If That Was The Worst, Beware of The Best

DOH! 1

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning threw a clunker of a game last night (24/37, 241 yds., TD, 3 INT). Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was highly efficient and effective (24/36, 219 yds., 2 TD, 0 INT). The Falcons won, no “ifs”, “ands”, or “buts”. It is a good thing for Falcons Fan that there were no “ifs”, “ands” or “buts”, because an “if” here or a “but” there and the Broncos win the game.

IF

A blind man could see the big “if”. If Peyton Manning doesn’t serve up three interceptions in the Broncos’ first three possessions, particularly the first one, everything else being equal, the Broncos probably win the game. ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer said, after the game, that he thought Peyton Manning was simply tricked in the early possessions. The Falcons took advantage of Manning’s year long hiatus from the NFL and successfully disguised coverages so well that Manning didn’t know what hit him until four team turnovers and one quarter of football later.

William Moore (25): "GOTCHA!" 2

AND

The Broncos defense simply could not come up with answers for Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez (7 rec., 70 yds., TD) or wide receiver Roddy White (8 rec., 102 yds., TD). They could not get to Ryan, who was only sacked once and appeared comfortable in the pocket for most of the evening. And while the Falcons did not run all over the Broncos during the entire game, Falcons running back Michael Turner (17 att., 42 yds., TD) made critical plays that could ultimately account for the Broncos’ doom.

Turner scored a touchdown on 3rd and goal at the Broncos’ 1 yard line early in the game and converted a first down on the Falcons’ final possession to run out the clock. Even without big statistics, Turner made big plays when it mattered most, as did several other Falcons players. They drained the Broncos’ life force at the most critical times.

Turner was contained but not stopped, not stopped during the game, anyway. Turner was reportedly arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol in the early hours of Tuesday morning following the win. 4

BUT

The big “but” was Atlanta’s final drive. The Broncos had two timeouts remaining plus the two minute warning to stop the clock after the Broncos closed the Falcons’ lead to six points on a Willis McGahee (22 att., 113 yds., 2 TD) touchdown run with roughly three and a half minutes remaining. Atlanta converted two critical first downs to slam the door on the Broncos, BUT IF they didn’t AND IF Peyton Manning got the ball back with any significant amount of time remaining in the game, the result, in spite of Manning playing his worst game, statistically, in several years, may have still been a Broncos victory.

He just doesn't go away until there are all zeroes on the clock. 3

IT’S A LONG SEASON

The end result of Peyton Manning playing his worst is that the hosting Atlanta Falcons were able to hand on to a six point lead that was once as high as 20. The Falcons were able to run out the clock. Since Ryan has been the quarterback of the Falcons, his team has been a playoff contender in every season. The rest of the NFL saw Manning do his worst. I would like to hear how teams plan to stop the Broncos when he is at his best.


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1) Image from http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com
2) Image from www.ajc.com
3) Image from http://sports.yahoo.com
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