he's racked up 8 sacks. Perhaps the most important thing he brings is the fact that opposing offenses have to double team him to keep the quarterback from getting sacked. Elvis Dumervil has started very well in 2009, and it looks like the sky is the limit for him. Season stats: 8 sacks, 18 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery.


Fan Feedback Questions
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