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The Jaguars Frustrate the Broncos

Jeremiah O. Sarkett |Sep 24,2007

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The Jaguars Frustrate the Broncos

The Jacksonville Jaguars thumped the Denver Broncos Sunday 23-14. It was all down hill for Denver from the opening drive on. Jacksonville systematically moved the ball and at times, at will against the frustrated and gassed Bronco defense and kept the league's top rushing attack in check. Travis Henry never had a chance to get going and finished the game with just 35 yards about 100 yards shy of his season average.

The Jags immediately went to work, marching the ball down the field Sunday with the longest drive in franchise history. David Garrard found Reggie Williams' from three yards out, capping an 18-play, 80-yard drive that lasted 11 minutes, 44 seconds. The opening drive set the tone for the game. Denver's defense was on the field the entire first half and Jacksonville scored on the next three passions.

Denver's offense sat around the entire first half and never recovered- Denver looked lifeless at times. The high-powered unit that coming into the game had piled up 911 yards was held to just 265. The Denver offense also turned the ball over on a fumble, an interception and twice on downs. The Jags controlled the game clock, keeping Jay Cutler and Travis Henry on the sideline for the better part of the first half and the Broncos managed just 21:18 in time of possession, the lowest total in 15 years. At half time, the Broncos were a frustrated unit and it showed, as it was 17-7 Jacksonville.

The Jags played keep away all game and forced Mike Shanahan to go for it on fourth down, with 4:20 left in the fourth quarter from the Denver nine-yard line with the score 20-16. It almost worked out for the two-time Super Bowl winning coach but Daniel Graham could not hang on to the Cutler pass and the game was over as Jacksonville added a field goal to go up nine.

"I just had a gut feeling with the way they were controlling the tempo of the game that that would give us the best chance to win," Shanahan said. "And it almost turned out good." Shanahan has been just pounded for making this move. For football fans and media personal, that REALLY know football and what clock/time management is all about know, that this decision was on-point as the Broncos had no timeouts reaming. Shanahan instead needs to be blasted not for going for it but for squandering the second half timeouts- how do you have no timeouts with four minutes left in the game. The Broncos were forced to spend two timeouts in the third quarter that proved costly.

The Jaguars manhandled the Broncos, controlling the time of possession and the battle for the line of scrimmage. Denver was unable to find their run game on a day that one of the NFL's all-time great backs Terrell Davis was inducted into the Bronco ring of fame. That is about the only thing Denver fans had to cheer about Sunday.

From My Note Pad

•   Brandon Marshall had an excellent game, a career day as he totaled seven catches and 133 yards. The rest of the Broncos' team managed just 132.
•   Travis Henry was frustrated all game. He did manage a touchdown in the fourth quarter that seemed to rally the offense but had just 35 yards on 11 carries and was not a factor late in the game.
•   Denver was out gained on the ground. The Broncos had only 47 yards on 18 rushing attempts whereas Jacksonville pounded Denver for 186 yards on 47 rushing attempts.
•   Javon Walker was held in check by the Jags defense- Walker ended the game with only two catches for 10 yards.
•   Elvis Dumervil was again impressive as he notched two sacks and a forced fumble and Nick Ferguson chipped in with nine tackles and a forced fumble of his own.
•   John Lynch left the game with an undisclosed groin injury in the first half and did not return- he will be evaluated further this week.
•   The Denver defensive line has been just torched this year- the Broncos are getting more pressure on the quarterback and feature an impressive defensive end rotation but are getting gashed through the middle. Shanahan and the Broncos went defensive end crazy this off-season and without depth at the defensive tackle position now, teams are attacking the vulnerable Bronco middle.
•   Jay Cutler ended the game 16-of-23 for 222 yards with a touchdown and interception but really had a quiet afternoon and was unable to get everyone in the offense involved.
•   Fred Taylor had a nice game and showed no sign of a bruised leg as he helped Garrard control the clock. Taylor finished the game with 84 yards on 17 carries.
•   David Garrard managed the clock and was an efficient 14-of-20 for 154 yards and touchdown but did most of his damage on the ground. Garrard frustrated Denver on numerous scrambles and finished with 52 yards on 12 attempts.