For the Denver Broncos, Broncopalooza comes down to this game. The final game of the season, a must win for Denver if they want to see some post-season action. Of course, they also need a little help from some other teams, but there isn’t much you can do about that. Denver just needs to win, and despite some miscues and a pretty anemic second half, that’s what Denver was able to do in our Madden 10 sim. Things weren’t looking good early on. Kansas City had a solid drive going that took them all the way to the eight yard line when they fumbled the ball. Denver recovered and drove down the field for a TD. Kansas was able to bust a big play for 72 yards on the ensuing drive which led to a TD of their own. Denver quickly responded and then the Chiefs were poised to do the same when suddenly Brian Dawkins snagged the ball and ran back for a TD of an INT. The extra point was blocked but Denver went from possibly being tied at fourteen to being up 20-7. The second half wasn’t kind to either team. No one could do anything in the third quarter, and although The Chiefs made it to the goal line in the fourth, Denver stopped them on four tries and kept the score 20-7. Denver still couldn’t get much done, and when Kansas finally got another solid drive going, they fumbled and Denver recovered.
The Chiefs did what they’ve done all season; play decent football but make too many mistakes. If it weren’t for the turnovers, this game could have been entirely different. The Chiefs defense was solid against the run with Moreno only gaining 52 yards on 16 carries and 1 TD. Orton, meanwhile, find a bit more success through the air with 14 of 20 completions for 234 yards and 1 TD. The really big play of the game was the Dawkins interception for a TD. That was the final score of the game, and really the last big play.
If Denver can show some solid defense and some decent offense, and if Kansas plays true to form, this game should be a win for them. Will it be? Their playoff lives depend on it, so hopefully they’ll play that way.
