6-0 Broncos Force Utterance of Hardest 3 Words to Say

Denver Broncos kick returner Eddie Royal out runs San Diego Chargers' Kris Wilson while returning a kick-off 93-yards for a touchdown. Photograph: Denis Poroy/AP

I was wrong.

At water coolers throughout the Rockies, and beyond, expect all sorts of folks to include these three words in the discussion of last night’s thrilling victory over division-rival San Diego.

I was wrong.

Also included in the joyous game recap amongst Denver Bronco orange-bloods will be thoughts and phrases that seemed far too incredible  to consider back in August.

“Orton is a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback.”

“Josh McDaniels really knows what he’s doing.”

“Boy, I guess Pat Bowlen was smart to fire Mike Shanahan.”

“We’re going to win the AFC West.”

“Ya gotta love Brandon Marshall.”

“That defense reminds me a lot of the Orange Crush.”

That last one would have seemed so hallucinatory at the dawn of the season.  The Broncos over the past few years have been known more for ‘efense–no D on those teams.  Opponents merely had to avoid throwing the ball in the direction of Champ Bailey (nicknamed “Waterloo” by Tony Romo fans), and teams like the Chargers could slice and dice their way up and down the field at will.

Not anymore.  Give credit to San Diego.  The team knew its season was on the line last night, and for the first half the Chargers played like the high-octane team that many expected to reach the Super Bowl.  But the reality of their dysfunctional organization set in during the second half.  So also did the reality of Denver’s surprisingly cohesive organization, reflected in the Broncos’ unrelenting play in all three phases of the game.  They won with special teams, defense and offense, in that order.  Their next victory probably shuffles that order, based on the different ways they’ve won these first six games.  And that is the mark of a good, solid football team, this ability to find different ways to win football games.

While there is much wailing and gnashing of teeth in Washington, Tampa, Nashville, Seattle, St. Louis, Kansas City, Oakland and, yes, Dallas–the sun came out a little brighter today in Denver.  Folks might notice the air got even a little thinner after last night.  The Broncos are 6-0, baby!   And their season has been such a delight in its unfolding that people across Bronco Nation and beyond; plumbers, daycare workers, executives, bus drivers, homemakers, sportswriters, policemen and pundits– people from all walks of life have an extra spring in their step today, and the great surprise and wonder created by this unbeaten Bronco team has everyone tossing out those difficult three words as if they were changing their choices in an ice cream shop.  “I was wrong.  Give me the chocolate-strawberry cheesecake-lollopalooza instead.”

I was wrong.

In Bronco Country, these three words never sounded so good.