Sluss's 2007 AFC Rankings (Week 5)

[AquaSwing]

The Broncos looked completely awful on Sunday. There are lots of reasons why:

Tom Nalen tore his bicep in the first quarter but played the rest of the game knowing that the backup center was on IR. There was only one other lineman dressed for the game and he wasn't prepared to play center. They couldn't run any interior running plays successfully the rest of the game.

Bailey went out before half with an injury. Bly was hobbling as well. Lynch was not 100% and that was easy to see.

Oh yes, the kickoff fumble that went for the touchdown. Ouch. I think that was a superb hit to knock the ball out. It was essentially over at that point. The next drive Cutler nails a pass to Marshall and he proceeds to hold the football like a loaf of bread. He may as well have handed it to the defense. That's when the game was really over.

Everything else was filler. The inability to stop the big running plays didn't help either. Is Jim Bates really that good?

Even without the multiple injuries they weren't going to win. San Diego was far more prepared to play. That just made the loss worse.

Anyway, they should be in the bottom quarter of the rankings!

[Jcrew]

Oakland is too high. Culpepper inability to play without Moss will be showcased again this season.