Archives for December 2011

‘Don’t heap all the blame on the offence. The Bills outscored opponents 211-147 in the first seven games, but in the past seven, they’ve been trounced 224-100.’

Family time at holidays can be rare for Broncos (Denver Post)

Cold weather? Tebow says he’s ready (Denver Post)

McGahee revitalizes career with Broncos (AP)

Wintry wonderland in Buffalo new to Tebow (The Sports Xchange)

Strategy And Personnel (The Sports Xchange)

Tebow didn’t see SNL skit (The Sports Xchange)

‘Barnett is enjoying an injury-free season as a linebacker for the Buffalo Bills, and even Buffalo’s recent losses (including a blowout at San Diego) have not diminished his enthusiasm. Barnett said he is having the time of his life with his new team.’

‘”We were like, `What’s wrong with this guy?”‘ Nelson recalled. “But then, as we got to know who he was and what he’s about, we realized it wasn’t fake. … He goes full-speed ahead at everything he does, and that’s why he’s been so successful.”‘

‘”Oh yeah, we want to renew it. We were talking to them recently, and they want to renew it,” Wilson told The Associated Press by phone from his home in suburban Detroit on Thursday. “I think that Buffalo can have a very successful franchise with embracing Rochester and Toronto as we move forward.”‘

‘Broncos 27, Bills 21.’

‘That does not mean the Bills have the 16th-most expensive roster overall. Far from it. A News study in August, factoring in the total value of all player contracts, not just money paid in 2011, rated the Bills’ roster as the 29th-most expensive in the league. (Buffalo has moved up several spots since then.)’

‘Jacob Rainey, a high school junior from central Virginia whose football career was ended by a tragic injury, will be flown up to Buffalo with his family to cheer on the Broncos. Rainey, a 6-foot-3, 213-pound quarterback, suffered a broken leg in a scrimmage on Sept. 3, and the leg had to be amputated due to a severed artery.’

‘”Oh I heard them, they were deserved,” Fitzpatrick said Tuesday. “I wasn’t playing well, we certainly weren’t playing well as an offense. The fans, they’re out there to cheer on our team. But when we aren’t playing well they’re going to let us have it. I thought they were well-deserved at the time.”‘

Denver Broncos are determined to bounce back Saturday against Bills at Buffalo (Denver Post)

Elway and Tebow star in a dickens of an Xmas Eve tale (Denver Post)

Broncos loss to Bills in 2008 set off chain reaction for Shanahan, McDaniels, Fox, Cutler and Tebow (Denver Post)

Tim Tebow third in fan voting for AFC Pro Bowl quarterback (Denver Post)

Denver Broncos tailback Willis McGahee on brink of 1,000-yard season (Denver Post)

Broncos need their rookies to help propel playoff push (Denver Post)

Production for TEs missing from Broncos offense (AP)

Tea Party Tebow Fans To Play Role In Who Wins Iowa Caucus (KCNC-TV)

Learning From a Loss (DenverBroncos.com)

Game notes (DenverBroncos.com)

‘”He’s just wired differently,” Nelson said. “There’s something different about him than anybody I’ve ever seen before. He believes no matter what happens, no matter what the situation, he can get the job done. He thrives on people telling him what he can’t do and then he also tries to prove people right when they say he can do it. Like I said, he’s wired differently. He believes in himself differently than anybody I’ve ever seen and he approaches the game of football differently than anybody I’ve ever seen.”‘

‘Denver QB Tim Tebow is the main attraction, but stopping RB Willis McGahee from getting traction will be Buffalo’s first goal. McGahee (206 carries, 990 yards, four TDs) powers the NFL’s No. 1-ranked running game that averages 163 yards per game and takes pressure off Tebow. Of course, the multi-talented QB is also a terrific runner, complementing McGahee with 610 yards and another six scores. Buffalo’s run defense has fallen to 29th in the league after giving up 200-plus yards to Miami’s Reggie Bush. If McGahee and Tebow run wild, this one will be over before it starts. Offensively, the Bills’ offensive line will need a big game against one of the NFL’s best pass-rushing teams with 36 sacks. Struggling QB Ryan Fitzpatrick leads the league with 19 interceptions and could crumble fast under a Broncos’ onslaught.’

‘The No. 2 and 3 picks in last April’s NFL draft will be on the field Saturday when the Bills host the Broncos. Denver linebacker Von Miller is storming his way toward NFL defensive rookie of the year honors with 63 tackles and 11.5 sacks. Buffalo defensive tackle Marcell Dareus should also earn some post-season recognition thanks to his 38 tackles and team-high 5.5 sacks. The Bills very likely would’ve drafted Miller had Denver not. While Dareus has helped Buffalo’s run defense, the team still lacks a game-changing pass rusher like Miller. Denver is overflowing with pass rushers, including Miller, Elvis Dumervil (8.5 sacks) and D.J. Williams (5.5).’

‘The team has traditionally had difficulty selling out games past Thanksgiving. And it doesn’t help that the Bills (5-9) are in the midst of a seven-game skid that’s knocked them out of playoff contention.’

‘Chandler has missed the past two games with a left ankle injury. He’s tied for the team lead with six touchdowns.’