JETS DOMINATE BRONCOS, 42-21
Turner Four TDs Rushing for NY

If anyone harbors any ideas about the Broncos being competitive this year, a
viewing of the first quarter of the Jets / Denver game should quickly dispel
them. 

Within the first 11 minutes, the Jets had jumped to a 21-0 lead, with each
drive a study in contrasts - the contrast between a good team and a poor -
nay, a bad one.  

A very bad one.  

The Broncos were sacked on their opening play, and eventually forced to punt
on a 4th and 21 from their own four yard line. Five plays by the Jets, 50
yards, touchdown, with Michael Turner doing the honors from eight yards out
on a trap where he ran untouchded into the end zone.  

Another three-and-out, and another Jet touchdown, with Turner going over from
a yard out on third and one after the Broncos successfully challenged his
second down score.  

When Griese's first pass was picked off by linebacker James Harrison and
returned 33 yards to the Denver 17, the only mystery was who would score the
next touchdown - it would turn out to be veteran wideout Donald Driver on a
three-yard hitch pass from Shaun Hill.  

With the game in hand, the Jets appeared to relax, and the Broncos made a
game of it the rest of the way, with both teams playing to a 21-21 tie over
the final 49 minutes. But the 21-0 lead the Broncos spotted the Jets in the
first quarter meant the Broncos were playing catch-up from early on, and
although the Broncos offense scored three touchdowns, the Denver defense gave
them up just as quickly as the offense scored. The Broncos never closed the
gap to within more than two touchdowns (at 21-7 and 28-14) throughout the
contest, and the Jets lead got as high as 28 when Michael Turner scored twice
more in the second and third quarters to open a 42-14 gap.  

While the Broncos did score one meaningless touchdown for pride's sake on a
seven-minute drive late in the fourth quarter, the game was clearly out of
reach well earlier, and one had the feeling the Jets, who scored 35 in the
first half and then scored another touchdown on their first possession of the
second half, could have scored 70 or more if they had been so inclined.    

The stats are deceptively close, but that's because the Broncos spent most of
the second half playing against the Jets second team defense to a great
extent. Irrespective of that, some Broncos did stand out. Dwayne Bowe caught
11 passes to lead the Broncos in that stat, while Lendale White rushed for 84
yards on just 10 carries. Ricky Williams contributed another 47 on the ground
and a touchdown. Brian Gries's three interceptions and one lost fumble gave
the Jets four turnovers on the day, and the 4 to 0 turnover differential
contributed mightily to the Jets dominance.  

One fine Denver drive, from their own one yard line, ended after nine minutes
and 21 plays when Griese was picked off in the Jets end zone by Jets
cornerback Carlos Rogers. That offensive effort sums up the Broncos attack,
while the defensive effort was missing from the start.  

Post Game Notes: Robaire Smith got a bit of good news in the game, when the
Broncos recent acquisition via the waiver wire was carted off in the first
quarter with an injury that will keep him out the rest of the year. At least
he will avoid any blame for the disaster that is the 2009 ISFL Broncos.