Posted by Jtpsops on 9/13/2011 4:32:00 PM (view original):
And yet a wet ball slipping out of Orton's hand was likely the difference in the game. When you run wild like that over a team and only win 23-20, the other team obviously did something right.
Which is another reason I keep Orton starting. The Broncos had a middle of the pack offense last season...their defense was horrible. Their defense looked strong last night, holding the Raiders to FGs on three of those drives, twice on very short fields and once on a booming line drive by Janikowski. If their defense has indeed improved (and I'm not saying they have, there is still a lot to prove), then Orton and that offense give them a good shot to stay in/win some key games.
Was that fumble the difference in the game? Rather than a 90-yard punt return making it close only for the Broncos offence to mess up drive after drive with turnovers, penalties or poor throws? Orton finished completing about 50 per cent of his passes. Unless you can pound the rock, that won't get it done in the modern-day NFL. We've been down this road before, you and I.
I'm guessing you've come around to accepting my point during last season about Josh McDaniels being an arrogant and out-of-his-depth punk who mismanaged his relationships with key players. Eventually you'll understand why Tim Tebow was a wasted pick and the Broncos won't win with Orton.
On the positive side, it does look like Denver might have a decent shot at landing Andrew Luck.