Diner morning news: Broncos are in control

Every mention of Eric "the secret" Mangini makes me laugh so hard. You hit the nail on the head with that one.

Michael,

Just because I know someone else will try to rip on you for it, the Broncos have allowed 10 second half points this season. Cinci scored their touchdown in the 4th quarter. By the way that is still an amazing stat.

But you are absolutely right they are a great second half team. Which is why when watching the game last night as a Broncos fan I wasn't worried at halftime even though they were down. Which also makes it promising that they won't break down late in the season like the Broncos of the past decade.

What was most revealing to me was how the Chargers defense has really become bad . Their pass rush is totally non existent .

That was the best half of defensive football the broncos have played in a long time. If they can continue to get pressure with Elvis and DJ they are going to go far into the playoffs. As somebody who wasn't a big fan of McD during the off season, I am starting to drink the kool aid.

The only thing stopping Mangini of trading Rogers to NY is that the Jets doesn't have many benchwarmers and special teamers to offer (he got them all, by the way)...

One factor between the first and second half for the Broncos last night was Brian Dawkins ability to come back in the second half. Keeping Brian Dawkins healthy has to be a priority for this team. They did not look very good in the passing game when he was out.

I do recall you said before the Broncos were your sleeper team Mike, good choice. I must say as a Broncos fan you are the only writer in the sports media who I respect

Jets fans...

Keep laughing at the Mangini trades. Just be warned that you won't be laughing so much in a few weeks when you realize Braylon Edwards is just a Monday Night player. Did you notice how many of those INT's were intended for Edwards on Sunday? The guy constantly gives up on plays...not to mention his brick hands. New York, he's your new Bobby Bonilla. Enjoy.

"New York, he's your new Bobby Bonillia"

Haha, nice one.

I just can't believe he's been able to replace a defensive unit with older veterans and be as good as they have been. I thought he was a joke of a coach when I saw him dancing back and forth in the Brandon Marshall-got-suspended press conference, but now he just might be the Coach of the Year.

YESSSS! My Broncos are for real! I'm glad that you are now a fully converted proselyte, Lombardi. Yes, we have given up 10 second half points but it's still impressive anyway you slice it. Our offensive line (and tight ends) are excellent strengths of our team, in addition to a lights out defense. Eddie Royal has been my favorite Bronco for quite a while and he showed me why in becoming only the sixth player since the merger to return a kickoff and punt for touchdowns in the same game. If you doubt the Broncos now, you're not paying attention. I am so proud to be a fan of this selfless squad and McDaniels is right for us. I feel bad for the Bengals that Antwan Odom's out for the season, while the Redskins are disastrous to say the least. The Seahawks need to play better on special teams, among other things. GO BRONCOS!!!

I realize Mangini isn't popular - but Edwards and Sanchize don't look like too much to give up for a bag of chips this week. Even with the one foot touchdown, Braydrops dropped that PI pass in his "breakout game." Yesterday he was back to his atrocious self. We'll see how this looks in 2 years. I'm still betting on "The Secret's" moves.

The Broncos obviously look great and I haven't seen them a ton; but they seem to be playing an awful lot of 5 to 7 yard pitch and catch.

Orton is hitting em and the WR's are good and catching them, but teams are going to start sitting on that stuff, and then it becomes a game of the QB and WR reading the coverage, and adjusting, and being on the same page and still hitting them...which is a totally different ballgame.

They're good but everyone knows it's a lot harder once that film starts piling up.

The Broncos do play a lot of 5-7 yard pitch-and-catch. So do the Patriots- and they did in 2007 when they set the scoring record. That's the offense McDaniels runs. Certainly, teams will sit on short routes more as they come to respect Orton's ability to hit those passes. But if you start doing that, you open yourself up down the field. And the Broncos response will be to go downfield to Brandon Marshall. I'll take a 50/50 ball to Marshall in downfield single coverage on almost any play, anytime, against any DB. In fact, fear of Marshall is probably a big reason teams aren't adjusting to the short routes more than they are. Even when he's not making a lot of plays, as he didn't last night, he's still the straw that stirs the drink. The defense will likely see its quality of play decline a bit, but the O is still coming together. Watch out.

The Broncos do play a lot of 5-7 yard pitch-and-catch. So do the Patriots- and they did in 2007 when they set the scoring record. That's the offense McDaniels runs. Certainly, teams will sit on short routes more as they come to respect Orton's ability to hit those passes. But if you start doing that, you open yourself up down the field. And the Broncos response will be to go downfield to Brandon Marshall. I'll take a 50/50 ball to Marshall in downfield single coverage on almost any play, anytime, against any DB. In fact, fear of Marshall is probably a big reason teams aren't adjusting to the short routes more than they are. Even when he's not making a lot of plays, as he didn't last night, he's still the straw that stirs the drink. The defense will likely see its quality of play decline a bit, but the O is still coming together. Watch out.

I'll be a believer in the Broncos if they keep this going into next year. There is a long line of guys who will need to be paid to keep the team in tact (Orton, Marshall, Dumervil, Kruper, Scheffler(i tthink) ). Denver could be looking at some very hefty signing bonuses next spring. Dawkins has been a savior for the D but can he keep it together another year. Dunno. We'll see. 'The Secret' went 11-5 his first year and them imploded. Keep that in mind.

To mark f. All I can say is that this same offense seems to have worked out ok for the Patriots the last couple of years. Remember that McD was the OC behind the 2007 18-1 Patriots, and guided that team to a record setting offensive year. And last year he took a QB nobody had heard of and turned him into the 60 million dollar man. How is that looking now KC?

I don't know how you can sit on anything when you don't know what's coming? Remember the Wild Horses formation he unveiled against the Pats? Where was it on Monday night? I think it's obvious that he keeps changing up what they do each and every week. It will be hard to game plan for what you don't know is coming.

Mark F.,

Think you're dead-on with the Broncos. Things will get a lot harder once the film starts piling up. They've been exceptionally lucky in not having injuries too.

They started the season agains the 30th, 31st, and 32nd ranked offenses from last year, got some confidence, and are rolling. Still, beating the Cowboys, Patriots, and Chargers (although none are really legitimate Superbowl contenders to me) showed some physical toughness and a mental approach to games which should take them pretty far.

I think we're finally at the part of the season where we'll see just how good they can be. The Ravens, Steelers, and Giants will give them a much tougher time than anyone else has defensively, and the Colts loom on the horizon. I'm not ready to pronounce them a 'deep' playoff contender until we see how they do against Peyton Manning and the Colts passing attack. Many teams defenses have been exposed over the years b a good Colts offensive staff.

Still, there is no doubt that the Broncos would have to have a total collapse not to win the AFC West. Doesn't look like the Chiefs, Raiders, or Chargers are going to win 10 games between them.