The
2007The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
Denver BroncosThe Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
season was the 48th season for the team in the
National Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. A loss to the
Houston TexansThe Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in Week 15 and a win by the
San Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
the following Sunday knocked them out of playoff contention, marking the second year in a row they failed to make the playoffs. The Broncos' 7–9 record was the worst since 1999, their last losing season (when they went 6–10).
Coaching staff
This was head coach
Mike ShanahanMichael Edward "Mike" Shanahan is the 28th and current head coach of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. Shanahan also holds the title of Vice President of Football Operations with the Redskins, giving him full control over player personnel with the team. Shanahan previously...
's 13th year (1995 to present) with the Broncos. Joining him was
Mike HeimerdingerMichael "Mike" Heimerdinger was a football coach in the National Football League.-Career:Heimerdinger was most recently the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, a position he had served in from 2000-2004 and again from 2008-2010...
&
Jeremy BatesJeremy Bates is an American football coach. He is the former offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks. He had previously served as quarterbacks coach for the NFL's Denver Broncos and the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator of the USC Trojans football team.-Personal life:His father,...
as assistant head coaches,
Rick Dennison as offensive coordinator,
Bob SlowikBob Slowik is the current defensive backs coach for the Washington Redskins, under head coach Mike Shanahan. He is a former defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears. Prior to his stint with the Bears he was a defensive assistant with the...
as defensive coordinator and
Scott O'BrienScott O'Brien is a current American football special teams coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League.-Playing career:...
as special teams coordinator.
Offseason
The 2006–2007 off-season began as two members of the team died in less than two months after the season ended. Cornerback
Darrent WilliamsDarrent Demarcus Williams was an American football player for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. Williams was also the owner and CEO of independent record label RYNO Entertainment in Fort Worth, Texas.-High school:Born and raised in Fort Worth, Williams attended O.D...
was shot and killed in his H2 limousine on New Years Day, just a few hours after the Broncos last game of the 2006 season. Soon after, Broncos 3rd string running back
Damien NashDamien Darnell Nash was an American football player who was a running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He died after the 2006-2007 season, his only season with the Broncos....
collapsed and died in a pick-up basketball game.
The Broncos traded running back
Tatum BellTatum Antoine Bell is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
and offensive tackle
George FosterGeorge Foster was an American football offensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos 20th overall in the 2003 NFL Draft...
to the
Detroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
for former
Pro BowlIn professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
cornerback Dre' Bly to compensate for the unfortunate loss of Williams. In addition to the trade for Bly, the Broncos had made a trade to the
Miami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
for
Dan WilkinsonDan "Big Daddy" Wilkinson is a former defensive tackle who played 13 seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, and Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted 1st overall in the 1994 NFL Draft...
, only to have that trade voided because Wilkinson did not show up to Denver for his scheduled physical.
Denver added running back
Travis HenryTravis Deion Henry is a former American football running back for the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos. He was drafted by the Bills in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
, fullback
Thump BeltonKeith Da'Shawn "Thump" Belton is an American football fullback who was most recently with the Georgia Force of the Arena Football League. He was originally signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at Syracuse.-References:...
, and tight end
Daniel GrahamDaniel Lawrence Grahamhttp://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrahDa00.htm is an American football tight end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
through free agency. The team released linebacker
Al WilsonAldra Kauwa Wilson is a former American football linebacker of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos 31st overall in the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee....
during the month of April for health and salary cap reasons.
Denver also signed backup WR Brandon Stokley from the Indianapolis Colts and P/Kickoff Specialist Todd Sauerbrun.
Signed K Brandon Pace (Virginia Tech) and C Mark Fenton (
ColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
) on May 7. Released OL Tim Duckworth on May 7.
Preseason
The Broncos started strong in the preseason, beating San Francisco 17–13.
Jay CutlerJay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
led a 67-yard scoring drive on one of his only series for the Broncos, and new Running Back
Travis HenryTravis Deion Henry is a former American football running back for the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos. He was drafted by the Bills in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
punched in another touchdown. Back-up
QuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Patrick RamseyPatrick Allen Ramsey is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins 32nd overall in the 2002 NFL Draft...
played most of the game. The previous match-up between Denver and the
San Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
was the last game of the 2006–2007 season, when the 49ers beat Denver in overtime, 26–23, and kept them from entering the play-offs.
In game two, The Broncos were in Texas to play
the Dallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. The game had a lot of buzz, due to the pairing of
DallasThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
wide-receiver
Terrell OwensTerrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...
and Denver cornerback
Champ BaileyRoland "Champ" Bailey is an American football cornerback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. Bailey was drafted in the 1st round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Georgia.Bailey is 8th among Broncos in all-time...
. Also, the mother of
Darrent WilliamsDarrent Demarcus Williams was an American football player for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. Williams was also the owner and CEO of independent record label RYNO Entertainment in Fort Worth, Texas.-High school:Born and raised in Fort Worth, Williams attended O.D...
attended the game.
| Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Game site |
TV |
Time (MT The Mountain Time Zone of North America keeps time by subtracting seven hours from Coordinated Universal Time, also known as Greenwich Mean Time, during the shortest days of autumn and winter , and by subtracting six hours during daylight saving time in the spring, summer, and early autumn...
) |
Record |
| 1 |
Sep 13 |
San Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
|
W 17–13 |
Monster ParkCandlestick Park is an outdoor sports and entertainment stadium located in San Francisco, California, in the Bayview Heights area. The stadium was originally built as the home of Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants, who played there from 1960 until moving into Pacific Bell Park in 2000...
|
ESPN Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
|
6:00pm |
1–0 |
| 2 |
Aug 18 |
Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
|
L 20–31 |
Texas StadiumTexas Stadium was a football stadium in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The stadium opened on September 17, 1971.Built to replace the aging Cotton Bowl, it was the home field of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and had a seating capacity of 65,675...
|
CBS 4KCNC-TV, virtual channel 4, is a CBS owned-and-operated station television station in Denver, Colorado, owned by CBS Television Stations, Inc. KCNC broadcasts on UHF channel 35 from Lookout Mountain near Golden, Colorado.- Digital programming :...
|
6:00 pm |
1–1 |
| 3 |
Aug 25 |
Cleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
|
L 16–17 |
INVESCO Field at Mile HighSports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001...
|
CBS 4KCNC-TV, virtual channel 4, is a CBS owned-and-operated station television station in Denver, Colorado, owned by CBS Television Stations, Inc. KCNC broadcasts on UHF channel 35 from Lookout Mountain near Golden, Colorado.- Digital programming :...
|
7:00pm |
1–2 |
| 4 |
Aug 30 |
Arizona CardinalsThe Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
|
W 21–3 |
INVESCO Field at Mile HighSports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001...
|
CBS 4KCNC-TV, virtual channel 4, is a CBS owned-and-operated station television station in Denver, Colorado, owned by CBS Television Stations, Inc. KCNC broadcasts on UHF channel 35 from Lookout Mountain near Golden, Colorado.- Digital programming :...
|
7:00pm |
2–2 |
Schedule
| Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Site |
Time (MT The Mountain Time Zone of North America keeps time by subtracting seven hours from Coordinated Universal Time, also known as Greenwich Mean Time, during the shortest days of autumn and winter , and by subtracting six hours during daylight saving time in the spring, summer, and early autumn...
) |
Result |
TV |
Record |
Attendance |
Recap |
| 1 |
Sep 9 |
Buffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
|
Ralph Wilson StadiumRalph Wilson Stadium is a football stadium, located in the town of Orchard Park, a suburb of Buffalo, New York. It is the home for the Buffalo Bills, of the NFL...
|
11:00am |
W 15–14 |
CBSThe NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...
|
1–0 |
71,132 |
Recap |
| 2 |
Sep 16 |
Oakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
|
INVESCO Field at Mile HighSports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001...
|
2:15pm |
W 23–20 (OT) |
CBSThe NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...
|
2–0 |
76,784 |
Recap |
| 3 |
Sep 23 |
Jacksonville JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
|
INVESCO Field at Mile HighSports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001...
|
2:05pm |
L 23–14 |
CBSThe NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...
|
2–1 |
76,463 |
Recap |
| 4 |
Sep 30 |
Indianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
|
RCA Dome RCA Dome was a domed stadium, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL franchise for 24 seasons ....
|
2:15pm |
L 38–20 |
CBSThe NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...
|
2–2 |
57,274 |
Recap |
| 5 |
Oct 7 |
San Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
|
INVESCO Field at Mile HighSports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001...
|
2:15pm |
L 41–3 |
CBSThe NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...
|
2–3 |
76,879 |
Recap |
| 6 |
Bye week A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing...
|
| 7 |
Oct 21 |
Pittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
|
INVESCO Field at Mile HighSports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001...
|
6:15pm |
W 31–28 |
NBCNBC Sunday Night Football is a weekly television broadcast of Sunday evening National Football League games on NBC that began airing on Sunday, August 6, 2006 with the pre-season opening Hall of Fame Game. Al Michaels serves as the play-by-play announcer, with Cris Collinsworth as the color...
|
3–3 |
77,038 |
Recap |
| 8 |
Oct 29 |
Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
|
INVESCO Field at Mile HighSports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001...
|
6:30pm |
L 19–13 (OT) |
ESPNMonday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
|
3–4 |
77,160 |
Recap |
| 9 |
Nov 4 |
Detroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
|
Ford FieldFord Field is an indoor American football stadium located in Detroit, Michigan, USA, that is the current home field of the NFL's Detroit Lions. It is owned by the Detroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority. It regularly seats 65,000, though it is expandable up to 70,000 for football and 80,000 for...
|
11:00am |
L 44–7 |
CBSThe NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...
|
3–5 |
60,783 |
Recap |
| 10 |
Nov 11 |
Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
|
Arrowhead StadiumArrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
|
11:00am |
W 27–11 |
CBSThe NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...
|
4–5 |
77,368 |
Recap |
| 11 |
Nov 19 |
Tennessee TitansThe Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
|
INVESCO Field at Mile HighSports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001...
|
6:30pm |
W 34–20 |
ESPNMonday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
|
5–5 |
76,590 |
Recap |
| 12 |
Nov 26 |
Chicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
|
Soldier FieldSoldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
|
2:15pm |
L 37–34 (OT) |
CBSThe NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...
|
5–6 |
62,148 |
Recap* |
| 13 |
Dec 2 |
Oakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
|
McAfee ColiseumO.co Coliseum is a multi-purpose stadium, located in Oakland, California, in the Coliseum Industrial area...
|
2:05pm |
L 34–20 |
CBSThe NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...
|
5–7 |
61,990 |
Recap* |
| 14 |
Dec 9 |
Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
|
INVESCO Field at Mile HighSports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001...
|
2:15pm |
W 49–7 |
CBSThe NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...
|
6–7 |
75,895 |
Recap* |
| 15 |
Dec 13 |
Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
|
Reliant StadiumReliant Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Houston, Texas, USA. Reliant Stadium has a seating capacity of 71,500, a total square footage of with of natural grass playing surface....
|
6:15pm |
L 31–13 |
NFL NetworkThursday Night Football is the brand name used by NFL Network for its schedule of live regular season telecasts of National Football League games on Thursday nights. Also included in the package are some Saturday specials....
|
6–8 |
70,747 |
Recap |
| 16 |
Dec 24 |
San Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
|
Qualcomm StadiumQualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area....
|
6:00pm |
L 23–3 |
ESPNMonday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
|
6–9 |
65,477 |
Recap |
| 17 |
Dec 30 |
Minnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
|
INVESCO Field at Mile HighSports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001...
|
2:15pm |
W 22–19 (OT) |
FOXNFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports...
|
7–9 |
76,084 |
Recap* |
* Pending the NFL'sThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
flexible schedule policy
Week 1: at Buffalo Bills
The Bills scored first on a 74 yard kick return by
Roscoe ParrishRoscoe Parrish is an American football wide receiver and punt returner who currently plays for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Bills in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
. Denver then answered with a 10 play drive that led to a field goal by
Jason ElamJason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
, making it 7–3.
In the second quarter Denver scored first with a 48 yard field goal. Bills kicker
Rian LindellRian Lindell is an American football placekicker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2000...
then missed a 45 yard field goal. The Broncos drove deep into Bills territory at the close of the half but Cutler threw an interception to end the drive. The Bills then drove into Denver territory and tried a long field goal but failed due to a false start, then ended the half with an interception thrown to
Elvis Dumervil-Denver Broncos:Dumervil was drafted in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan stated that he planned to keep Dumervil at defensive end....
.
On the opening kickoff for the second half, a scary injury occurred to Bills TE
Kevin EverettKevin Everett, is a former American football tight end who played for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Bills in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
, as he suffered a
cervical spine injuryA spinal cord injury refers to any injury to the spinal cord that is caused by trauma instead of disease. Depending on where the spinal cord and nerve roots are damaged, the symptoms can vary widely, from pain to paralysis to incontinence...
while making a tackle on
Domenik HixonDomenik Hixon is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Akron.-Early years:Hixon was born to an African American...
. Everett later underwent surgery that day and is currently in intensive care. He does have feeling and partial movement in his extremities and it is believed he will walk again.
The Broncos began the second half with a drive that ended with a missed 50 yard field goal. The Bills then made a nine play drive that ended with a 23 yard touchdown run by
Marshawn LynchMarshawn Terrell Lynch is an American football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. In his rookie year, Lynch became the Bills' first 1,000-yard rookie rusher since Greg Bell in 1984...
. The Broncos responded with a drive ending with a touchdown pass to
Brandon Marshall-2006:Before the regular season even began, Marshall suffered a slight tear to his PCL in a pre-season game against the Detroit Lions. Although the injury sidelined him for a couple of weeks, he was able to return and play 15 games during the regular season. Marshall had a total of 20 catches, 309...
. They then attempted to tie the game with a
two-point conversionIn American and Canadian football, a two-point conversion is a play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point convert immediately after it scores a touchdown...
but failed with an incomplete pass to Javon Walker.
The fourth quarter had little scoring. Elam missed a field goal, but the Bills failed to score or run out the clock, giving Denver the ball with a little over two minutes to play. After an ill-advised lateral bounced free, (saved by rookie back Selvin Young smartly batting the loose ball out of bounds) the Bronco's faced a seemingly insurmountable 3rd and 23 to go. Cutler immediately turned in the best clutch performance of his NFL career to date, one that drew comparisons to John Elway by both sportswriters and teammates.
Cutler's drive included two fourth down conversions to drive deep into Bills' territory, where, with no time outs, they rushed the field goal unit onto the field with ten seconds left and the clock ticking down. Execution by the field goal unit allowed Jason Elam to kick the game winning 42 yard field goal just as the clock ticked to 0:00. Buffalo ended up leading the game for over 51 minutes of the contest. Denver lead for one second.
Scoring drives
Q1 – BUF – 6:17 – 74-yard TD Punt Return by Roscoe Parrish (
Rian LindellRian Lindell is an American football placekicker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2000...
kick) (7–0 BUF)
Q1 – DEN – 0:33 –
Jason ElamJason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
21-yard FG (7–3 BUF)
Q2 – DEN – 7:51 – Elam 48-yard field goal (7–6 BUF)
Q3 – BUF – 6:24 – 23-yard TD run by
Marshawn LynchMarshawn Terrell Lynch is an American football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. In his rookie year, Lynch became the Bills' first 1,000-yard rookie rusher since Greg Bell in 1984...
(Lindell kick) (14–6 BUF)
Q3 – DEN – 0:54 – 5-yard TD pass from
Jay CutlerJay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
to
Brandon Marshall-2006:Before the regular season even began, Marshall suffered a slight tear to his PCL in a pre-season game against the Detroit Lions. Although the injury sidelined him for a couple of weeks, he was able to return and play 15 games during the regular season. Marshall had a total of 20 catches, 309...
(Two-Point Conversion Failed) (14–12 BUF)
Q4 – DEN – 0:00 – Elam 42-yard FG (15–14 DEN)
Week 2: vs. Oakland Raiders
In the first quarter, the Broncos were the first to score with a nine yard touchdown pass from Cutler to WR
Brandon StokleyBrandon Stokley is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft...
after taking the ball from the Raiders with an interception by Alex Ludwig. The second quarter began with another interception by Marcus Thomas after a deflection by
John LynchJohn Terrence Lynch, Jr. is a former National Football League strong safety and current NFL on Fox color commentator. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Stanford.A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Lynch earned a Super...
. The game was then halted due to
lightningLightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
, but resumed after several minutes. Denver failed to capitalize however, with Cutler throwing an interception that led to a Raider field goal by
Sebastian JanikowskiSebastian Janikowski is a left-footed Polish placekicker who plays for the National Football League's Oakland Raiders. He is nicknamed The Polish Cannon because he is considered to have one of the strongest kicking legs in the league, and leads the NFL in kickoffs for touchbacks. He lives in...
. Later however the Broncos capitalized on a 40 yard run by
Selvin YoungSelvin Young is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
, finishing the drive with a 4 yard touchdown by
Cecil SappCecil Sapp is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at Colorado State....
. The Broncos then forced a punt by Oakland and drove for a 23 yard field goal by Elam, putting them up 17–3 at the half.
Denver began the second half with a drive that ended with a missed field goal by Elam. The Raiders responded with a 46 yard touchdown pass from
Josh McCownJoshua Treadwell McCown is an American football quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Sam Houston State.McCown has played for the Detroit Lions, Oakland...
to Jerry Porter. They then kicked an
onside kickIn American and Canadian football, an onside kick is a type of kick used at a kickoff or other free kick, or scrimmage kick or other kick during play, in which the ball is kicked favorably for the kicking team to avoid giving away the ball...
which they recovered but failed to drive due to penalties. However
Gerard Warren then sacked Cutler in the end zone for a safety to begin the fourth quarter.
Oaklend punted on their next possession, but Cutler threw an interception to Thomas Howard who returned it 44 yards for a score. Oakland made a two-point conversion, making it 20–17 Oakland. Later in the quarter Elam kicked a 20 yard field goal with 2:12 in time remaining to tie to score at 20–20. The Raiders failed to score, throwing an interception to
Dre BlyDonald André "Dré" Bly is a former American football cornerback who played for eleven seasons in the National Football League. After playing college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, Bly was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft...
to send the game into overtime.
The Broncos won the coin toss to get the ball first in overtime, but failed to score, punting it to Oakland. Raider
Lamont JordanLaMont Damon Jordan is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
then broke a 33 yard run to set up a 52 yard field goal attempt by Janikowski. Denver called time out just before the Raiders got the snap off and so Janikowski's successful kick did not count. On his next attempt he hooked it left, giving Denver the ball. The Broncos then drove to the Oakland 4 yard line, then kicked a game winning field goal by Elam.
Scoring drives
Q1 – DEN – 9:58 – 9-yard TD pass from Jay Cutler to Brandon Stokley (7–0 DEN)
Q2 – OAK – 4:34 – 38-yard FG by Sebastian Janikowski (7–3 DEN)
Q2 – DEN – 7:26 – 4-yard TD run by Cecil Sapp (Elam kick) (14–3 DEN)
Q2 – DEN – 14:42 – 23-yard FG by Elam (17–3 DEN)
Q3 – OAK – 9:41 – 46-yard TD pass from Josh McCown to Jerry Porter (Janikowski kick) (17–10 DEN)
Q4 – OAK – 0:45 – Safety, Cutler sacked by Gerard Warren in end zone (17–12 DEN)
Q4 – OAK – 6:05 – 44-yard interception return by Thomas Howard (two point conversion, Josh McCown to Ronald Curry) (20–17 OAK)
Q4 – DEN – 12:42 – 20-yard FG by Elam (20–20)
OT – DEN – 9:12 – 23-yard FG by Elam (23–20 DEN)
Week 3: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Following their OT win over the Raiders, the Broncos stayed at home for an intraconference duel with the
Jacksonville JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. After a scoreless first quarter, Denver trailed early as Jaguars QB
David GarrardDavid Douglas Garrard is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent.Garrard played college football at East Carolina. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft, and served as the team's starting quarterback from 2007 to 2010...
completed a 3-yard TD pass to WR
Reggie WilliamsReginald "Reggie" Williams, Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is currenly a free agent. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington.-Early years:...
. The Broncos would tie the game with QB
Jay CutlerJay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
completing a 1-yard TD pass to TE
Nate JacksonNate Jackson is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football at Menlo...
. However, Jacksonville would take the lead with FB Greg Jones getting a 4-yard TD run, while kicker John Carney nailed a 19-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, Denver continued to trail as the Jaguars increased its lead with Carney's 27-yard field goal, which was the only score of the period. In the fourth quarter, the Broncos attempted a comeback with RB
Travis HenryTravis Deion Henry is a former American football running back for the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos. He was drafted by the Bills in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
getting a 6-yard TD run. However, Jacksonville sealed their win with Carney kicking a 18-yard field goal.
With the loss, Denver fell to 2–1.
Week 4: at Indianapolis Colts
Game summary
Hoping to rebound from their home loss to the Jaguars, the Broncos flew to the
RCA DomeRCA Dome was a domed stadium, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL franchise for 24 seasons ....
for an intraconference fight with the defending-Super Bowl champions, the
Indianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
. In the first quarter, Denver galloped to an early lead with kicker
Jason ElamJason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
getting a 35-yard field goal, along with QB
Jay CutlerJay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
(Indiana native) complete a 7-yard TD pass to WR
Brandon Marshall-2006:Before the regular season even began, Marshall suffered a slight tear to his PCL in a pre-season game against the Detroit Lions. Although the injury sidelined him for a couple of weeks, he was able to return and play 15 games during the regular season. Marshall had a total of 20 catches, 309...
. In the second quarter, the Colts responded with RB
Joseph AddaiJoseph Addai, Jr. is an American football running back for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was selected in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Louisiana State University.-Early years:Addai's family hails from Ghana in West Africa...
got a 14-yard TD run. The Broncos replied with Elam kicking a 22-yard field goal, yet Indianapolis took the lead with QB
Peyton ManningPeyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
completing a 9-yard TD pass to TE
Dallas ClarkDallas Dean Clark is an American football tight end for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Colts 24th overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Iowa...
.
In the third quarter, Denver began to struggle as Manning got a 1-yard TD run, along with completing a 3-yard TD pass to Clark. The Broncos got close with Cutler getting a 2-yard TD run. However, in the fourth quarter, the Colts sealed their win with Manning completing a 5-yard TD pass to WR
Reggie WayneReginald "Reggie" Wayne is a professional American football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. Wayne was selected in the 1st round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Colts...
, along with kicker
Adam VinatieriAdam Matthew Vinatieri is an American football placekicker currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He has played in six Super Bowls, four with the New England Patriots and two with the Colts, winning four. Vinatieri won a Super Bowl in 2006 with Indianapolis and won Super Bowls in 2001,...
nailing a 22-yard field goal.
With their second-straight loss, Denver fell to 2–2.
Scoring summary
- Scoring
- 1st Quarter
- DEN – Jason Elam
Jason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
35 yard field goal, 11:32. Broncos 3–0. Drive: 8 plays, 47 yards, 3:28.
- DEN – Brandon Marshall
-2006:Before the regular season even began, Marshall suffered a slight tear to his PCL in a pre-season game against the Detroit Lions. Although the injury sidelined him for a couple of weeks, he was able to return and play 15 games during the regular season. Marshall had a total of 20 catches, 309...
7 yard pass from Jay CutlerJay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
(Elam kick), 2:19. Broncos 10–3. Drive: 10 plays, 86 yards, 5:28.
- 2nd Quarter
- IND – Joseph Addai
Joseph Addai, Jr. is an American football running back for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was selected in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Louisiana State University.-Early years:Addai's family hails from Ghana in West Africa...
14 yard run (VinatieriAdam Matthew Vinatieri is an American football placekicker currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He has played in six Super Bowls, four with the New England Patriots and two with the Colts, winning four. Vinatieri won a Super Bowl in 2006 with Indianapolis and won Super Bowls in 2001,...
kick), 14:23. Broncos 10–7. Drive: 7 plays, 46 yards, 2:56.
- DEN – Jason Elam 22 yard field goal, 8:29. Broncos 13–7. Drive: 12 plays, 76 yards, 5:54.
- IND – Dallas Clark
Dallas Dean Clark is an American football tight end for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Colts 24th overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Iowa...
9 yard pass from Peyton Manning (Vinatieri kick), 3:49. Colts 14–13. Drive: 9 plays, 61 yards, 4:40.
- 3rd Quarter
- IND – Peyton Manning 1 yard run (Vinatieri kick), 11:46. Colts 21–13. Drive: 7 plays, 73 yards, 3:14.
- IND – Dallas Clark 3 yard pass (Vinatieri kick), 8:55. Colts 28–13. Drive: 4 plays, 24 yards, 2:03.
- DEN – Jay Cutler 2 yard run (Elam kick), 1:10. Colts 28–20. Drive: 14 plays, 79 yards, 7:45.
- 4th Quarter
- IND – Reggie Wayne
Reginald "Reggie" Wayne is a professional American football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. Wayne was selected in the 1st round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Colts...
5 yard pass from Peyton Manning (Vinatieri kick), 10:56. Colts 35–20. Drive: 10 plays, 83 yards, 5:14.
- IND – Adam Vinatieri 22 yard field goal, 2:34. Colts 38–20. Drive: 13 plays, 76 yards, 5:59.
Week 5: vs San Diego Chargers
Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Colts, the Broncos went home for a Week 5 divisional duel with the
San Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In the first quarter, Denver trailed early as Chargers QB
Philip RiversPhilip Rivers is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League . He was one half of the Manning-Rivers draft trade which sent him to San Diego and the 1st overall pick, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, to the New York Giants. Rivers played college...
got a 2-yard TD run, while LB
Brandon Siler returned a fumble 23 yards for a touchdown. In the second quarter, the Chargers continued its offensive revival with kicker
Nate KaedingNathaniel James Kaeding is an American football placekicker who plays for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chargers in the 2004 NFL Draft in the 3rd round with a pick acquired from the Phillip Rivers-Eli Manning trade. He played college football at Iowa...
getting a 26-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Broncos would get their only score of the game, as kicker
Jason ElamJason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
got a 30-yard field goal. San Diego would end the half with Kaeding nailing a 45-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, Denver continued to get pounded with Rivers completing a 9-yard TD pass to TE
Antonio Gates Antonio Gates is an American football tight end for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2003 after playing college basketball at Kent State University...
and a 15-yard TD pass to WR
Vincent JacksonVincent Jackson , nicknamed "Action Jackson", is an American football wide receiver who currently plays in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers....
. In the fourth quarter, San Diego sealed their victory with RB Michael Turner getting a 74-yard TD run for the only score of the period.
With their third-straight loss, not only did the Broncos fall to 2–3 entering their bye week, but the loss marked their worse home loss since losing to the
Kansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
56–10 on Oct. 23, 1966. The 38-point deficit also marked Denver's worst home loss since the AFL-NFL merger.
Week 7: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Coming off their bye week, the Broncos stayed at home for a Sunday night intraconference duel with the
Pittsburgh SteelersThe Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. In the first quarter, Denver trailed early with Steelers QB
Ben RoethlisbergerBenjamin Todd "Ben" Roethlisberger , nicknamed Big Ben, is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the first round in the 2004 NFL Draft...
completing a 1-yard TD pass to TE
Heath MillerEarl Heath Miller, Jr. is an American football tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. He was selected as the 30th overall pick of the 2005 NFL Draft out of the University of Virginia.-Early years:...
. Denver would respond with QB
Jay CutlerJay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
completing a 15-yard TD pass to WR
Brandon StokleyBrandon Stokley is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft...
. In the second quarter, the Broncos took the lead with Cutler's 1-yard TD pass to FB
Cecil SappCecil Sapp is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at Colorado State....
, along with rookie DE Tim Crowder returning a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown.
In the third quarter, the Steelers tried to come back with Roethlisberger completing a 13-yard TD pass to WR
Santonio HolmesSantonio Holmes Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft after playing college football at Ohio State...
. Fortunately, Denver answered with Cutler completing a 1-yard TD pass to TE
Tony Scheffler-Denver Broncos:Scheffler was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. After seeing limited playing time early in the season, Scheffler saw increased playing time and production after Jay Cutler was inserted as the Broncos starting quarterback on December 3, 2006,...
. In the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh managed to tie the game with Roethlisberger completing a 13-yard TD pass to TE
Matt SpaethMatt Spaeth is an American football tight end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
and a 12-yard TD pass to Miller. Fortunately, kicker
Jason ElamJason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
came through for the third time this year as he nailed the game-winning 49-yard field goal.
With their three-game skid snapped, the Broncos improved to 3–3.
Week 8: vs. Green Bay Packers
Coming off their Sunday night home win over the Steelers, the Broncos stayed at home for a Monday Night interconference fight with the
Green Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. In the first quarter, Denver took the early lead with QB
Jay CutlerJay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
completing a 5-yard TD pass to TE
Tony Scheffler-Denver Broncos:Scheffler was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. After seeing limited playing time early in the season, Scheffler saw increased playing time and production after Jay Cutler was inserted as the Broncos starting quarterback on December 3, 2006,...
. The Packers would respond with QB
Brett FavreBrett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
completing a 79-yard TD pass to WR
James JonesJames Deandre Jones is an American football wide receiver with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Packers in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
. In the second quarter, Green Bay took the lead with kicker
Mason CrosbyMason Walker Crosby , is a professional American football placekicker for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League. During his playing days at the University of Colorado, Crosby was widely considered the best kicker in college football, as evidenced by ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr.'s...
getting a 19-yard and a 26-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Broncos began to rally as kicker
Jason ElamJason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
got a 45-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the fourth quarter, Denver managed to get a last-second 21-yard field goal from Elam to send the game into overtime. Unfortunately, on the Packers' first play of the period, Favre sealed the win with an 82-yard TD pass to WR
Greg JenningsGregory Jennings, Jr. is a professional American football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League...
.
With the loss, not only did the Broncos fall to 3–4, but it also marked the first time in franchise history that they lost to Green Bay at home.
Week 9: at Detroit Lions
Hoping to rebound from their Monday Night loss to the Packers, the Broncos flew to
Ford FieldFord Field is an indoor American football stadium located in Detroit, Michigan, USA, that is the current home field of the NFL's Detroit Lions. It is owned by the Detroit/Wayne County Stadium Authority. It regularly seats 65,000, though it is expandable up to 70,000 for football and 80,000 for...
for a Week 9 interconference duel with the
Detroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
. In the first quarter, Denver trailed early as Lions kicker
Jason HansonJason Douglas Hanson is an American football placekicker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League, where he has spent his entire 20 year career. He was drafted by the Lions in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft...
managed to get a 43-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, the Broncos continued to struggle as Hanson gave Detroit a 53-yard field goal, while QB
Jon KitnaJon K. Kitna is an American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1996...
completed a 15-yard TD pass to WR
Mike FurreyMichael Thomas Furrey is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He played college football at Northern Iowa and Ohio State University.Furrey has also played for the...
. The Lions would end the half with Hanson kicking a 38-yard field goal. Even worse, starting QB
Jay CutlerJay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
(3/4 for 20 yards) would leave the game with a lower left leg injury.
In the third quarter, Detroit continued to destroy Denver as DE
Dewayne WhiteDeWayne White is an American defensive end for the Omaha Nighthawks who is currently a free agent. He entered the league as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers top overall selection in the 2003 NFL Draft. White tied a team record by recording at least half-a-sack in six consecutive games in 2004. He has...
returned a fumble 3 yards for a touchdown, while Kitna completed a 49-yard TD pass to WR
Shaun McDonaldShaun Terrance McDonald is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
. In the fourth quarter, the Lions finished their job as NT Shaun Rogers returned an interception 66 yards for a touchdown, while RB
T. J. Duckett got a 3-yard TD run. The Broncos prevented a shutout when QB
Patrick RamseyPatrick Allen Ramsey is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins 32nd overall in the 2002 NFL Draft...
completed a 2-yard TD pass to WR
Brandon StokleyBrandon Stokley is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft...
.
With the loss, Denver fell to 3–5.
This would be the second time this year that the Broncos lost by at least 37 points.
Week 10: at Kansas City Chiefs
Trying to snap a two-game losing skid, the Broncos flew to
Arrowhead StadiumArrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
for an AFC West duel with the
Kansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. In the first quarter, Denver drew first blood with kicker
Jason ElamJason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
getting a 44-yard field goal. The Chiefs would respond with kicker
Dave RaynerDavid Michael "Dave" Rayner is an American football placekicker who currently plays for the Buffalo Bills. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
getting a 38-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Broncos trailed as K.C. Safety
Bernard PollardBernard Karmell Pollard is an American football safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
blocked a punt that was deep in Denver territory. The ball would roll out the back of the endzone for a safety. The Broncos would respond with Elam kicking a 50-yard field goal. However, the Chiefs would regain the lead prior to halftime as Rayner kicked a 36-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, Denver retook the lead as rookie RB
Selvin YoungSelvin Young is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
got a 20-yard TD run, along with LB
Nate WebsterNate Webster is a former American football linebacker who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buccaneers in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
returning a fumble 58 yards for a touchdown. Kansas City would answer with Rayner nailing a 39-yard field goal. Fortunately, in the fourth quarter, the Broncos closed out the game with QB
Jay CutlerJay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
completing an 18-yard TD pass to TE
Daniel GrahamDaniel Lawrence Grahamhttp://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrahDa00.htm is an American football tight end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
.
With the win, not only did Denver improve to 4–5, but it also marked their first win at Arrowhead Stadium since 2002.
Week 11: vs. Tennessee Titans
Coming off an impressive divisional road win over the Chiefs, the Broncos went home for a Week 11 Monday Night intraconference duel with the
Tennessee TitansThe Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
. In the first quarter, Denver drew first blood with QB
Jay CutlerJay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
completing a 48-yard TD pass to WR
Brandon StokleyBrandon Stokley is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft...
, along with WR/PR
Glenn MartinezGlenn Martínez is an American football wide receiver for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2004...
returning a punt 80 yards for a touchdown. In the second quarter, the Titans got on the board with QB
Vince YoungVincent Paul Young, Jr. , nicknamed "VY", is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . He spent the first five seasons of his career with the Tennessee Titans. Young was the third overall draft pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college...
completing a 21-yard TD pass to WR Brandon Jones. Afterwards, the Broncos regained some of their lead with kicker
Jason ElamJason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
getting a 21-yard and a 39-yard field goal. Tennessee would end the half with kicker
Rob BironasJames Robert Douglas "Rob" Bironas is an American football placekicker for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football at Auburn University and Georgia Southern.Bironas was an All-Pro...
getting a 56-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, Denver responded with Cutler completing a 41-yard TD pass to WR
Brandon Marshall-2006:Before the regular season even began, Marshall suffered a slight tear to his PCL in a pre-season game against the Detroit Lions. Although the injury sidelined him for a couple of weeks, he was able to return and play 15 games during the regular season. Marshall had a total of 20 catches, 309...
. The Titans would reply with Young getting a 4-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, Tennessee drew closer as Bironas nailed a 37-yard field goal. Fortunately, the Broncos got the victory with rookie RB
Andre HallAndre Hall is an American football running back for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
getting a 62-yard TD run.
With the win, Denver improved to 5–5.
Week 12: at Chicago Bears
Coming off their home win over the Titans, the Broncos flew to
Soldier FieldSoldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
for a Week 12 interconference duel with the
Chicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In the first quarter, Denver trailed early as Bears kicker
Robbie GouldRobert Paul "Robbie" Gould III is an American football placekicker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Penn State...
managed to get a 24-yard field goal. The Broncos would reply with kicker
Jason ElamJason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
getting a 23-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Denver took the lead with rookie RB
Andre HallAndre Hall is an American football running back for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
getting a 16-yard TD run, while Chicago replied with Gould kicking a 44-yard field goal. The Broncos would end the half with Elam kicking a 22-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, Denver lost its lead as WR/KR/PR
Devin HesterDevin Hester is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League . He played college football at the University of Miami, where he became the first person in the university’s recent history to play in all three phases of American football...
returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown. The Broncos would answer with FB
Cecil SappCecil Sapp is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at Colorado State....
getting a 5-yard TD run, but the Bears immediately struck back as Hester returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown. Denver would regain the lead as Cutler completed a 68-yard TD pass to WR
Brandon Marshall-2006:Before the regular season even began, Marshall suffered a slight tear to his PCL in a pre-season game against the Detroit Lions. Although the injury sidelined him for a couple of weeks, he was able to return and play 15 games during the regular season. Marshall had a total of 20 catches, 309...
. In the fourth quarter, the Broncos increased their lead with Cutler completing a 14-yard TD pass to TE
Tony Scheffler-Denver Broncos:Scheffler was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. After seeing limited playing time early in the season, Scheffler saw increased playing time and production after Jay Cutler was inserted as the Broncos starting quarterback on December 3, 2006,...
. However, Chicago tied the game with RB Adrian Peterson getting a 4-yard TD run, while QB
Rex GrossmanRex Daniel Grossman, III is an American football quarterback for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League . Grossman played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he has played professionally for the Chicago Bears, Houston Texans and Washington Redskins of...
completed a 3-yard TD pass to WR
Bernard BerrianBernard Berrian is a free agent American football wide receiver who last played for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
. In overtime, the Bears sealed Denver's fate as Gould nailed the game-winning 39-yard field goal.
With the loss, the Broncos fell to 5–6.
Week 13: at Oakland Raiders
Coming off their embarrassing road loss to the Bears, the Broncos went to home
McAfee ColiseumO.co Coliseum is a multi-purpose stadium, located in Oakland, California, in the Coliseum Industrial area...
for an AFC West rematch with the
Oakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In the first quarter, Denver trailed early as QB
Josh McCownJoshua Treadwell McCown is an American football quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Sam Houston State.McCown has played for the Detroit Lions, Oakland...
completed a 15-yard TD pass to WR
Tim DwightTimothy Deutch Dwight, Jr. is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
. The Broncos replied with RB
Travis HenryTravis Deion Henry is a former American football running back for the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos. He was drafted by the Bills in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
getting a 4-yard TD run. In the second quarter, Oakland regained the lead with TE
Zach MillerZachary Joseph Miller is an American football tight end for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. He played college football at Arizona State.-Early years:Miller Attended Desert Vista High School in...
for the only score of the period.
In the third quarter, the Raiders continued their domination with kicker
Sebastian JanikowskiSebastian Janikowski is a left-footed Polish placekicker who plays for the National Football League's Oakland Raiders. He is nicknamed The Polish Cannon because he is considered to have one of the strongest kicking legs in the league, and leads the NFL in kickoffs for touchbacks. He lives in...
getting a 38-yard field goal, while McCown completed a 13-yard TD pass to WR Jerry Porter. The Broncos continued to try to keep up with kicker
Jason ElamJason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
getting a 29-yard and a 44-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Denver tried to come back as Henry got a 3-yard TD run. However, Oakland sealed the win with Janikowski nailing a 44-yard field goal and RB
Justin FargasJustin Fargas is an American football running back who is a Free Agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
getting a 5-yard TD run.
With the loss, the Broncos fell to 5–7.
In the game, Denver committed 4 turnovers (2 interceptions and 2 lost fumbles), which is tied as a season-worst for the Broncos.
Week 14: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Trying to snap a two-game skid, the Broncos went home for a Week 14 AFC West rematch with the
Kansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. In the first quarter, Denver drew first blood as QB
Jay CutlerJay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
completed a 21-yard TD pass to WR
Brandon StokleyBrandon Stokley is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft...
, while RB
Travis HenryTravis Deion Henry is a former American football running back for the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos. He was drafted by the Bills in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
got a 1-yard TD run. In the second quarter, the Chiefs would get their only score of the game with QB
Brodie CroyleJohn Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005...
completing a 15-yard TD pass to TE Tony Gonzalez. Afterwards, the Broncos took over as Cutler completed an 8-yard TD pass to WR
Brandon Marshall-2006:Before the regular season even began, Marshall suffered a slight tear to his PCL in a pre-season game against the Detroit Lions. Although the injury sidelined him for a couple of weeks, he was able to return and play 15 games during the regular season. Marshall had a total of 20 catches, 309...
, while kicker
Jason ElamJason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
managed to get a 37-yard field goal. In the third quarter, Denver pulled away as Elam nailed another 37-yard field goal, while Cutler completed a 2-yard TD pass to TE
Daniel GrahamDaniel Lawrence Grahamhttp://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrahDa00.htm is an American football tight end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
, along with a 13-yard TD pass to Marshall.
With the season-sweeping win, the Broncos improved to 6–7.
Also with this win, it improved Denver's divisional home record since 2001 to 18–4.
Week 15: at Houston Texans
Coming off their dominating home win over the Chiefs, the Broncos flew to
Reliant StadiumReliant Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Houston, Texas, USA. Reliant Stadium has a seating capacity of 71,500, a total square footage of with of natural grass playing surface....
for a Thursday night intraconference duel with the
Houston TexansThe Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In the first quarter, Denver trailed early as QB
Sage RosenfelsSage Rosenfels is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Iowa State before he was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played with the Miami Dolphins from 2002–2005, the Houston Texans from...
got a 5-yard TD run for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, the Broncos would get on the board as kicker
Jason ElamJason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
managed to get a 41-yard field goal. Houston would respond with kicker
Kris BrownKristopher "Kris" Clayton Brown is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent.He was originally drafted in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the first six years of his NFL career, he has converted 132 of 173 field goals and scored 573 points...
getting a 41-yard field goal. Denver would end the half with Elam nailing a 47-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Texans would increase their lead as RB
Ron DayneRon Dayne is a former American football running back who is currently a free agent. He holds the NCAA record for career rushing yards, and he won the 1999 Heisman Trophy.-Early life:...
managed to get a 6-yard TD run. The Broncos would respond with QB
Jay CutlerJay Christopher Cutler is a quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played football at Vanderbilt University. Cutler began his professional football career with the Denver Broncos, who selected him as the 11th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft...
completing a 12-yard TD pass to TE
Tony Scheffler-Denver Broncos:Scheffler was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. After seeing limited playing time early in the season, Scheffler saw increased playing time and production after Jay Cutler was inserted as the Broncos starting quarterback on December 3, 2006,...
. However, in the fourth quarter, Houston sealed the win as Rosenfels completed a 4-yard TD pass to WR
Andre JohnsonAndre Lamont Johnson is an American football wide receiver currently playing for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. Through the 2010–11 NFL season, Johnson currently ranks first all-time in NFL history in receiving yards per game for a career...
, while FB
Vonta LeachTerzell Vonta Leach is an American football fullback for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2004...
got a 1-yard TD run.
With the loss, Denver fell to 6–8.
Week 16: at San Diego Chargers
Week 17: vs. Minnesota Vikings