[Split Thread] Looking ahead to Denver
 

I hope the Texans are studying tonight's game. Manning has been picked three times in the first quarter alone.

Wade, be sure to take some notes.

Denver has totally lost its cool, self discipline in this game.

Denver coaches and players are pissed at themselves, Atlanta, and refs

Hope we can get the turnovers Atlanta has on Denver.

Denvers defense hasn't been bad and Peyton put one good 13 play drive at end of first half, for 20-7 Atlanta halftine lead.

Denver looked scary good last week. This week they look painfully average. That's what I mean about not knowing what I'm seeing early in the year.

You would call them average based on what we've seen? (Mid Q3)....

I sure wouldn't give them that much credit. IF, and that's an IF, they play like this next week, we will be 3-0 for the first time in franchise history (sad).

I don't think the Texans have ever beaten the Broncos, not even the game where Tebow made his second NFL start. Come to think of it, I don't recall the Oilers doing very well up there either.

One thing is true about watching the Broncos this year. They still can't cover tight ends. The Patriots ate them alive last year with throws to the TE and Miller (Pit) and Gonzalez (Atl) had little trouble. If you have OD on your fantasy team, be sure to start him.

I expect Bailey to draw AJ so expect we won't throw there much. Porter likes to jump the route on the other side so a double move could work there.

We have a lot of bad memories about Manning and our defense but Denver's receivers and Denver's OL aren't as good as those Colt teams we remembered. Phillips should not be afraid to bring the blitz because it looks like Manning has less time to throw since coming to Denver.

Bottom line: Texans look like the better team at this point in the season but beating the Manning jinx in mile high air isn't going to be easy.

I recall Mario having a 3.5 (?) sack night against the Broncos here a few years back. It was a win, Thursday night game I think it was and the team was wearing the ketchup bottles.... But that was here, not in Denver...

Tonight's game: Looked like a rout there for a while but leave it Peyton to make it interesting in the end...

You're right about the Ketchup Game. I remember that now. That was in Houston but it was a win.

H 2010/12/26 Denver Broncos 24 - Houston Texans 23 W
A 2007/12/13 Denver Broncos 13 - Houston Texans 31 L
H 2004/11/07 Denver Broncos 31 - Houston Texans 13 W

This is from a site looking at the match up from Denver's perspective.

I think this will be a close game but Texans will win. and sticking to it.
Go Texans.

Man, I know this is a switch, but I am more concerned about our O's effectiveness this week than our D's.

Peyton is not the same Peyton. Noticed that in the Steelers game, and became more apparent in the Falcons game. Doesn't have the same zip on the outs, and anything over 15-20 yards are wobbly. Not saying he's washed up by any means, but he's just not back yet. He still makes good decisions, quickly, so I don't think this will be a huge sack game, but if our secondary can contain, we should be OK. It's all about the YAC with these guys. Thier run O is nothing special, and we should be OK there.

The Broncs have some talent on the D, vs. both the run and pass. I would think they have a slight edge on the run side. Could this be a game where we chunk it around 35-40 times? I'm thinking so. Using the pass to set up the run has worked for us in the past, and definitely could be in the game plan this week.

As far as the history between these two, I don't really see that as being too relevant. New D for us, new D and new O for them, even with Peyton as the helm.

Should be a great game, and definitely one I am looking forward to.

The Broncos defensive staff should be very familiar with the Texans' offense, since DC Jack Del Rio coached against it twice a year for six years in Jacksonville and LB coach Richard Smith saw it every day in practice during the three years he was the Texans' DC. Of course, familiarity doesn't necessarily lead to success, though.

Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington):

Broncos LB Von Miller was limited in today's practice here in Denver with a hip injury. Availability for Texans' game not yet known.