Broncos' defense too good to play 'no respect' card now By Troy Renck Denver Post November 6, 2015 Von Miller pretended to be serious. The Broncos defense, the outside linebacker insisted, needs more respect. When nose tackle Sylvester Williams lands a commercial, Miller explained, then affirmation becomes complete. Hey, former Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker continues to hawk diamonds on the radio, so Miller does have a point. Or at least he did until last Sunday night. With 60 minutes of menace, the Broncos changed the perspective on their season and their defense. Before the Green Bay Packers arrived, the nation viewed the Broncos with suspicion, a faux Super Bowl contender. Undefeated? Yes. Untested? Absolutely. So it went. The defense gobbled up inferior opponents like so many empty calories from cotton candy. Fair or not, the criticism lingered. Then the Broncos faced Aaron Rodgers, the reigning NFL MVP. He didn't just look uncomfortable. He looked like he had just gulped Ex-Lax and chased it with a Big Gulp of ghost pepper sauce. Quarterbacks experience bad games. It happens. What made Rodgers' forgettable performance resonate? It went beyond the stats, leaving a deep Broncos' playoff run seem not only possible, but probable. Rodgers began peeking for the rush. He refused to throw receivers open. He appeared weary from absorbing hits. As a beleaguered Rodgers stood on the sideline, the Broncos defense emerged from the shadows and into the sports' conscience. Embattled Indianapolis Colts Chuck Pagano noticed. He went all in last week, making the timing of his decision to fire his offensive coordinator even more startling. "When you put the tape on, they are very reminiscent of the 2000 (Baltimore) Ravens," Pagano said. "They have talent on all levels." A unit that needed help reaching the radar now requires no embellishment. Seven games into the season, the numbers remain breathtaking. The Broncos boast league-bests in sacks (29), yards per game (261.1), yards per play (4.14) and points per game (16.0). "I don't feel like we've even scratched the surface of the type of defense that we know we can be," Miller said. The Broncos are on pace for 66 sacks, which would shatter the franchise mark of 57 set in 1984. The five touchdown passes allowed is tied for first. The secondary continues to receive well-deserved recognition. Cornerback Aqib Talib is a defensive player of the year candidate, Chris Harris hasn't allowed a touchdown pass in 31 games, free safety Darian Stewart owns 32 tackles and strong safety T.J. Ward, who is playing 15 pounds lighter this season, has two sacks. Williams was asked Friday if he could be considered an honorary member of the NoFlyZone after covering Packers running back Eddie Lacy last Sunday.

Two years ago, the Broncos reached the Super Bowl with a injury-ravaged defense. Last year the group rarely dominated, playing a robotic style in Jack Del Rio's conservative 4-3 scheme. This season the Broncos have won games without Peyton Manning playing well, and without a running attack. When looking at the remaining undefeated teams, Denver is my No. 2 behind the New England Patriots and ahead of the Cincinnati Bengals. The Broncos play both those teams at home. And while Denver's schedule includes sneaky traps in San Diego and at Pittsburgh, don't forget the simple premise: defense travels. You deserve what you earn in the NFL. The Broncos' defense demands respect, and if that lands Sly Williams a commercial, better yet.

Vernon Davis to be active, play vs. Colts By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post November 6, 2015 The newest Bronco will play Sunday, and likely go up against his brother. Tight end Vernon Davis, who was acquired via trade, is still learning the Broncos' playbook but knows enough, Kubiak said, to warrant being active and getting time against the Colts. "I feel very good about the things that we've asked him to do this week," Kubiak said. "Hopefully he'll be a big part and help us out." Davis is the brother of Colts cornerback Vontae Davis. No fine. David Bruton was flagged for roughing the passer in the second quarter against Green Bay last Sunday, but he was not fined for the play. League officials reviewed the play, and any others submitted by league and team officials, and decided it did not warrant the scheduled $17,363 fine. Status quo on punt returns. Before the start of last Sunday's Green Bay game, the Broncos had Bruton practice punt returns in warmups, just in case he had to be used in place of Emmanuel Sanders, who injured his shoulder before the bye. The team stuck with Sanders, who has returned 12 punts for an average of 5.8 yards per this season. Kubiak said Sanders will remain as the leading punt returner heading into Indianapolis. Defensive assessment. The wild card in the Broncos' matchup with the Colts is Indianapolis' offensive coordinator swap. Out is Pep Hamilton. In is Rob Chudzinski. Colts coach Chuck Pagano made the switch earlier this week, giving the Broncos' defense little to go off of in preparing for any changes Chudzinski may make to the offense. But Chudzinski, who spent two seasons (2005-06) working alongside Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips in San Diego, already has a clear view of what he's facing. "You don't look at them and say there's a weakness," he said of the Broncos' defense. "They're just not there."

Broncos Q&A: Ryan Harris talks reality-show stardom, more By Nicki Jhabvala Denver Post November 6, 2015 Ryan Harris’ first taste of stardom came in 2003, right before his freshman season at Notre Dame. The Broncos offensive tackle starred in an episode of MTV's reality show "True Life" called "I Want the Perfect Body." For two days, Harris was followed by cameras as he worked to pack on pounds following his senior season of high school in Minnesota. The day after the show aired, Harris packed his bags for college, making for an interesting beginning to his four-year career with the Fighting Irish. Harris, who was drafted by the Broncos in the third round (No. 70) in 2007, returned to Denver this past May to bolster an offensive line that had, by then, lost its starting left tackle, Ryan Clady, to a season-ending knee injury. More injuries to the line have forced Harris to move from right tackle to left and, through Week 8, he has played 414 of the Broncos' 480 offensive snaps. Harris recently spoke to The Post about his MTV moment, which, to the dismay of many of his teammates, is unavailable online. Q: How did the episode of MTV's "True Life" come about? A: "When you get recruited, your (high school) coach will be like, 'Hey, Michigan called. Give them a call back when you have time.' One day he comes in and says, 'Hey, MTV called. They want you to give them a call.' So I call this dude and he's like, 'You ever hear of "True Life?"' I'm like, 'Yeah.' He's like, 'We're doing a show on positive weight gain. I'm a Notre Dame fan, I see you need to gain weight to go to college. Do you want to be on it?' 'Sure.' He's like, 'All right, I'll call you back in a few weeks and I'll come see you.' " Q: How long do they follow you around? A: "He just came two separate days for like five hours to work out with me. I didn't think anything of it. Once it aired, I left the next day for school and somebody stopped me in the airport and was like, 'Yo, you were on MTV.' And ever since then — we went to Mexico for spring break and the bus driver was like, 'MTV! MTV!' It was rough as a freshman. You can imagine a freshman coming in and being on MTV, I mean, they're not having any of that. But it worked out. Ended up playing my freshman year, so it kind of dampened it out. It was crazy though." Q: You ever regret doing it? A: "Nah. It was fun. It was college. It was a great conversation-starter. I had no idea people would actually see it." Q: Do you go back and watch it? A: "I watched it when it aired, and I haven't seen it since."

Q: Why is nowhere to be found? A: "It's un-dig-up-able. It's before the modern digital age. (Teammate Evan Mathis overhears and says, "I was looking for the DVD.") Can't find it." Q: You're probably grateful for that, yes? A: "Oh, so happy." Q: Do people still come up to you and ask about it? A: "No, a couple guys, like (rookie) Ty (Sambrailo) did earlier this year. It's funny, people will see me now and they'll say, 'Hey, you were on MTV. What are you doing now?' I'll be like, 'Ah, I'm doing construction.' " Ryan Harris bio Height: 6-foot-5 Weight: 302 pounds Age: 30 Hometown: Minneapolis, Minn. College: Notre Dame Acquired: 2007 draft, 3rd round (No. 70); re-signed as free agent in May. NFL experience: 8th season — USA Today All-American his senior year at Cretin-Derham Hall High in St. Paul, Minn. — Started all 45 games played at Notre Dame, first at right tackle then at left — Played 46 games with Broncos before signing with Eagles in 2011 — Made stops in Houston (2012-13) and Kansas City (2014) before returning to Denver

Demaryius Thomas "freshened up" during the Broncos' bye week By Cameron Wolfe Denver Post November 6, 2015 The bye week often provides a time for NFL players to reflect on their season. For Broncos' receiver Demaryius Thomas, it was the exact opposite. It became a time of release. Going into last Sunday's game against Green Bay, Thomas had played well by most receivers' standards, but not by his own. He caught 10 passes for 111 yards against Cleveland in Week 6, but the focus in the postgame was on his three drops, all of which seemed to come at the most inopportune time. The criticism came loud and quick, and no one was immune from it as the Broncos' passing attack was struggling at that time. Was it a lack of focus by Thomas, who had signed a five-year, $70 million dollar contract in the offseason? Thomas, who didn't have an answer, accepted the blame and vowed to do better. Then came the bye week, followed by the matchup with Green Bay. Thomas had his best game of the season, with 168 yards receiving. And, perhaps more importantly, no drops. "What was the key? I don't think (there) was a key. It was just going out, making plays and making sure I catch every ball I had a chance to make," Thomas said. It has become a little bit of a pattern for Thomas. He had a sluggish start filled with drops last season before exploding for 226 yards receiving and two touchdowns against Arizona. If history is to repeat itself, Thomas could be well on his way to a spectacular finish. A year ago, he averaged 113 yards receiving in his final 13 games after the bye week. The biggest positive to take from Thomas' performance against Green Bay was the chemistry he showed with quarterback Peyton Manning. Through much of the first half of the season, Manning and Thomas were out of sync on the deep ball, perhaps a product of the latter missing most of the offseason workouts in a contract dispute. Last Sunday night, though, Manning and Thomas were on the same wavelength. Manning's first three passes went Thomas' way. The result: an 18-yard reception, an incompletion and a defensive pass interference on a deep pass. On the first play of the second quarter, Thomas hauled in a 47-yard reception along the left sideline on a rope delivered from Manning. It led to the Broncos' second touchdown — and a big smile from Thomas. At the half, Thomas had 101 yards. It was the first time he topped the century mark in a half this season. "He admitted he had a couple of missed opportunities against Cleveland, and so I know he was motivated going into that game," Manning said. "I thought he really played well." With his performance, Thomas tied the Broncos' all-time leading receiver, Rod Smith, for most 100-yard games (31) in franchise history.

"We got D.T. going early," Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. "He went through a couple of weeks where he wasn't feeling really good, so I think that he freshened up over the bye." When Thomas is at the peak of his game, the Broncos' offense is at its best. He and Emmanuel Sanders are one of four pairs of wide receivers in the NFL to each be over 500 yards receiving at the season's midway point. The Broncos' acquisition this week of tight end Vernon Davis should only mean more one-on-one coverage for Thomas and Sanders. "It is pick your poison. We feed off each other," Sanders said of him and Thomas. "Now that we have (Davis) here, I'm eager to see what he can do and how it opens up the offense."

Jordan Norwood ruled out Sunday versus Indianapolis, Ronnie Hillman questionable By Cameron Wolfe Denver Post November 6, 2015 The Broncos will be missing their starting slot receiver for the second straight week as coach Gary Kubiak ruled Jordan Norwood out for Sunday's game at Indianapolis. Norwood suffered a hamstring injury at the beginning of the Broncos Oct. 30 practice. He was inactive versus Green Bay and did not participate in practice all week preparing for the Colts. Receiver Andre Caldwell is expected to get the start for the second straight week with Bennie Fowler and Cody Latimer also getting snaps. Running back Ronnie Hillman (thigh) was listed as questionable, but Kubiak expects him to play and start Sunday. "He's going to be fine. He looked a lot better today than he did yesterday," Kubiak said. Hillman took a hard hit during the Packers game that limited him in the second half. Outside linebacker Shane Ray will also sit out with a sprained MCL. He is expected to be at least a couple weeks away from a return. Colts injury report Star receiver T.Y. Hilton is listed as questionable with a foot injury. Hilton hasn't practiced all week. Broncos cornerback Chris Harris said Thursday he would be disappointed if Hilton didn't play. He's been looking forward to this matchup since January's playoff loss to the Colts. Rookie receiver Phillip Dorsett (ankle) and linebacker Nate Irving (knee) have been ruled out.

Colin Kaepernick, Sam Bradford or Robert Griffin III in 2016? By Cameron Wolfe Denver Post November 6, 2015 It's been said thousands of times before, the NFL is a quarterback's league. So let's say you have a choice of three quarterbacks I believe could very well be free agents at the end of the season, Robert Griffin III, Sam Bradford, and Colin Kaepernick, who would choose and in what order? First to examine this, let's evaluate the feasibility of the premise. Bradford is the easy one. He's scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after the season and if he continues to play the same way he has in Philadelphia, he won't be re-signed by the Eagles. Washington exercised Griffin's 2016 5th year option this past offseason. For no reason other than it was the Washington thing to do I'm assuming. The $16.5 million dollar figure it would cost to keep him is guaranteed for injury only. The guy has been the team's third QB, inactive for most of the season, behind Kirk Cousins and Rex Grossman. I'd say he'll be released. Kaepernick is the most intriguing one. He just signed a $126 million dollar contract extension in 2014, but the 49ers gave themselves an out in the team-friendly deal. He can be released this offseason with a little less than seven million dollars lost in what would essentially be a buyout. His contract is set up to be guaranteed for injury only. Why would San Francisco release a guy that took them to back-to-back NFC Championships and a Super Bowl? Good question, well they benched him from Blaine Gabbert. So that shows the little faith they have in Kaepernick. I believe he'll be gone. Now, the true question involved. I'm assuming most folks will jump on Kaepernick. He's a winner with the most talent of the three, right? I'm not so eager. My order would look like this: 1.) Bradford 2.) Kaepernick 3.) Griffin I look at it this way. I think Griffin is shot, at least confidence wise probably physically, too. He may have been my choice two years ago, but now I'm not sure if he can escape that mess in Washington and come out unscathed. If Washington can rebuild, go for it. I'm just not sure that's feasible. On to Kaepernick, my hesitation would be simple. He's not a guy I would want on my team. He appears built to only be effective in a zone read system. Outside of football, the signals are clear. Teammates have called him self-centered, unfocused and questioned his true desire to get better. That's a mess of turmoil I don't want to bring on my roster. Plus, his quarterback vision is smaller than Michael Vick's in Madden 2006. As Mike Singletary once said about Vernon Davis, "Can't win with him." Now why choose Bradford? Honestly, it was like picking which ugly sweater to wear to a Christmas party. The one thing I can tell about Bradford is the talent is there. He can make some throws that make

you say "wow, what a throw." He can also make some throws that make you say "what was he thinking?" I think it's about comfort with Bradford. Comfort with his ACL that has born twice, comfort with receivers and comfort in his system. In Philly, I think it's an example of fitting a square peg (Bradford) in a circle (Chip Kelly's zone system). I'm not sure if Bradford will ever make it as a championship level QB, but he's the least of three evils.

Hillman questionable, Vernon Davis playing, Norwood out By Mike Klis 9 News November 6, 2015 There are times when the most vague term in the NFL is "questionable." Sometimes, a player listed as "questionable'' on the final injury report means he really has little chance of playing Sunday. For other players, "questionable" means it's highly probable he is playing. And sometimes "questionable' means a player's status is just that: Maybe, maybe not. In the case of Broncos' running back Ronnie Hillman, his "questionable" status Friday because of a thigh bruise means the Denver Broncos are fully expected him to play, and start, Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. "I think he's going to be fine," said Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak. "He looked a lot better today than he did yesterday. I think he's just sore coming out of (the Green Bay game). He's had a couple of good days here to work on it, so I think he'll be OK." Hillman could be sore enough for C.J. Anderson to get an extra carry or two. Anderson rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries last week against Green Bay. Juwan Thompson could also get a couple carries. Slot receiver Jordan Norwood is listed as out for a second consecutive game from a hamstring injury he suffered in practice a week ago. Which is fine because the Broncos just picked up a legitimate No. 3 receiver threat in tight end Vernon Davis this week. Davis was acquired from the San Francisco 49ers essentially in exchange for a low-round draft pick. Although Davis has only been with the Broncos since Tuesday, he's picked up enough of the playbook to play against the Colts. How many plays is the question. Can't the Broncos deviate from the playbook and just have quarterback Peyton Manning draw up a couple routes for Davis on the Lucas Oil field turf? You know, after Manning calls: XpowerdoubleslotgunYZredOmaha on one, he can grab Davis by the shoulder pad and say, "run a corner route.'' "The good news, with what we do offensively, Peyton controls so much of it, so it's just another guy for him to take care of out there," Kubiak said. "He couldn't be going out there with a better guy to say, "Hey, what do I got here?' He's got him. He's doing a great job with him. Like on the side when we're doing defensive periods, he's working with (Davis) specifically."

Broncos notes: Hall of Fame to witness Manning in Indy By Mike Klis 9 News November 6, 2015 Peyton Manning broke the career touchdown record during a game played in Denver. It would be fitting if Manning, the Denver Broncos' quarterback the past four seasons, broke two of the other coveted quarterback records in front of the Indianapolis Colts fans. Joe Horrigan of the Pro Football Hall of Fame would be there to collect football mementos from all three. Horrigan nabbed Manning's record 509th touchdown pass once Manning's scripted keep-away celebration skit was finished during a Broncos' game last season against San Francisco. Horrigan will attend the Broncos-Colts' game Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. If Manning throws for 284 yards Sunday against his former Colts, he will pass Brett Favre's career mark of 71,838 passing yards. Manning compiled 76.6 percent of his passing yards (54,828) while wearing the horseshoe decal on his helmet. A win against the Colts would also move Manning past Favre for the record of regular-season wins with 187. Manning got 141 of his 186 victories (75.8 percent) during his first 13 seasons with the Colts. "We talked about it early in the week, things that are going on that are going to be part of the storyline," said Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak. "We always kind of talk about that on every game, but as we went through the week, we really focus on our football. I think the guys understand.'' Malik honored Defensive end Malik Jackson is the Broncos nominee for the "Salute to Service Award presented by USAA. The award honors a league member who demonstrates an exemplary commitment to honoring and supporting the military community. Kubiak tries again During his eight seasons as head coach of the Houston Texans, Kubiak was 0-7 in Indianapolis, first at the RCA Dome, then at Lucas Oil. (Kubiak was fired before coaching against Indy in 2013). In Kubiak's five losses in Indy, Manning was the opposing quarterback. This time Manning will be on Kubiak's side. "There you go. I thought about that, too," Kubiak said. "A lot of people went in there and he sent them away not very happy. They've been pretty good there for a long time.''

Ronnie Hillman listed as questionable, 'definitely' will start against Colts By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com November 6, 2015 Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman may have been listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts, but coach Gary Kubiak said that was a result of soreness in Hillman's leg and that he has no doubt at all about the player's availability. "No doubt he definitely will start," Kubiak said following Friday's practice. "I think he's going to be fine. He looked a lot better [Friday] than he did [Thursday], I think he's just sore coming off of it. He's got a couple of good days here to work on it. I think he'll be OK." Hillman, who suffered a deep thigh bruise after a hit he took in the second half of Sunday's win over the Green Bay Packers, was limited in practices Thursday and Friday. Kubiak has maintained throughout the week that Hillman would start against the Colts. The Broncos are expected to split the carries in the game between Hillman and C.J. Anderson, as they have for much of the last four games. "I see them both as 1s," Kubiak said. Anderson had 14 carries for 101 yards to go with one touchdown against the Packers; Hillman had 19 carries for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Anderson's effort was the third 100-yard rushing game for a Broncos running back over the last four games. Hillman had 103 yards rushing against the Minnesota Vikings and 111 yards against the Cleveland Browns. Over the last four games, Anderson has had 49 carries in those four games while Hillman has had 57 carries.

Broncos believe Vernon Davis is ready to play against Colts By Jeff Legwold ESPN.com November 6, 2015 As the Denver Broncos wrapped up their week of practice Friday, save for a Saturday morning walk-through, coach Gary Kubiak said he believed Vernon Davis is ready to play, and contribute, in the Broncos' offense Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. The Broncos acquired Davis on Monday in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers and since the two-time Pro Bowl selection has been fast-tracked through the playbook to get him ready to play. The Broncos see Davis, who had 18 catches in the six games he played for the 49ers this season, as an immediate contributor in the offense. “It’s a little nerve-wracking as a coach because you don’t want to put him in a situation where he’s not comfortable,’’ Kubiak said after Friday's practice. “So you’re trying to isolate on what he feels good about. And when you’re calling a game like that it gets tough to call -- put him in, take him out, that type of thing … [But] his eagerness to help us out is helping us. He’s so eager, he’s lived here this week, he hasn’t been home.’’ Kubiak said the Broncos won’t give Davis any additional plays, that what he’s worked on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will be what he does during Sunday’s game. Davis said he believes he has had a good week and that he’s “just ready to go out and help win some games.’’ “He’s going, he’s going to play, I feel very good about the things we’ve asked him to do this week,’’ Kubiak said. “Hopefully he’ll be a big part. We’re locked in what we’re doing and kind of went to him and said, ‘OK, tell us all the things you feel good about,’ and then as coaches you say, ‘OK, I want you to feel good about these things because I want you doing these things’.’’

Ranking first-year head coaches (so far) By John Clayton ESPN.com November 6, 2015 The defensive approach to head-coaching hiring this offseason seems to be working. Four of the 11 teams with winning records have new head coaches, and each improved its defense. The Denver Broncos allow 16 points per game, 6.1 less than last year. Dan Quinn has shaved 4.4 points off an Atlanta Falcons defense that allowed 26 points per game in 2014. Jack Del Rio's Oakland Raiders are allowing 24.7 points per game, 3.5 less than last year. Todd Bowles' blitzing defense is allowing 19.9 points per game, 5.2 less than Rex Ryan's New York Jets defense of 2014. Six of the seven new coaching hires this offseason have defensive résumés. Even though the NFL is a quarterback-driven league, a quarterback playing for a team with a bad defense can't always win. The Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants and Chicago Bears have good quarterbacks, but they had losing records last year because of defenses that couldn't stop opponents. It's not out of the question that three first-year head coaches could make the playoffs. The Broncos and Gary Kubiak appear to be a lock with their 7-0 start. An easy schedule and a 6-2 start give Quinn a decent chance of getting the Falcons back into the playoffs. Del Rio is battling Bowles, Ryan now of the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins interim coach Dan Campbell for AFC wild-card spots. Since 2000, three first-year head coaches have made the playoffs six times (2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2013). Here's how I would rank the performance of this group of coaches in the first half of the season: 1. Gary Kubiak, Denver Broncos, 7-0 Even though he was the only offensive coach hired during the offseason, Kubiak's biggest success has been on defense. He hired Wade Phillips to coach the defense, and Phillips has unleashed a one-gap, 3-4 defense that has more speed than any group he has had in any other stop. The Broncos rank first in seven defensive categories. They have 29 sacks and have forced 15 turnovers. They are the only team that hasn't allowed a point in the first quarter. Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano compared the Broncos to the dominating 2000 Baltimore Ravens, which won a Super Bowl. Interesting comparison. That Ravens team asked little of starting quarterback Trent Dilfer. The Broncos have future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. Because the defense only allows 16 points a game, less is asked of Manning than any team on which he has played. That's a good thing. Manning's age and diminishing arm strength has been an issue Kubiak has been dealing with all season. His biggest challenge in the second half of the season is fixing the offensive line and making it easier for Manning to succeed in the cold-weather games. 2. Dan Quinn, Atlanta Falcons, 6-2 Next to the Broncos, the Falcons' opening was considered to be the prime job opening this offseason. You get Matt Ryan, an elite quarterback. You get a quality owner, Arthur Blank. What was needed was a coach who could make this team tougher on the field. A year ago, the Falcons were featured on HBO's "Hard Knocks." Missing was the "hard."

Quinn seemed to be the perfect hire. He brought Pete Carroll's coaching plans to Atlanta. That features hard work in practice but fun in preparation. Quinn has music pumped into practice, and basketball one-on-one competition is featured in team meetings. The team is tougher and better. One of the keys to Quinn's success was getting Kyle Shanahan as his offensive coordinator. Shanahan has done an amazing job of creating schemes that get wide receiver Julio Jones into open spaces. Jones has 70 catches for 892 yards in eight games. Ryan is having a great season, and the defense is better. Quinn's biggest challenge is maintaining a pass rush. The Falcons have only 10 sacks in eight games. They will battle the Carolina Panthers for the NFC South crown, but Quinn must get better with the pass rush over four quarters for the Falcons to be a factor in the playoffs. 3. Jack Del Rio, Oakland Raiders, 4-3 Coming out of training camp, I thought the Raiders made dramatic improvements in personnel. They drafted three potential star players over the past two years -- quarterback Derek Carr, wide receiver Amari Cooper and defensive end Khalil Mack. Michael Crabtree was a great addition as a No. 2 receiver. They signed linebacker Aldon Smith after the San Francisco 49ers released him. What I didn't know is whether that could translate into victories this year because the core of the team was put together over the past two drafts and past two free-agency classes. Del Rio has made it all work. Recent victories over the Chargers and Jets were impressive. By beating Bowles and the Jets, Del Rio not only jumped into the No. 3 position, but he has the Raiders competing for a wild-card spot. But Del Rio can't let his team get overconfident. Although his defense is giving up fewer points than last year, it is surrendering 385 yards a game and 42.2 percent on opponents' third-down conversions. He has done a good job of keeping his roster healthy, but a rash of injuries could slow down the Raiders' progress. This is a good, young team, but it's not very deep. 4. Todd Bowles, New York Jets, 4-3 A 4-1 start had Bowles pushing for the No. 2 honors behind Kubiak, but the Jets have lost their last two games and have given up 64 points over the past two weeks against the Patriots and Raiders. There's no question Bowles has proven to be the right hire for the Jets. Despite the problems of the past two games, Bowles has established a very good defense that blitzes more than just about anyone else in football. Bowles is old school. If players fight in practice, the team runs gassers as punishment. He and his staff aren't afraid to yell at players who make mistakes but applaud them when they success. Players like him and play for him. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has gotten the most out of veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Bowles has cleaned up a lot of things for the Jets. The have only 43 penalties in seven games. The Jets do a pretty good job protecting the ball on offense. This could be a good stretch coming up. They have three home games in the next four and a road game against Houston. They could be 8-3 or 7-4 heading into December. 5. Dan Campbell, interim coach, Miami Dolphins, 2-1

Campbell brought toughness and accountability to what had been a soft Dolphins team. He made things simpler on offense and the defense got immediate results. But the NFL is a "Not For Long" league. Sunday will be a true test of whether the Campbell way of playing football is working. The Dolphins visit the Buffalo Bills, who blew them out in Week 3, 41-14. A loss to the Bills would put him behind Ryan in the ratings and also be a setback to the Dolphins comeback. Their first six games were actually the easiest part of the schedule. They faced Kirk Cousins, Blake Bortles, Tyrod Taylor, Fitzpatrick, Marcus Mariota and Brian Hoyer in the first six weeks of the season and went 3-3. They needed to be 5-1. Campbell has to fix continued problems along the offensive line, get the most out of Ndamukong Suh and push his players to upgrade their play on the field. 6. Rex Ryan, Buffalo Bills, 3-4 This seemed to be natural fit. Giving one of the best defenses in football to Ryan, a master of running quality defenses. The 3-4 start is puzzling and a disappointment. Defensive linemen complained about dropping into coverage. The same group of defenders who led the league in sacks last year has only 11 in seven games. Penalties have killed the team. The Bills have 72 penalties marched off in seven games. Ryan warns critics not to count out the Bills, and that should be the case. Taylor should be back at quarterback after missing two games with an MCL injury. The bye week came at the right time because the Bills had too many starters -- particularly on offense -- missing over the past month. What Ryan needs to do is re-establish Buffalo as one of the top defenses in football. 7. John Fox, Chicago Bears, 3-4 Of all the new coaches, Fox took on the biggest challenge. The Bears lacked talent on defense. Fox and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio have done good work. They switched to a 3-4 even though the roster lacked 3-4 personnel. The Bears are giving up 342.3 yards a game, around 25 less than last year. Offensive coordinator Adam Gase seems to be working with quarterback Jay Cutler so well that odds favor the organization staying with Cutler next year instead of unloading him in a trade. What will be tough is doing better than a 6-10 or 5-11 season. Matt Forte is hurt. The already thin defensive line can't take one more injury. What Fox has to do in the second half of the season is how to add to the roster next year. 8. Jim Tomsula, San Francisco 49ers, 2-6 Did he really have a chance to succeed? Retirements and free agency gutted the roster. The defense lost Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, Chris Borland and Aldon Smith, just to name a few. What had been a top offensive line collapsed with the retirement of right tackle Anthony Davis and departure of guard Mike Iupati. Tomsula planned a committee of three running backs to replace Frank Gore, but Reggie Bush and Kendall Hunter suffered season-ending injuries and starter Carlos Hyde now has a foot injury. The problems are many. The solutions are few. This week, Tomsula benched starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick in favor of Blaine Gabbert, the least successful quarterback of the past four years. The

defense gives up 403.8 yards a game. The offense has scored seven points or less in four of the past six games. It's going to be a long year for the 49ers.

Who helped Peyton Manning on way to all-time yardage record? By Vince Masi ESPN.com November 6, 2015 Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is approaching another record -- this time he’s moving in on Brett Favre’s all-time passing yards mark of 71,838 yards. Manning needs 284 yards passing against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday to pass Favre. Just who has helped Manning get to this point? He’s completed passes to 88 different receivers -- that includes one to himself, although it cost him 2 yards in December 2003. Eleven yards went to Gronk … not Rob, but Chris Gronkowski in 2012. One hundred and seventy-seven yards went to Ricky Williams … not THE Ricky Williams, but Colts running back Ricky Williams, who lasted two seasons. Even defensive linemen -- Dan Klecko and Mitch Unrein -- chipped in. There’s a Ball (Montee) and a Baskett (Hank) and even a Missile (Qadry Ismail) He’s had help from the top of the draft -- 13 first-round selections have made up 57 percent of his total yards. And he wouldn’t be near the record without the assistance of 33 undrafted players, including Marcus Pollard and Wes Welker. Manning needed some Hart (Mike Hart) and a little help from man’s best friend (Austin Collie). And you can’t forget about D.T. (Demaryius Thomas) and C.J. (C.J. Anderson). Only one Hall of Famer -- for now -- helped Manning along the way. Marshall Faulk made up 908 yards during Manning's rookie year. However when it comes to Manning’s success, two names top the list -- Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. The dynamic duo combined to collect 13 miles worth of yards between 1998 and 2010. Wayne amassed more than 10,000 yards in their 10 years together. Wayne then moved on to catch passes from someone who might one day challenge Manning’s records -- Andrew Luck. Manning to Harrison remains one of the most prolific quarterback-receiver tandems in NFL history. They combined for 953 passes for 12,766 yards and 112 touchdowns. The pairing will one day reunite in Canton.

So in 18 years, Manning has helped make many careers, but those players have helped him achieve another record on the resume of one of the NFL’s all-time best quarterbacks.

NFL Week 9 predictions: Expect Panthers, Broncos, Patriots to stay unbeaten By ESPN.com Staff ESPN.com November 6, 2015 Here are our NFL Nation reporters' predictions for Week 9: PACKERS VS. PANTHERS Green Bay Packers: The Packers are a middling 6-6 in road games, including playoffs, since the start of the 2014 season, and they’ve averaged only 20.7 points in those games. They’ve also allowed 500 yards of offense in consecutive games for the first time in franchise history. Neither bodes well for Sunday’s game at unbeaten Carolina. Panthers 27, Packers 20. -- Rob Demovsky Carolina Panthers: Aaron Rodgers hasn’t lost consecutive games since 2010, and the Packers beat the Panthers 38-17 last year in Green Bay. But these teams are completely different. Rodgers doesn’t have Jordy Nelson and his other receivers are struggling to get separation. The Panthers now have cornerback Josh Norman, who makes separation almost impossible. Green Bay has given up 1,048 yards of total offense the past two games and 120 or more yards rushing in five of seven games. The Panthers lead the league in rushing with 144 yards a game. Panthers 28, Packers 21. -- David Newton REDSKINS VS. PATRIOTS Washington Redskins: The Redskins finally are starting to get healthy and will be helped by the return of receiver DeSean Jackson and corner Chris Culliver. One eye-popping stat with Jackson: Last season, the Redskins averaged 6.24 yards per play with him and 4.39 without him. But Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is playing perhaps as well as he has in a long time. The Redskins have shown some improvement this season, but nothing suggests they can pull off this upset. Patriots 31, Redskins 17. -- John Keim New England Patriots: New England’s Tom Brady-led attack shouldn’t face too much resistance from Washington, which ranks 30th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed and 27th in passing yards allowed. One area that could keep the game close is if Washington can remain stingy in the red zone, where it ranks tied for fifth in the NFL for lowest touchdown percentage allowed (opponents are 9-of-19 in the red zone). Iron meets iron as the Patriots rank second offensively in the red zone with 23 touchdowns in 32 red zone trips. The Patriots often dominate at home. New England 38, Washington 13. -- Mike Reiss TITANS VS. SAINTS Tennessee Titans: The Titans will play better in Mike Mularkey’s debut as their coach. Unfortunately, Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense are coming off a monster 52-point, 608-yard game. The Titans’ No. 2 pass defense has been a strength (198 yards per game), but this is a bad matchup, even for the thing the Titans have done best. Saints 26, Titans 20. -- Paul Kuharsky New Orleans Saints: This could be a letdown game for the Saints after winning three straight. And maybe the Titans will get a spark after switching head coaches this week. But I’m not going to overanalyze this one. The Titans have the NFL’s 31st-ranked offense, and they have scored a total of 36 points in the past four games. The Saints have the NFL’s No. 2 offense, and they scored 52 last week

alone. It’s imperative for the Saints’ pass rush to make rookie QB Marcus Mariota uncomfortable (something they didn’t do against fellow rookie Jameis Winston earlier this year). Saints 30, Titans 19. -- Mike Triplett DOLPHINS VS BILLS Miami Dolphins: The Bills have won four of the past five in this series, including a 41-14 blowout victory in Week 3. Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill is 0-3 at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Meanwhile, the Bills are well-rested coming off a bye and likely will have starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor back in the lineup. Add in the fact the Dolphins will be without Pro Bowl defensive end Cameron Wake (Achilles) to provide a pass rush, and too many trends point toward Buffalo. Bills 23, Dolphins 20. -- James Walker Buffalo Bills: Ask any player in the Bills' locker room and they'll tell you that the Dolphins are playing a more physical brand of football under interim coach Dan Campbell that emphasizes the running game more than it did under Joe Philbin. With Kyle Williams (knee) still out for Buffalo, that could give Miami a chance to control the line of scrimmage more than it did in the teams' previous meeting this season, a decisive Bills' win in South Florida. Still, Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill will need to overcome a dismal 15.1 total QBR in his past two starts at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the fourth-worst showing for a quarterback in Buffalo since 2013. Expect the Bills to get back on track Sunday. Bills 27, Dolphins 20. -- Mike Rodak RAMS VS. VIKINGS St. Louis Rams: It's pretty incredible how closely matched these teams are in so many major statistical categories. There simply isn't a major edge to be found when poring through the numbers, which means this is one of those games that could come down to the most reliable indicator: turnovers. It's not a substantial difference, but the Rams have 13 takeaways this year to Minnesota's nine, and the Rams are plus-three in turnover margin on the road. Ultimately, the Rams are just a bit more battle-tested, having played a better schedule than the Vikings, and that could be the payoff in what figures to be a coin flip of a game . Rams 14, Vikings 13. -- Nick Wagoner Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings are allowing 4.4 yards per carry this season, and they’re facing the league’s most dynamic young running back in Todd Gurley. They’ve likely spent a large chunk of their week stressing the importance of stopping Gurley and likely will dare Nick Foles to beat them. Stopping Gurley will be a challenge, especially with the health of linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks in question. But if nose tackle Linval Joseph is able to control the line of scrimmage, the Vikings might be able to slow Gurley down enough to win. Because they’re at home, where they haven’t lost yet this year, we’ll give the Vikings a slight edge in a key game between NFC wild-card hopefuls. Vikings 17, Rams 16. -- Ben Goessling JAGUARS VS. JETS Jacksonville Jaguars: This isn’t a good matchup for the Jaguars, who head into MetLife Stadium with the NFL’s longest active road losing streak (12 games). They’ve struggled to run the ball (103.6 yards per game), and the Jets have the league’s top-ranked run defense. New England countered that several weeks ago by running the ball only five times and won 23-20, but the Jaguars don’t use the same kind of quick, short-passing game and it’d be a shock if they abandoned the run. Another problem is the matchup between second-year receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns against corners Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. Robinson and Hurns have combined for 11 TD catches, most among WR duos in

the league, but this will be the best secondary they’ve faced. QB Blake Bortles can’t afford to be wild because there’s not much margin for error. Jets 24, Jaguars 20. -- Michael DiRocco New York Jets: After an embarrassing defensive performance in Oakland, the Jets should be angry and refocused as they face the league’s worst road team (12 consecutive losses for Jacksonville). Blake Bortles likes to throw deep, but that should play into the Jets’ hands because it’ll give their pass rush -- asleep last week -- extra time to get home. You can feel the sense of urgency around the Jets. They’ve lost two straight; a three-game losing streak could wreck their season. Jets 31, Jaguars 17. -- Rich Cimini RAIDERS VS. STEELERS Oakland Raiders: This isn’t exactly a throwback to the great battles between the Raiders and Steelers in the 1970s, but the truth is these are two of the better teams in the AFC and this game may have big wild-card implications. Yes, a Raiders-Steelers game means something again. I expect a shootout between Derek Carr -- seven touchdown passes the past two games, 15 for the season against only three interceptions -- and Ben Roethlisberger. Oakland’s pass defense is susceptible (26th at 302 yards allowed per game) and that could be the difference for the home team. Steelers 30, Raiders 27. -- Bill Williamson Pittsburgh Steelers: Bet on the Steelers the past two weeks, both losses. But I’ve got them going 6-4 entering the bye. No reason to backpedal now. The Raiders are for real, but the Steelers know what’s at stake -- drop to 4-5 and the playoff picture starts developing without them. They will cling to that urgency with a renewed performance from Ben Roethlisberger after a three-interception game against Cincinnati. The Raiders' offense will move the ball, but look for Derek Carr to commit a crucial turnover late. Steelers 30, Raiders 20. -- Jeremy Fowler GIANTS VS. BUCCANEERS New York Giants: The Giants are only 1-3 on the road this year, but two of those losses were fourth-quarter heartbreakers in Dallas and New Orleans. They’ve not shown an ability to stop anyone but Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor, but the Giants have shown an ability to score somewhat consistently on offense. The Giants’ defense is slightly more likely to find a way to take the ball away from Jameis Winston than the Bucs’ defense is to take the ball away from Eli Manning. So, I give the edge to the Giants in a game they absolutely have to have with the Patriots looming next week and a tough December schedule ahead. Giants 28, Bucs 24. -- Dan Graziano Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Scoreboard operators at Raymond James Stadium better be prepared because this game has the potential for offensive fireworks. The Bucs gained an emotional overtime victory in Week 8, but their pass defense continued to look dreadful as Matt Ryan rallied the Atlanta Falcons for 17 consecutive points in the second half to erase a 20-3 deficit. Quarterbacks have completed 71.1 percent of their passes against Tampa Bay, which means Eli Manning should have a big day. New York’s pass defense is terrible as well, but Manning’s experience should put the Giants over the top. Giants 30, Bucs 27. -- Andrew Astleford FALCONS VS. 49ERS Atlanta Falcons: Quarterback Blaine Gabbert has 32 turnovers (24 interceptions) in 27 career starts, all in Jacksonville. The 49ers also are banged up at running back with Carlos Hyde (foot) and Mike Davis (hand) held out of practice and Reggie Bush (ACL) on injured reserve. Wide receiver Anquan Boldin is dealing with a hamstring injury and tight end Vernon Davis has been traded to the Broncos. Yes, this

game has all the makings of a disastrous starting debut for Gabbert in San Francisco. On the flip side, the Falcons have to get their sputtering offense going, with 12 turnovers and an average of just 19 points in the past four games. Those fortunes should change against the struggling 49ers. Running back Devonta Freeman and wide receiver Julio Jones should be in for big games. They rank Nos. 1 and 2 in the NFC in yards from scrimmage with 1,062 yards and 892 yards, respectively. And the 49ers surrender 403.8 yards per game. Falcons 35, 49ers 10. -- Vaughn McClure San Francisco 49ers: The element of surprise may be the Niners’ best weapon against the Falcons with a new starting quarterback in Blaine Gabbert. But the 49ers might still be down three injured running backs, an injured leading receiver and will be without starting tight end Vernon Davis, who's now in Denver. That’s just too much to overcome. Falcons 27, 49ers 14. -- Paul Gutierrez BRONCOS VS. COLTS Denver Broncos: The Broncos already have four road wins this season. Among the four undefeated teams, Cincinnati is the only other team that can match the Broncos in that category. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who has already had shoulder, rib and ankle injuries this season, leads the league in interceptions (12) and has been sacked 14 times in six starts -- that’s 2.3 per start. Those are red-flag numbers against a defense that is No. 1 in total yards (261.1 per game), scoring (16.0 per game), sacks (29) and tied for fifth in interceptions (nine). If the Broncos’ offensive output against the Packers last week wasn’t just a one-week improvement, the Broncos should keep their record unblemished. Broncos 27, Colts 14. -- Jeff Legwold Indianapolis Colts: A new offensive coordinator. A quarterback who leads the NFL in turnovers with 13. The team’s leading receiver -- T.Y. Hilton -- dealing with a foot injury. Wait, it gets worse for the Colts. They have to try to end their three-game losing streak dealing with those issues while facing the NFL’s top-ranked defense in Denver. Peyton Manning gets revenge against his former team for knocking him out of the playoffs last season. Broncos 27, Colts 13. -- Mike Wells EAGLES VS. COWBOYS Philadelphia Eagles: During Chip Kelly’s three seasons as coach, the road team has won all five games in the divisional matchup with Dallas. That includes the Cowboys’ Sept. 20 win at Lincoln Financial Field. Combine that trend with the Eagles’ desperation, and they should be able to defeat Matt Cassel and Co. Eagles 23, Cowboys 17.. -- Phil Sheridan Dallas Cowboys: Sunday’s game is a must-win for the Cowboys. The same could be said for the 3-4 Eagles but perhaps not as dramatically. Mired in a five-game losing streak, the Cowboys must win to maintain hope for when Tony Romo returns. In order to win, the defense will have to carry the day. In their first meeting, they limited the Eagles to 226 yards and just 17 yards on the ground. They intercepted Sam Bradford twice and recovered a fumble in the 20-10 win. It was their most dominating performance of the season. But the offense struggled even with Romo running the offense. Last week, the Cowboys finally created a turnover with a Greg Hardy interception. They will need more against the Eagles, and the offense has to turn those into touchdowns. A fast start on both sides will do wonders for this team’s confidence. If the Cowboys don’t get this one, it might not matter when Romo returns. Cowboys 23, Eagles 16. -- Todd Archer

BEARS VS. CHARGERS Chicago Bears: Bears head coach John Fox knows how to beat Mike McCoy. Fox is 4-1 lifetime versus his former assistant coach, who is feeling the heat with San Diego at a disappointing 2-6. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is bound to play well, but San Diego turns the ball over at an alarming rate. Jay Cutler and Alshon Jeffery should terrorize the Chargers’ suspect defense even without Matt Forte (knee) in the backfield. The Bears are desperate for a win with games against Denver and Green Bay on the horizon. Bears 28, Chargers 26. -- Jeff Dickerson San Diego Chargers: John Fox knows the Chargers well from his time in Denver, so Chicago should be prepared. The Bears are missing their best player in Matt Forte, who’s out with a knee injury. Chicago has had trouble scoring this season, averaging just 20 points a contest. The Bears will struggle keeping pace with a San Diego offense led by Philip Rivers. The Bears are 0-2 in Monday night games in San Diego. Chargers 28, Bears 22. -- Eric D. Williams

Fans must give Jerry Jones a wake-up call on Greg Hardy By Ian O’Connor ESPN.com November 6, 2015 If you assumed Jerry Jones would finally surrender in the name of common decency and fire Greg Hardy by the midnight hour, you were sadly mistaken. The owner of the Dallas Cowboys doubled down Friday night by releasing a statement in support of the unsupportable, saying his organization took domestic violence seriously ... just not seriously enough to start looking for someone else to hit the quarterback. "We have given Greg a second chance," Jones said in his statement. "He is a member of our team and someone who is grateful for the opportunity he has been given to move forward with his life and his career." Yes, Jerry Jones was standing by his man, despite Deadspin's publication of dozens of photos showing the injuries suffered last year by Hardy's former girlfriend, Nicole Holder -- sickening bruises all over her body. Hardy was found guilty of domestic violence by a North Carolina judge, but the player's appeal before a jury was never heard and the case was dismissed after Holder stopped cooperating with prosecutors; she reportedly reached a financial settlement with Hardy. Of course, the blame-game default position would amount to an all-out blitz of Roger Goodell for allowing Hardy back into the league. Goodell has gotten so many things wrong it's actually hard to identify when he's gotten something right. But upon reviewing the photos of a beaten Holder, at least the commissioner suspended Hardy for 10 games this season after the pass-rusher spent 15 games on paid leave last year. The NFL Players Association and its executive director, DeMaurice Smith, made the mistake of believing every dues-paying member is worth fighting for, and Harold Henderson, arbitrator, made the appalling decision that a 10-game ban was "simply too much" for Hardy, as in six games too many. Those men should have a hard time sleeping for a while after Deadspin delivered those photos to the public and shed new light on an assault so violent -- Holder accused Hardy of throwing her against a bathtub wall, pulling her out by her hair and throwing her onto a futon covered in assault rifles before strangling her with both hands -- that the accuser told the man choking her, "Kill me so I don't have to." But Jones is the one who deemed Hardy worthy of employment and another big, fat paycheck. Jones is the one who said all along the Cowboys did the necessary homework on Hardy, and then had the audacity to tell HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" that the defensive end "might not have been convicted because he didn't do it." As much as the photos have exposed Hardy for what he appears to be -- a 6-foot-4, 279-pound coward -- this case has exposed Jones as the worst owner in the post-Donald Sterling world of major professional sports, one level above (or below) Daniel Snyder. This has nothing to do with the fact the Cowboys have won three playoff games in 20 years. No, it has everything to do with Jones' staggering lack of leadership in this case. Hardy used his reinstatement as an opportunity to objectify Tom Brady's wife, and what does Jones do? He tells SI.com he thinks Brady's wife is hot, too.

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett reprimands Hardy and warns him to better represent the organization, and Hardy later responds by provoking a coach into a physical confrontation, creating a sideline scene during a loss to the New York Giants, and what does Jones do? He calls Hardy "one of the real leaders on this team," encourages him to continue "motivating or pushing any part of the football team," and talks about signing him to a long-term deal. Meanwhile, Hardy never once expressed the kind of contrition Ray Rice ultimately expressed over the Atlantic City elevator knockout of the woman who would become his wife. Rice can't find an NFL team to take him because he started to fade like most running backs do, and because his punch was caught on camera. Hardy? He still had the requisite motor at his position, and, until Friday, there was no visual evidence of the alleged attack made public, two facts compelling the Cowboys to get in the game. "We do not condone domestic violence," Jones said in his statement Friday night. "We entered into the agreement with Greg fully understanding that there would be scrutiny and criticism." But Jones didn't know these photos would ever be seen by his paying customers. He said in the statement he didn't have access to the photos before making the decision to hire Hardy, yet conceded he was "aware of the serious nature of this incident." What, exactly, did Jones think domestic violence looked like? Just as Goodell should have imagined what was in the second Rice video after seeing Rice drag his unconscious fiancée face-first out of the elevator in the first video, Jones should have pictured the damage done to a woman who thought she was about to die. Remember, Jones said the Cowboys did their due diligence and then some on Hardy. And then he decided the Cowboys might have been one pass-rusher away from their first Super Bowl in a very long time. By protecting and enabling Hardy at every turn, Jones has sent a message to players that they can still find a high-paying job in the NFL after battering a woman and threatening her life. This just isn't good enough. His position can't go unchallenged. The right-minded Cowboys fans and sponsors such as AT&T and American Airlines have to let Jones know he has gone too far this time and needs to release Hardy immediately. They need to apply the only type of pressure Jones respects -- financial pressure. They need to warn Jones they will stop giving him their business unless he fields a team that offers no sanctuary for a man such as Greg Hardy. They need to show the owner of the Dallas Cowboys he'd better never cut another corner on something as serious as this.

Broncos insist they're not getting caught up in success By Arnie Stapleton Associated Press November 6, 2015 The unbeaten Denver Broncos are expecting the unexpected in Indianapolis. Trickery on special teams. Uncertainty with a new Colts offensive coordinator. Desperation from a 3-5 team. Denver coach Gary Kubiak said the Broncos (7-0) aren't overlooking or underestimating the Colts, who have played six consecutive games decided by no more than seven points. Andrew Luck ailing? OK. He's still the guy who beat them in the playoffs in January and just threw for nearly 200 yards and two TDs in the fourth quarter to force overtime at Carolina. "We anticipate their best," Kubiak said. "They're a great football team. They were in the AFC championship last year. They are in first place in their division. They've lost some tough games to some really good football teams this year and going there makes it even more difficult." Broncos special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis said the Colts are adept at tomfoolery even though they botched one of the wackiest gadget plays in NFL history last month. "That one got a lot of publicity because it didn't work, but they've had a lot other ones that did work. In that game, it was real close to them getting that onside (kick)," DeCamillis said. "They've done that several times. It's something that you've got to be alert for. Coach (Chuck) Pagano is not afraid to pull out the gadgets, and his special teams coach is definitely right behind him, that's for sure." The Colts' decision to change offensive coordinators at midseason has turned Sunday's showdown between Peyton Manning and his former team into a guessing game. "We really don't know what to expect," Broncos safety T.J. Ward said. "We expect them to run the majority of the things that they've been running. Some little wrinkles here and there, but that's what you've got to be prepared for." Pep Hamilton lost his job after the Colts' third straight loss, and the new play caller is Rob Chudzinski, the former Panthers offensive coordinator whom Denver defensive coordinator Wade Phillips knows well. Like Kubiak, Phillips is talking up Luck, who's thrown a dozen interceptions despite playing in just six games. He noted that Luck has thrown for 108 TDs in 60 career games, including playoffs, four more than Manning did in his first 60 games.

"I kind of look at the big picture," Phillips said. "The last three games they've played, they've lost by 16 points. Two of the teams are undefeated and the other one, the Saints, are probably playing their best football and are one of the better teams in the league. They're playing really well, really competitive. It's going to be a tough game." Von Miller also sees the premier passer who beat Denver in the playoffs and not a struggling QB who's leading the league in interceptions and tough breaks. "He's just had some unfortunate stuff happen to him. It's still the same Andrew Luck that we've been used to seeing throughout the years," Miller said. "He's just hit a tough patch." The Broncos aren't feeling too good about themselves even after pummeling the Packers and Aaron Rodgers last week, Miller said. Denver's defense is simply sticking to the disrespect mantra. "I don't feel like we're getting enough respect still," Miller said, noting that nose tackle Sylvester Williams isn't getting any love as a product pitchman. And anyway, "I don't feel like we've even scratched the surface of the type of defense that we know we can be." Fellow edge rusher DeMarcus Ware agreed the midway mark is no point to stop and assess things. "You can't think about whether you have arrived or you've gained respect," Ware said. "We don't think about it that way. Even when we were in practice today and we were like, 'There was a mistake there that we didn't make last week.' We need to make sure that we correct it so it doesn't happen and not let that 'dead egg' eventually start stinking." Notes: Starting RB Ronnie Hillman (bruised thigh) is listed as questionable, although Kubiak said, "I think he's going to be fine. He looked a lot better today than he did yesterday." ... WR Jordan Norwood (hamstring) is out. ... Kubiak said TE Vernon Davis had a good week of practice since joining the team Tuesday and "hopefully he'll be a big part" of Denver's offense.

Broncos' defense keeps focus on Colts, not coaching change By Michael Marot Associated Press November 7, 2015 Denver's top-ranked defense spent the early part of this week studying Indianapolis' struggling offense. On Tuesday evening, the Broncos started over. The Colts' decision to change offensive coordinators at midseason has turned Sunday's showdown between Peyton Manning and his former team into a guessing game. "We really don't know what to expect," Broncos safety T.J. Ward said. "We expect them to run the majority of the things that they've been running. Some little wrinkles here and there, but that's what you've got to be prepared for." It's yet another test for a defense that has exceeded all expectations this season. Denver (7-0) leads the NFL in almost every major category and hasn't given up a first-quarter point all season. An interception return for a touchdown and a fumble recovery run back for a TD produced the decisive scores in the Broncos' first two wins. Last week, they befuddled Green Bay's potent offense by holding MVP Aaron Rodgers to 77 yards passing. Now they'll face an Indy offense that has played so poorly Pep Hamilton lost his job after the Colts' third straight loss. Andrew Luck has thrown a league-high 12 interceptions and was added to the injury report Wednesday with an undisclosed ankle injury. Receivers have struggled to get open, the offensive line has had trouble protecting Luck, and Indy (3-5) has been shut out in the first half four times this season. At first glance, it looks like a mismatch. But the Colts do have one advantage: the element of surprise. And nobody's saying much about how things might change under new play caller Rob Chudzinski. "We're just going to try to clean things up that need to be cleaned up, fine-tune some things, simplify and give these guys a chance to go out there and execute at a high level and not think, and just play," coach Chuck Pagano said. It's a stark contrast to the last meeting between Manning's current team and his old one. Back then, in the divisional round of the playoffs, Manning was struggling and the Broncos were eliminated — a game Denver has not forgotten. "That's my motivation. I mentioned that to the defensive line earlier today," defensive end Derek Wolfe said. "I said, 'Don't forget. These guys knocked us out of the playoffs last year, so don't sleep on them.'" This defense won't — even if it is not entirely sure what to expect Sunday afternoon.

"Our expectation is to come out every week and shut the opposing team down," Ward said. "We're mad if we give them a field goal. That's our goal every week — no points." Here are some other things to watch Sunday: PEYTON'S PLACE: Manning probably expected to break most of Brett Favre's career records at Lucas Oil Stadium. On Sunday, he'll actually have a chance to do it — twice. If the Broncos win, Manning will break Favre's record for regular-season wins by a quarterback (186). Manning also needs 284 yards passing to pass Favre (71,838) and become the NFL's career leader. And it could all happen in the stadium Manning built. COLTS' DEFENSE: Indy's defense may be ranked No. 29, but the biggest problem has been turnovers that have forced it to defend short fields. Take Monday night. Carolina grained a combined 161 yards on its six scoring drives. If the turnovers stop, and the Colts' defense can be stout, it may be the remedy for most of Indy's ailments. THE DAVIS BOWL: Two years ago, Vernon and Vontae Davis were supposed to square off in San Francisco. Instead, the 49ers tight end was inactive with an injured hamstring. The two brothers are now getting another chance — one that didn't exist until Vernon Davis was acquired by Denver in a trade Monday. It's not yet clear how big a role Denver's Davis might have. But he could play, and if he does, the brothers could be lined up against one another Sunday. TOP 10: Colts receiver Andre Johnson hasn't been as productive as expected. But Chudzinski, who called the plays when Johnson attended the University of Miami, can put Johnson in position to crack the top 10 in receiving yards. He needs 15 yards to pass Hall of Famer Cris Carter for No. 11 in league history, and 48 yards to pass the injured Steve Smith for No. 10. PAGANO WATCH: There has been plenty of speculation about Pagano's job status, and with good reason. He's in the final year of his contract, and the Colts haven't met their lofty expectations. Jim Irsay has never made a midseason change at head coach since replacing his late father, Robert, as team owner. But if the Colts don't play well Sunday, next week's bye would be the perfect time for another surprising change.

Cowboys debacle shows value of reliable QB backup By Paul Newberry Associated Press November 6, 2015 The most important position in the NFL is often the most vulnerable. Just look at the Dallas Cowboys, who have imploded since quarterback Tony Romo went down with a broken collarbone in Week 2. By the time Romo returns, it might be too late for the Cowboys. That said, Dallas is hardly the only team to skimp on a backup quarterback and wind up paying a heavy price. Much rarer are teams such as Pittsburgh, which wisely had both Michael Vick and Landry Jones waiting in reserve when Ben Roethlisberger was injured early in the season. They kept the Steelers afloat, going 2-2 while Big Ben was out. The Cowboys haven't won since Romo was injured in a victory over at Philadelphia nearly seven weeks ago. Not surprisingly, his mere return to practice this week was quite a morale booster. "When you've got a guy like that, it's just great to see him on the field," tight end Jason Witten said. "I think we're all excited to get him back out there." When Romo was injured, the Cowboys first turned to Brandon Weeden, who ran his career record as a starter to 5-19 with three straight defeats. Next up was Matt Cassel, who keeps landing jobs despite a largely mediocre resume. He's run the losing streak to five straight heading into Sunday's game against the Eagles. If Romo makes his expected return in Week 11, he'll likely need to pull off one of his greatest comebacks to salvage a playoff berth — even in the lowly NFC East. It's easy to understand how teams get themselves in this sort of QB predicament. When all goes according to plan, the backup never sees the light of day on a team with a franchise quarterback, such as New England's Tom Brady or Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers. The chances of a devastating injury have certainly been reduced by the league's ever-vigilant rules to protect its most valuable commodities. When also dealing the demands of the salary cap and 53-man roster, the natural tendency is to save money by going with a low-paid guy behind the team's biggest star. Here's a look at which of the league's top teams would be hurt the most by a major injury at QB: — GREEN BAY (6-1). The Packers are doomed if Rodgers goes down. The backup is someone named Scott Tolzien, who might as well be in the witness protection program. Undrafted out of college, he was waived by both San Diego and San Francisco before catching on with the Packers. He's played four

games in five years, with one touchdown and five interceptions. The Packers also have rookie Brett Hundley, a fifth-round pick out of UCLA. Not good. — ATLANTA (6-2). The Falcons are blessed to have one of the league's most durable quarterbacks. Matt Ryan has missed only two games in his career, both in 2009. Chances are, you have no idea who is backup is. You're certainly not alone. Even die-hard Falcons fans would have a hard time picking out Sean Renfree, a seventh-round pick from Duke who's been holding a clipboard in Atlanta for the last three years. His next pass will be his first in the NFL. — CINCINNATI (8-0). AJ McCarron was a great college quarterback at Alabama. The NFL is another story. The unbeaten Bengals go to bed every night hoping nothing happens to starter Andy Dalton. Otherwise, their dream season goes down in flames. — DENVER (7-0). For those who think Peyton Manning is all washed up, just imagine the Broncos with Brock Osweiler at quarterback. It's hard to see them unbeaten, that's for sure. Osweiler might be the quarterback of the future, but it's best to stick with Manning as long as possible. — CAROLINA (7-0). Given his propensity for running, Cam Newton is probably at greater risk for injury than most quarterbacks. Therefore, the Panthers should be better prepared at No. 2. Derek Anderson has experience, but that's about it. Outside of an improbable Pro Bowl year with Cleveland in 2007, his record as a starter is 10-20. Unbeaten New England, the defending Super Bowl champion, would certainly be in a bit of trouble if Brady was sidelined. But let's not forget that Brady went from unknown backup to certain Hall of Famer, while Cassel is still riding the memory of one glorious season filling in while Brady was hurt. We can only assume second-year quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo would be an All-Pro should he ever get a chance to play. For one team, it doesn't seem to matter who's backing up. For everyone else, it might be worth paying a bit more attention to that overlooked position.

Jerry Jones backs Hardy as photos surface in domestic case By Schuyler Dixon Associated Press November 6, 2015 Dallas owner Jerry Jones showed support for Greg Hardy on Friday after photos of the bruised ex-girlfriend from the defensive end's domestic violence case were released by Deadspin. Jones said the team hadn't seen the photos before signing Hardy to an incentive-laden $13 million free agent contract in March, but the Cowboys "were and are aware of the serious nature of this incident." "We do not condone domestic violence," Jones said in a statement released by the team about eight hours after the photos were posted online. "We entered into the agreement with Greg fully understanding that there would be scrutiny and criticism." As he was leaving the locker room Friday, Hardy ignored a reporter who asked repeatedly if he wanted to address the release of the photos showing various injuries to Nicole Holder. Deadspin didn't say how the photos were obtained, and the website's account included some previously unreported details from police reports. Hardy was convicted by a judge over the 2014 incident in North Carolina, but the case was tossed on appeal when Holder couldn't be located to testify. The incident was expunged from Hardy's record this week. Prosecutors have said Holder reached a financial settlement with Hardy. The NFL sued for access to some of the photos used at Hardy's trial, eventually reaching a settlement. The league suspended him for 10 games while saying that evidence suggested Holder "was severely traumatized and sustained a range of injuries." Hardy's suspension under the personal conduct policy was reduced to four games by an arbitrator. He has played three games for the Cowboys (2-5), who have lost five straight games going into a home game against Philadelphia (3-4) on Sunday night. Before his Dallas debut against New England, Hardy made headlines again with comments about Tom Brady's wife. He also caused a stir with an inappropriate tweet about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks during this year's draft. When the Cowboys gave up a decisive kickoff return in a loss to the New York Giants two weeks ago, Hardy barged into special teams coach Rich Bisaccia's huddle before the next kickoff and had a physical confrontation with the assistant coach. Through it all, Jones has supported Hardy. "We have given Greg a second chance," Jones said in his statement. "He is a member of our team and someone who is grateful for the opportunity he has been given to move forward with his life and his career."

Hardy missed the last 15 games with Carolina in 2014 because of the domestic case but still collected his $13 million salary. He was accused of choking and grabbing Holder and throwing her on a futon that had at least four semi-automatic rifles on it. The NFL announced a tougher personal conduct policy in August 2014, three months after Hardy's incident and following widespread criticism over its handling of the domestic case involving Ray Rice. The former Baltimore running back was suspended two games after his arrest for assaulting his then-fiancee on an Atlantic City casino elevator, but before video surfaced on his punch that knocked her out. The league waited to gain evidence from Hardy's case before suspending him, but arbitrator Harold Henderson ruled the 10-game ban was too long because the tougher policy had established six games as the initial punishment in domestic cases.

Kick Greg Hardy out of NFL after release of photos By Christine Brennan USA Today November 6, 2015 Take a look, sports fans. Take a good look at the 48 photos Deadspin has put online of the battered and bruised body of Greg Hardy’s former girlfriend, Nicole Holder. Study the welts and marks on her back, her arms, her legs, her chin, her neck and her foot. Then tell me why Hardy should ever be allowed to play another down in the NFL. Almost 14 months to the day after we saw the Ray Rice video, we’re now looking at the Greg Hardy photos. They’re graphic and brutal and appalling. Hopefully, they’ll have the same effect on Hardy’s career as the video did on Rice’s. Hardy never should have been allowed back into the NFL after originally being found guilty by a North Carolina judge of various terrible acts of violence against Holder. Let’s hope the release of these photos will do what the NFL could not do: punish Hardy as he should be punished, by losing his career for good. Why does it take pictures to wake us up to what we already should have realized? Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has called Hardy a "real leader." Jones couldn't be more wrong. Hardy, plain and simple, is a monster. I’ve written that word before, based on reading Holder’s testimony at the trial. Now, after seeing the photos, it seems all the more appropriate. Holder's testimony against Hardy in the July 2014 trial was horrifying, detailed and worth repeating: Holder said Hardy, who is 6-4 and 265 pounds, flung her from a bed, threw her into a bathtub and then tossed her onto a futon covered with rifles. (The NFL announced this April that the futon was covered with at least four semi-automatic rifles and three or four other guns.) Holder said Hardy ripped a necklace he had given her off her neck, threw it into a toilet and then slammed the lid on her arm when she tried to retrieve it. Hardy dragged Holder by the hair room to room, she said, before putting his hands around her throat. "He looked me in my eyes and he told me he was going to kill me," Holder said. "I was so scared I wanted to die. When he loosened his grip slightly, I said, 'Just do it. Kill me.' " Hardy, then with the Carolina Panthers and now with the Cowboys, was found guilty of domestic violence and not allowed to play for all but one game of the 2014 season, but was still paid his $13.1 million salary. The charges were dismissed on appeal earlier this year when Holder received a financial settlement, according to multiple news media reports, and could not be found to testify. After the NFL laudably conducted its own investigation of the incident, Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Hardy for the first 10 games of the 2015 season. He and other NFL executives had seen several of the photos that Deadspin has now put online, but not the vast majority of them.

As we all wonder why the league didn’t kick Hardy out for life then and there, consider what happened next: the NFL Players Association, representatives of which also saw several of the photos, actually fought Hardy’s 10-game suspension and successfully got it reduced to four games. Something is very wrong when sports officials such as the leaders of the NFL players’ union look at pictures of a battered and bruised woman and think it’s a good idea to lessen the perpetrator’s punishment.

Did the Broncos succeed at the trade deadline? By Angelo Stambene and Matt Wiley Colorado Springs Gazette November 6, 2015 Broncos should have aimed higher – Angelo Stambene Vernon Davis, wow. I feel like the kid on Christmas that got an Xbox and a PlayStation, while the neighborhood kids got pet rocks and coal. Us Broncos fans have been spoiled since John Elway took over as GM, and now I’m about to sound like an ingrate. The Broncos didn’t do enough at the trade deadline to cement their status as world beaters. Davis will certainly stretch the middle of the field like Julius Thomas did when he was here, and that’s a need that Owen Daniels, and all the other tight ends on the roster, just can’t provide consistently. But to truly get over the hump and win Super Bowl 50, the Broncos needed to shore up the offensive line, and Joe Thomas would have done that marvelously. The price was steep, but for a player that doesn’t miss games and would anchor the line for years to come, the cost was justified. Ryan Clady is a stud, but lately it comes with a caveat – when he’s healthy. When it starts getting colder and the playoffs begin, it’s going to be imperative to keep Manning upright, and absolutely vital to the Broncos’ success. The decision to acquire Thomas wouldn’t have just impacted this year though. It could have been several. If this is Peyton Manning’s last year at the helm, the Broncos are going to need a lineman that doesn’t miss games. Thomas would have protected Brock Osweiler while he learns the ropes, and he would have provided invaluable stability to a line that has been in flux for too long. Even if Elway decides to bring in someone else to take Manning’s place, whenever that time comes, a player of Thomas’ stature and durability is valuable asset on the field and in the locker room. Vernon Davis will provide a service the Broncos need now, but Joe Thomas would have provided a service from now on. Conservative move the right one – Matt Wiley The Broncos made a low-risk, high-reward deal at the deadline and I am glad that is all they did. Acquiring tight end Vernon Davis from the 49ers for late-round picks was a perfect move. Many media outlets reported that Denver was in discussions to acquire Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas from Cleveland. Thankfully, this deal fell apart. Don’t get me wrong, the Broncos would improve if Thomas was on the roster. But the long-term impact of that kind of blockbuster trade could have hurt the team.

ESPN reported that the two sides were closing in on a deal that would have included Thomas and a fourth-round pick in exchange for the Broncos’ first- and second-round picks in 2016. The deal apparently fell apart when Cleveland also wanted to include Denver’s 2016 third-round pick. Thomas has salary cap figures of $9.5 million in 2016, $10 million in 2017 and $10 million in 2018 according to NFL.com. Such high numbers would potentially hinder the Broncos’ attempt to re-sign Von Miller to a long-term deal in the offseason. Not to mention a trade involving a first-, second- and third-round pick would be lunacy. Denver’s offensive line is coming off a game against Green Bay where it didn’t allow a sack. The Packers saw their streak of 42 straight games with at least one sack end. Davis is an underrated blocker, and he is a willing blocker. Denver will be able to get creative with formations that include three tight ends. I appreciate that Broncos general manager John Elway always has the drive to improve his team, but I am glad he didn’t fumble away the future at the trade deadline with this potential deal with Cleveland.

Greg Cosell's Look Ahead: How the Broncos D got the best of Green Bay By Greg Cosell YahooSports.com November 6, 2015 It’s not often that we see Aaron Rodgers look uncomfortable on a football field. But the Denver Broncos made sure that Rodgers could never get into a rhythm. Rodgers had just 77 passing yards, and once sacks are included, the Packers had just 50 net passing yards against the Broncos. It was the worst game Rodgers has had in his career, excluding games he got hurt. How did Denver do it? They had an interesting game plan, and they executed it well with their superior personnel. The Broncos decided to play three cornerbacks and one safety most of the game, using a base 3-4 front. Denver was comfortable with either Bradley Roby or Chris Harris on Randall Cobb in the slot, and they played a lot of “man free” coverage with that three-cornerback, one-safety look. They knew they could do that because Roby, Harris and Aqib Talib can hold up in man coverage. Here's the first play of the game, with the Broncos playing three corners and just one safety: Rodgers rarely had an open receiver, because the Broncos cornerbacks consistently won in man coverage. On third-and-17 on Green Bay’s first possession, the Broncos finally played their first snap of dime defense. And that’s when the pass rush showed up. Both Von Miller (No. 58) and DeMarcus Ware (No. 94) used speed-to-power rushes that beat both tackles, Bryan Bulaga and David Bakhtiari. Rodgers’ helmet was never calm. He looked for the second-reaction play that’s his defining M.O., but he had nowhere to move so he made a hurried throw to avoid the sack. The Broncos’ defense is built on speed. They’re not big across the front but have outstanding speed and quickness at all three levels. And for a defense that’s very multiple from a front, coverage and pressure standpoint, the Broncos are very disciplined and sound in their execution. Linebacker Brandon Marshall in particular stood as an excellent piece in the Broncos’ defensive puzzle. He’s very athletic (he is their dime linebacker), but also willing to play physically. A sack that officially went to Antonio Smith in the third quarter — but Marshall was a key in — showed Marshall's ability, his understanding of the game and the Broncos’ great execution of their scheme. On a beautifully designed two-man stunt with defensive tackle Smith, Smith attacked the gap between the center and left guard. Marshall (No. 54) initially attacked the left guard Josh Sitton before attacking the “A” gap. That caused confusion between the center and guard, and both went to Marshall. It was Marshall’s execution of the small details that made the sack happen.

Rodgers didn’t complete a pass with any sense of rhythm and timing until hitting Randall Cobb with 4:38 left in the third quarter. You could see by the third quarter that the accumulation of pressure was causing Rodgers to speed up a bit. That's the kind of subtle difference that creates execution issues. And the Packers’ receivers were unable to get separation on their individual routes. The offensive line across the board was handled physically throughout the game. By the fourth quarter, Rodgers was so out of rhythm he was not turning it loose on the few throws that were there. We don’t usually see the Packers struggle on offense. But they don’t often play against a defense as good as the one they faced in Denver. Kaepernick benched Colin Kaepernick has been benched by the San Francisco 49ers. Watching the film from his game last week against the St. Louis Rams it was clear that at this point in his career Kaepernick cannot run an offense. He does not see things and he’s not aware. He can’t function. The first eight plays of the game really were a snapshot of his season. The 49ers coaching staff did all the right things tactically (bootleg, read option) to play to Kaepernick’s strengths. But at some point an NFL quarterback must execute the drop back pass game, and Kaepernick cannot do that. On third-and-3 on the first possession, there was a great example of Kaepernick pre-determining where he’s going to throw the ball. He had Vernon Davis running a crosser against safety T.J. McDonald with leverage, right in Kaepernick’s field of vision. But Kaepernick threw it right away and incomplete to Quinton Patton, even though he was well-covered on a shallow cross. It was a missed opportunity for a big play to Davis. There’s a fine line between defining reads for the quarterback and making him a pre-determined thrower. No quarterback can function without good post-snap recognition and Kaepernick lacks that right now. That’s a reason the 49ers made the move. And there's a general lack of awareness by Kaepernick. This is a stark example. On the first play of the 49ers’ third possession, they lined up in a straight I formation, and Torrey Smith was the “Z” receiver to his left. Nobody was aligned over Smith, who motioned to his quarterback. Kaepernick, with no pre-snap awareness, did not see it. He showed no awareness of where cornerback Janoris Jenkins and McDonald were aligned. Unfortunately, it was a vivid example of his lack of awareness. Cooper gets best of Revis Oakland Raiders rookie receiver Cooper clearly got the better of the matchup with New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis last week. Cooper’s route quickness had Revis playing in a reactive way. Cooper has outstanding route quickness and balance. He showed tremendous ability to get in and out of breaks; he had no trouble separating from Revis. On the first play of the game the Raiders called a shot play, a deep pass downfield, and Cooper ran an excellent route to get by Revis. Carr threw the pass out of bounds, but it was a great job by Cooper to get open, something that would repeat itself during the afternoon. Cooper has been very good as a rookie, and he'll be a big part of the game plan again this Sunday at Pittsburgh.

Ticket prices for Brady-Manning Bowl XVII are getting a tad ridiculous By Ben Rohrbach YahooSports.com November 6, 2015 Could the 17th meeting between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning on Nov. 29 be their last? Fans are certainly acting like it. According to a breakdown of median ticket prices conducted by The Denver Post, the cost of a ticket on the secondary market for the Week 12 meeting between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots at Mile High Stadium is the highest of any NFL game this season — a staggering median price of $719.28. That's approaching the median secondary ticket price of $798.63 for the AFC championship game in 2014 between the same two teams, which turned out to be the most expensive conference title game of the decade. Of course, prior to last season, the median price for the Patriots' 43-21 win over the Broncos in Foxboro on Nov. 2, 2014, was also the NFL's highest for a regular-season game — at a scant $495. According to the NFL's own official ticket exchange website, operated by Ticketmaster, the cheapest ticket available for the Sunday night game after Thanksgiving in Denver is $323 for a single seat in the 15th row of the nose-bleed section on the upper bowl. If you're famous Broncos fans Trey Parker and Matt Stone of "South Park" fame — and John Elway can't hook you up with a couple tickets — perhaps you'd be willing to pony up the $17,778 price tag for a pair of tickets 26 rows back on the 50-yard line. Or maybe you're a couple Patriots fans flying from New England and wanting to partake in all that Denver has to offer over the holiday weekend? The cheapest cost for two plane tickets leaving the day after Thanksgiving and returning Monday morning, with a hotel in downtown Denver and a rental car, is $896. Throw in the average cost for two Pats-Broncos tickets ($1,439), two beers apiece at the game ($27), meals for the weekend (roughly $324) and, of course, a quarter of weed at the local head shop ($74) — oh, and the cost of the few extra bags of Cheetos required following said quarter bag of weed ($21) — and now you're talking $3,677. Somewhere Roger Goodell goes for a Scrooge McDuck swim. On the other hand, people have spent $3,500 in more absurd ways than watching two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks and their potentially undefeated teams do battle during an awesome weekend in Denver. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West spent that much on a coat for their daughter North. Aunt Kylie Jenner spends that much on her regular beauty regimen (Worth it! Am I right, ladies?). The world's biggest atlas costs that much. And, apparently, so does an automatic pancake machine (Worth it! Am I right, fellas?). Now, imagine Brady's Patriots and Manning's Broncos meet again — one with an undefeated record — this time in the next AFC championship game. You might want to put your house on the market now.

Week 9 Lookahead: Uneasy Indy against Peyton Manning, history By Judy Batista NFL.com November 6, 2015 In his final weeks in Indianapolis, as the coaches and executives he had known for years were fired, as his own fate was already all but determined while he hung in public limbo, Peyton Manning summed up the feeling in the Colts' building this way: "It's a strange time around here, with all the coaches getting let go," Manning said then, for a story in the New York Times. "I guess that's somewhat normal for a lot of teams, but it hasn't happened around here much. Everybody in the building is walking around on eggshells because nobody knows who is going to get fired next." It is no small irony that as Manning goes back to Indianapolis this Sunday, for what may be his final game there and with a chance to set the quarterback career wins and passing yardage records, the eggshells are getting stepped on again. The Colts, losers of three straight games and tied with the Houston Texans for the lead in the AFC South at 3-5, are in nearly as much tumult now as they were in early 2012, before Chuck Pagano was hired and Manning was released so that the team could draft Andrew Luck. Offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton was fired this week in the first of what is likely to be a series of exits unless the Colts' fortunes turn dramatically. Three years ago, Manning was wistful about the stability he had enjoyed in his decade-plus in Indianapolis, but anybody who has paid attention to this team since then knows those days are clearly over. And Manning has something to do with that, too. In a twist that scriptwriters love, Manning remains the fulcrum for what is happening with the Colts now. One of the lasting effects of Manning's reign in Indianapolis is a conviction by Colts owner Jim Irsay that Manning should have been even more successful there. The Super Bowl that the Colts won with Manning in the 2006 season remains the franchise's high point, but it wasn't achieved again while the Colts had one of the greatest quarterbacks in history -- who authored 11 playoff seasons -- has informed every Irsay decision since then. The failure to extend Pagano's contract before the season, the quick hook for Hamilton this week despite a history of annual progress with Luck, the boiling hot seat on which Pagano now sits, the overall shortening of patience -- all of it can be traced to Irsay's sense that the Colts did not squeeze the most out of the Manning years and that the opportunity cannot again be lost with Luck. Irsay has made no secret of that feeling. The demand for better with Luck was verbalized after the draft when, while introducing receiver Phillip Dorsett, Irsay said "In the Andrew Luck era, we would like to win at least two World Championships." The pressure has clearly taken a toll along with Hamilton's job. Pagano spoke repeatedly this week about the human element of having to fire Hamilton and it was obvious Luck, who called Hamilton's firing a "gut punch," feels responsible that his play contributed to the demise of a coach he has worked with since college. "You realize if you're playing well as an offense, it probably doesn't happen," Luck said. "If you're winning games, it probably doesn't happen."

Manning, not surprisingly, sought to downplay the importance of his second game in Indianapolis in a Broncos uniform. He already endured the emotional welcome home two years ago, and he has no interest in dipping his toe into the issues that have surrounded the team since he left. This week, he preferred to discuss how hard it is to play in a loud building and he declined to compare the difficulties he endured in his fourth season with the ones Luck is going through now. But with Luck struggling, perhaps with injuries and certainly with inaccuracy and inconsistency, Manning, with the undefeated Denver Broncos and a defense that just held Aaron Rodgers to 77 passing yards, is in the position to deliver further pain to the franchise where he enjoyed the greatest success of his career and for which he hoped to play all his years. To add to the intrigue, if the Colts lose, they would be on a four-game losing streak, and would have fallen behind the Texans (who have a bye) in the standings entering their bye week -- a dangerous time for coaches. The soap opera dynamics aside, though, this is a difficult game for the Colts to begin their turnaround. Pagano compared Denver's dominating defense, which leads the league in most major categories, to the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. "When you put the tape on, it's a scary movie," Pagano said. Consider what a difficult task new coordinator Rob Chudzinski and Luck have. Because of the limited preparation time, Chudzinski can't make any drastic changes to the offense. But during his time as Carolina's offensive coordinator, Chudzinski gained a reputation as an aggressive play caller, pushing the ball down the field with Cam Newton at quarterback and Steve Smith at receiver. Pagano said one of the reasons he felt a change was needed was that he saw the offense do the same thing game after game -- and by that he meant slow starts. In three of their seven games, the Colts have been scoreless in the first half. The Colts are averaging just 21.6 points per game, 20th in the league, with the bulk of the scoring coming during furious comebacks like the one Monday night that sent the game into overtime before the Colts succumbed to the Carolina Panthers. That is a particularly difficult trend against the Broncos, who have not allowed a first quarter point this season, because falling behind against the Broncos allows their pass rush, which leads the league with 29 sacks, to rush the quarterback without fearing the run. Luck will have to be particularly careful. He leads the league with 12 interceptions, and the Broncos D already has nine. If Luck and the Colts are looking for a roadmap of what may be to come after this game and beyond, they might take a peek across the sideline Sunday afternoon. Manning's Colts went 6-10 in his fourth season, and he threw 23 interceptions and 26 touchdowns. After two straight years of making the playoffs with Manning, the Colts missed the playoffs in 2001 and Irsay made a coaching change, firing Jim Mora and hiring Tony Dungy. That set Manning and the Colts on the most successful -- and stable -- years of the franchise's existence. As Manning plays what may be his final game in the stadium where so many of the banners are of his doing, it's worth wondering if his triumphs -- and maybe more importantly, the ones he missed -- will hover over Luck and Colts long after Manning retires. Three more games to watch on a packed Week 9: 1) If history is an indicator, the undefeated Carolina Panthers may be catching the scuffling Packers at the worst time. Aaron Rodgers threw for just 77 yards against the Broncos last week, but the Green Bay quarterback has not lost consecutive games in the same season since 2010 and in the last 14 games following a loss, Rodgers is 14-0 with 45 touchdowns and five interceptions. Still, the Packers are in a decided offensive slump, scoring just 19.5 points per game in their last four games, and Rodgers faces an

uphill battle against the Carolina defense that is allowing a league-best 64.5 opponent passer rating and has the personnel to duplicate the Broncos' tack of getting pressure with the front four and using a linebacker to contain Rodgers if he scrambles. The Panthers' rushing attack -- the only team to have more runs than pass attempts -- could also limit Rodgers' time on the field. 2) After Tony Romo was injured when the Cowboys played the Eagles in Week 2, Jerry Jones was certain his team would win at least a few games with the backup quarterback before Romo returned late in November. The Cowboys are 0-5 since then and on their second backup, and the rematch with the Eagles highlights not only how wrong Jones was about his backup quarterbacks but how big of a miscalculation the Cowboys made with their running backs. When the Eagles signed DeMarco Murray (he has been a disappointment there after being the league's leading rusher in 2014), the Cowboys put their faith in Joseph Randle. He was released this week. With both offenses sputtering behind very inconsistent quarterbacking, the defenses have allowed these teams to remain relevant and will be the key to this game. If Dallas can somehow win, they would be right back in the NFC East mix, with Romo set to return later this month. 3) A suddenly critical game in the AFC wild-card race will hinge on a few questions: Can Ben Roethlisberger shake off the rust from his knee injury, reduce the interceptions (he had three last week in his return) with Charles Woodson lurking and leading the league in picks, and get the Steelers' offense on track without Le'Veon Bell? Are the Raiders so for real that they can do what is always difficult for West Coast teams: win a 1 p.m. kickoff on the East Coast? And can the improving Steelers defense hold off a young Raiders offense that now ranks in the top half of the league in the most significant offensive categories and which has especially taken off in the last two weeks? The Steelers, in the midst of a three-game stretch at home and almost certainly out of the division race, need this victory because right now the Raiders would be in the playoffs. The Steelers would be watching at home.

Guess what, guys? Women love Broncos football, too By Monica Mendoza Denver Business Journal November 5, 2015 Women aren't just football fans — they're super fans. They date other fans. They spend six months a year focused on football. And these female fans say the best gift they could get from their partner is a weekend trip to another city to see their favorite team. That's according to a survey by Hilton Hotels and Resorts. They define a fan as someone who watches more than six hours of football or football-related coverage each week during football season. According to the Hilton survey, 50 percent of football fans are women and, of those, 64 percent are under age 45. And these fans want to date other fans. According to the survey, 93 percent of female fans are in a relationship or dating another fan. And 56 percent are dating fans of the same team. In Denver, female fans are also on the rise. According to Nielsen Scarborough, there are 164,695 more local female fans of the Denver Broncos now than in 2013. That is a 16 percent increase in two years. In this survey, a fan is defined as anyone in the Denver market who has watched, attended or listened to a Broncos game within the past year. This year, the Crush Broncos Fan Club for Women has 18,863 members. The Hilton survey says half of female millennial fans would skip a day at the beach to watch football. And 78 percent of female fans say when their team loses, they want their significant other to cheer them up.

Peyton Manning quietly landed on injury report this week By Mike Florio Pro Football Talk November 6, 2015 At a time when the focus was on whether Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has an undisclosed rib injury, not much attention was paid to the other quarterback who’ll play in Sunday’s game at Indianapolis. Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has a right shoulder injury. The injury was initially disclosed on Wednesday, as the reason for Manning being limited in practice. (He often doesn’t practice at all on Wednesday.) He fully participated on Thursday and Friday, and Manning is listed as probable for Sunday’s game. It’s not a major injury. But it was still disclosed. Which the Colts apparently didn’t do with Luck’s broken ribs. Meanwhile, Luck’s supposed full health didn’t last long. Absent from Wednesday’s report, Luck showed up on Thursday’s report as limited with an ankle injury. He fully participated on Friday, and he’s listed as probable.

Chris Harris: Broncos’ defense has no weaknesses By Michael David Smith Pro Football Talk November 6, 2015 After dominating the Packers on Sunday, the Broncos are feeling pretty good about their defense. In fact, Broncos cornerback Chris Harris says the Broncos are so good that there’s not a single area where opposing offenses can attack them. “We really have no weaknesses. It’s really hard to say who you’re going to attack, who you’re going to go after. When you have a defense like this, it’s amazing to play with,” Harris told Trey Wingo on ESPN. That might be a slight overstatement. The truth may be that the Broncos’ defense does have weaknesses, it’s just that no offense has been able to exploit those weaknesses yet. But Denver still has dates with a couple of very good offensive teams, the Patriots and Bengals. Shut those teams down, and then the Broncos can crow about their defense not having any weaknesses.

Joe Thomas said he’d have been “crushed” if traded to Denver By Darin Gantt Pro Football Talk November 6, 2015 It would totally stink to win the lottery. In what is either an admirable display of loyalty or a classic case of Stockholm syndrome, Browns left tackle Joe Thomas said he would have been “crushed” if he had been traded to the Broncos last week. “Certainly I would have been really crushed being traded and leaving all these guys that you work so hard with and all these coaches and the people that are in this building and these fans,” Thomas said, via Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “It wasn’t until after the deadline that I realized that it was more serious than maybe just a rumor. At that point it was like, ‘Oh, interesting.'” He was in a meeting at the Browns facility as the deadline passed last week, not realizing that he might have been close to heading to Denver, but for the two teams not agreeing on draft-pick compensation. If they could have, Thomas would have gone from a 2-7 team alternating between Johnny Manziel and Josh McCown, to blocking for a future Hall of Famer and the undefeated Broncos. But Thomas said he wants to see things through with the team that drafted him third overall in 2007, though he understands everyone has a price. “I’m a realist,” he said. “I understand the business side of things. We’re all commodities. There’s a price on every one of us. If somebody offered 10 first-round picks for Tom Brady, they’d probably get rid of Tom Brady and he’s probably the best player that ever played. “It doesn’t really bother me that they listened to people that offered things. It’s kind of like you’re walking down the street and somebody says, ‘Hey, nice watch. You want to sell it.’ You say, ‘Well, it’s not for sale’ but then you think and go, ‘Well, what will you give me?’ It’s just a matter of what the price is. Obviously it was, from the sounds of it, it was close but no cigar.” So Thomas now still has his watch, allowing him to mark the time he’s spending in perpetual dysfunction.

Mason's Mailbag: The offensive line, the trade deadline, and more By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com November 6, 2015 With the discussion about the Broncos/Browns trade for Thomas coming down to the wire, was the Broncos' front office serious about the trade or were they strategically elevating Thomas' price to prevent another team from getting him? -- Bryce Bouwens It was about nobody but the Broncos and Browns. The talks were serious, real and truly did go down to the last minute. In the end, John Elway stood his ground. He didn't want to mortgage the team's future. Would it have been nice to have Joe Thomas on the roster? Absolutely; even at 31, he remains arguably the best left tackle in the game today and if he can extend his effectiveness for another year or two, he's on a Hall of Fame trajectory. But if you consider the Broncos' short- and long-term plans for the roster -- which includes Elway's stated desire to get Von Miller signed to a long-term contract -- plus the hopes of getting other emerging young players signed to second contracts, you can't afford to immolate your stock of draft picks. Those selections are essential to having a young, cost-controlled core that gives you the flexibility to give mid-career stars the big paydays that are often necessary to keep them after their first contracts. There was a price the Broncos were willing to pay for Thomas. But once it got too high, Elway followed the model of patient, prudent general managers like Green Bay's Ted Thompson and Baltimore's Ozzie Newsome. They don't reach. They don't make panic moves. When the price is too high, they walk away and move on. That's what Elway did. It takes a unique boldness to step up to the table at the cusp of the trading deadline and make a deal. But it takes even more gumption to pass when the deal would help you in the short term, but be countered by the potential long-term damage to the big-picture process of team-building. Your team is in good hands, Broncos fans. Your general manager blends decisiveness in the moment with pragmatism for the long haul. Not every season under Elway's watch will be great, but the Broncos are positioned to be the type of franchise for which down seasons are the rare exception, and consistent contention is the norm. I find it absolutely ridiculous that the Bronco's don't know how to teach the zone blocking scheme to this offensive line. Better call John Benton soon -- the guru of it. He'd probably be a little bit wiser than

the current oline coach and figure out how to get the best starting 5 out there as well. Any coaching changes coming soon Mason? I'd love to see Garcia and Smith incorporated. -- Bob Friday Issues with the offensive line represented a reasonable narrative in the first few weeks of the season, but it's time to abandon them now. What we've seen in the last few games -- particularly late against the Browns and last Sunday against the Packers -- is a group that, while not perfect, is finding the cohesion and chemistry that helps get zone-blocking schemes going, since you have to know what your neighbor does in this offense to get everyone in sync. The group is starting to click, particularly late in the win over the Browns and throughout the 29-10 win over the Packers. Its progress before last week was helped by having the entire unit together in practice throughout the week. "Working together the past 10 days [in practice] has helped them," Head Coach Gary Kubiak said Thursday. "The key now is going to be staying healthy, keeping them all on the field. I think we should only get better, and that's the thing I'm excited about." As for Benton, the former Texans assistant is under contract to the Dolphins. Besides, current offensive line coach Clancy Barone has his group rolling after some early hiccups. The sack rate has dropped from one every 13.1 dropbacks in Weeks 1-2 to one every 37.2 in the last five games. The pistol formation and Peyton Manning's adjustment have helped, but so has the unit's growth. "We've done a lot of things on the line of scrimmage to help us protection-wise," Kubiak said. "I think just getting the ball gone a little quicker, we run the ball better -- usually when you run the ball well, you're not giving up sacks. We've been really good now for, I want to say, about four or five weeks. Hopefully we can continue that. "[When you] get off to a bad start and we've got some ground to make up. Hopefully we can keep going." The improvement has carried over to the running game, with fewer carries in which average per carry was 2.59 yards in September; it is 4.58 yards in the four games since then. That's good for a unit that has included three first-time starters at various points this season and now incorporates another rookie, Max Garcia, for multiple series every game. But before I move on to the next question, wait a minute ... ... Hang on, I'm trying to avoid having a microchip blow in my brain ... ... Okay, I think I've got it. Did you REALLY ask, "Any coaching changes coming soon Mason?" Are you freaking kidding?

This team is 7-0. SEVEN AND ZERO!! (Yes, I went all-caps with multiple exclamation points there. This will shock some friends of mine. Jake Jarmel and Mr. Lippman would not approve. Some people I know use them, and it doesn't bother me; I couldn't imagine their writing without the enthusiasm multiple exclamation points convey. They usually aren't for me, but I felt as though the situation warranted it.) Why do the Broncos keep going with Max Garcia after he continues to get penalties every game and kill drives? I have no doubt he'll be a great player someday but to put it simply he's a rookie and needs time to develop. I'd like to see a proven vet with starting experience backing up our lineman in Shelley Smith. -- Skylar Davis Because the best way to develop is by playing, and for every rookie moment Garcia endures, there's a great play. Take Ronnie Hillman's 15-yard touchdown run. Garcia is the blocker who pulls right and engulfs Packers LB Clay Matthews, preventing him from blowing up the play from the back side. This gives Hillman time to get low inside, see the gap developing to his left and sprint toward it for the score. Shelley Smith has been around the NFL -- and this scheme -- to the point where you know what he is and what his ceiling is. That's not the case with Garcia, who is quick on his feet, uses his peripheral vision well and has already demonstrated a nasty streak when he gets into games. "It's going to help him," Offensive Coordinator Rick Dennison said. "He's just a young guy. Right about now, he's thinking about shutting it down and going for a bowl game being a rookie. "I think we'll just keep playing him. I think he's really grown a lot, but he certainly has -- just like the rest of us, we all have some room to grow." As Garcia learns how to avoid penalties and channel the ferocity with which he plays, he'll get better. And every snap he has now will help him be ready for his ascent into the starting lineup, perhaps by next year. @jamieandconnie @MaseDenver is there a chance we could get caught overlooking a struggling team in Indy?#askmase 6:19 PM - 5 Nov 2015 I doubt that. There's too many other angles in play, starting with exacting some measure of revenge for last January's playoff loss and wanting to play well to give Peyton Manning the kind of return he didn't have two years ago at Lucas Oil Stadium. Finally, there's the desire to help Manning break two hallowed league records (passing yardage and wins by a starting quarterback) in a venue that might as well be -- and has often been -- called "The House That Peyton Built." If the Broncos come up short Sunday, it won't be because they overlooked the Colts; it will only be because they were outplayed.

Mason, You think Mr. "Son of Bum" Phillips will win coach of the year? I know it's only mid-season grades but what he's done with this defense is remarkable. P.S. Not sure if defensive coordinators can win coach of the year but a fan can dream right?! -- Dom Turner If the defense maintains its current pace, I'd love to see just one vote in the Coach of the Year balloting go to Wade Phillips. But there is now an Assistant Coach of the Year award. The Associated Press began issuing it last year, which it honored then-Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. Phillips should be a leading candidate for the award, although there are plenty of others who in the mix, including Carolina's Sean McDermott, Cincinnati's Hue Jackson and Oakland's Bill Musgrave. @ChrisDareal45 @MaseDenver #Askmase Im wondering are colts are like new rivals for denver even though there not in the afc west divison ? 11:42 PM - 3 Nov 2015 · Bailey's Crossroads, VA, United States The Colts and Patriots are strong interdivisional rivals, and those games justifiably quicken the Broncos' collective pulse. But the AFC West rivalries will always come first, given the history of massive games among the Broncos, Raiders, Chiefs and Chargers. The legacy of passion and shared enmity among the teams in the AFC West is among the best of any division in the sport. Although Broncos-Raiders is the signature series in the division, every game involving two of those four teams can be considered part of a hostile rivalry. It's difficult to top.

T.J. Ward, the biggest boss By Christine Williamson DenverBroncos.com November 6, 2015 There’s an ongoing conversation in hip-hop lyrics about being the biggest boss. Rick Ross believes that he’s “the biggest boss that we’ve seen thus far.” Drake says, “Besides Ricky Ross, I’m the biggest boss here.” But when you ask T.J. “Boss” Ward whether he’s a bigger boss than Rick Ross, he believes it’s all relative. “It depends on who you ask,” Ward said. The nickname “Boss Ward” was given to him while he was a football player at Oregon and it’s a nickname that he believes fits perfectly. “I got the name in college from some teammates and, after making it my video gamertag, other people just started to call me ‘Boss,'” Ward said. “Now I just feel like it’s the way I carry myself on the field and off the field. In every aspect, I’m a boss.” For Ward, being a boss requires more than just balling out on the football field. He also keeps his pinkies and neck iced out with jewelry to emphasize his boss status. “If you ask Aqib [Talib] whether or not I have a lot of jewelry, he would probably say no,” Ward said. “Actually I don’t know we might have about the same. I like to stay iced out, though.” Even though he got his nickname while at Oregon, it can be said that Ward has been a boss since he was growing up in the Bay Area. While he was a star on the football field, he also grew to love basketball and became a loyal fan of his hometown basketball team, the Golden State Warriors. His favorite player, and arguably the biggest boss of the NBA, Steph Curry, absolutely dominated against the Pelicans in their third regular-season matchup. Last season’s MVP dropped 53 points in the Warriors' 134-120 win in New Orleans -- 28 of them in the second half. “Oh yeah, my boy went off,” Ward said, who has a Warriors tattoo inked on his rib cage. “I think we’re going to win another championship and Steph Curry is going to repeat MVP, as long as he stays healthy." Ward’s love of his hometown isn’t only engraved in his skin, it’s also evident in the way he talks. If you scroll through the two-time Pro Bowler’s Instagram feed, there is a wealth of Bay Area lingo that goes beyond any person that isn’t East Bay savvy. On a picture of him in an olive green suit and fedora he says, “I’m dipped when you see me!” So, what does that mean?

“That means fresh. Kind of like sauced, like, I’m dipped in butter,” Ward said. “Mac Dre has a song that says, ‘I’m dipped when you see me.’ So, when you say that you’re dipped or dipped in sauce or dipped in butter that’s what it means. You can be dipped in whatever you want to dip in.” Tartar sauce? “Nah. That stuff stinks. You have to be dipped in something smooth like ranch or Italian dressing,” he said. “Actually, just say sauce or butter.”

If healthy, Ronnie Hillman "definitely will start" By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com November 6, 2015 In three of the Broncos' last four games, they've had a 100-yard rusher. Each time, the 100-yarder was the half of the platoon who didn't start. So when Head Coach Gary Kubiak says he sees Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson as co-starters, he means it. For a second consecutive week, Hillman will start, Kubiak announced Thursday. He reiterated that Friday after Hillman was limited for a second consecutive practice because of a thigh injury. "No doubt. He definitely would start," Kubiak said. "I think he's going to be fine. "[Hillman[ looked a lot better today than he did yesterday. I think he's just sore coming off of it. He's had a couple of good days here to work on it, so I think he'll be okay." But this season, their workload has been nearly equal; Anderson has 95 touches, Hillman 92. In the past four games, Hillman has 63 touches and Anderson has 57. Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson Their production has also been close to identical; Hillman has 395 yards from scrimmage, just nine more than Anderson. This balance is expected to continue. "I see them both as ones. They played pretty much right down the middle," Kubiak said. "We know how C.J. responded." Anderson had his first 100-yard game of the season in the first game that he did not start, eviscerating the Packers for 101 yards and a 28-yard touchdown on 14 carries. The bye week allowed him to rest and recuperate from injuries that nagged him, and he displayed the same acceleration, sharp cuts and elusiveness that defined him last year. Kubiak would also like to get Juwan Thompson involved as the second-year running back puts a hamstring injury behind him. "Juwan looks good this week, too," Kubiak said. I want to get him involved. I think when he's had the opportunity to touch the ball this year he's done some good things. [We have] just had a hard time keeping him healthy."