The home stretch – like it or not, the Denver Broncos are getting ready to hit the part of the season that will determine if this year’s team is what coach Mike Shanahan would call a special team.”We’ve got the second half of the season in front of us. If you are going to make this a special year and a special team, you’ve got to play at a high level,” said Shanahan at a recent press conference.What are the chances the 2004 Broncos will exceed the 2003 three-team that got beat on both sides of the ball last January against the Indianapolis Colts?Now that the first 10 games of the season are decided, the orange and blue face AFC foes in the six remaining games on their schedule. In fact, the Broncos won’t see another NFC team until either next year or when they battle the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, but that is a topic for another time.Of the remaining six games, three are against division opponents, all of which Denver beat the first time around. This means that the Broncos have a golden opportunity to run the table in the AFC, as well as the division for the remainder of the season, especially since the Chargers have four division games left and have already come up short against the orange and blue. They have a 1-1 division record.If Denver can win five of these last six games, in addition to sweeping their AFC Western Division opponents, they should have little trouble outpacing the hot and cold San Diego Chargers for the division title. They may even steal a couple of home-field playoff games against some key AFC opponents, includingthe Indianapolis Colts who the Broncos once again will play at the end of the season.Recording a couple multi-game winning streaks and going 6-0 against the division will be quite the task, especially considering Denver has away games at Kansas City and San Diego, mixed in with a home game against the Raiders.So far, Denver ranks fifth in the NFL for total offense and fourth in total defense. Those numbers are going to have to remain constant during the remainder of the season for this team to continue winning. With games remaining against powerhouse offenses like the Chiefs and the Colts, Denver can’t afford to have any kind of slump and maintain a two to one win/loss ratio.Plenty of teams do win without high marks in total offense and total defense categories. The New England Patriots aren’t in the top-five in either category, but the difference is that they make fewer mistakes than their opponents week in and week out and continue to produce wins.The Broncos on the other hand still have the inability to create turnovers, minus seven prior to the New Orleans game, they lack efficiency in the red zone, settling for Jason Elam field goals over 37 percent of the time, and they continue to be outplayed on special teams. Denver has started about twice as many drives inside their own 20-yard line as have their opponents.The red zone efficiency could be the most telltale sign when it comes to continued success.Although the Broncos are in the top-five in total offense, they rank 12th in points scored per game, just above 22. Touchdowns win games; field goals keep you within striking distance.The Broncos must also maintain the fourth quarter dominance they have displayed thus far in the 2004 season. The defense is ranked No. 1 in the NFL for yards allowed in the fourth quarter, with their opponents averaging a measly 46.Houston is the only team to gain over 100 yards in the fourth quarter against the Denver “D.” The closest any other team came was Cincinnati with 60.On offense, Jake Plummer is going to throw interceptions. However, he should also continue to throw touchdowns. Heading into last weekends game against the Saints he had thrown 19 scores, in large part due to defenses keying on the running game in the red zone.Regardless, Denver has the type of defense that can overcome a turnover or two, just look at the Kansas City game.The one final ingredient the team lacks each week is the killer instinct that tells them to put the last nail in a teams’ coffin by putting the ball in the zone.When Denver trades score for score with another team they leave themselves open for getting beat down the stretch, whether it be a Plummer interception, a special teams’ letdown or a blown coverage. But, a two-touchdown lead puts Plummer at ease and allows the defense to attack.The Broncos have a consistent running game that eats up the clock. Rueben Droughns has already amassed two of the top-six individual rushing performances in the NFL this season with 193 yards against Carolina and 176 against the Raiders, a game in which the Broncos enjoyed a 14-minute difference in time of possession.Combine this with a stingy defense, especially against the pass allowing only 168 yards per game, and this team has a chance to win a large percentage of their remaining games.This gains the team a bye in the first round of the playoffs and home field advantage in the second. But that’s it, the road to the bowl will go through either New England or Pittsburgh.In the end, the key to gaining a victory in Plummer’s words is “to continue to work hard and eliminate a few bad plays here and there and get ready to win”Predictions:Week 12: At home against the RaidersThe Broncos have had the Raiders’ number the last few years and the trend continues.Denver 27 Oakland 14Week 13: On the road vs. San Diego.The defense gives up a couple of big plays as this game turns into a shootout.Denver 31 San Diego 28Week 14: At home against Miami.The Dolphins have been hit with a bit of bad luck and circumstance this year with the injury to David Boston and the Ricky Williams fiasco. Denver fires on all eight cylinders in this game and hands the Dolphins another loss.Denver 28 Miami 10Week 15: On the road against Kansas CityArrowhead Stadium would be one of the hardest places for Denver to get a win even if the Chiefs were 0-14. Kansas City has been relegated to the role of spoiler and since turnovers are what losses them games and the Broncos are not forcing any, the chefs’ offense cooks them up a win.Kansas City 31 Denver 23Week 16, Christmas Day: On the road against TennesseeThis game will mean a whole lot more to the Broncos than it will the Titans.Denver 24 Tenessee 17
