Dec 23 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) dances after sacking Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden (3) (not pictured) in the third quarter at Sports Authority Field. The Broncos defeated the Browns 34-12. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos are a runaway train. Their latest opponent went the exact same way as the 9 before them: battered, bruised and with a solid beat down. Denver put away the Cleveland Browns by a final score of 34-12, but this one was out of reach early thanks to dominating performances on both sides of the ball.

The Broncos have won an astonishing 10 straight contests after opening the season at 2-3. Even more impressive is that all of those wins were by 7 or more points. They remain in control of the 2 seed in the AFC which would guarantee a home game in the playoffs. One more victory to end the regular season and Denver will have their first 13-win campaign since 2005 and their longest winning streak since 1998. Both of those seasons ended with deep playoff runs, and it looks like this team could wreak havoc in the playoffs as well.

Here are some thoughts on the Denver Broncos victory over the Cleveland Browns:

• Aside from an interception near the end of the first half Peyton Manning may have played his best game of the season. He finished with a season-high 339 yards and it was the 72nd game of his career where he threw for at least 3 touchdowns. That puts him in a tie with Brett Favre for the most ever in NFL history. Odds are pretty good he will own that record by himself very soon.
• Von Miller recorded 1.5 sacks and now owns the Denver single-season record with 17.5. It just so happened that the guy who previously owned the record was on the field to see it. Elvis Dumervil responded to losing his sack record by getting 2 of his own. Miller and Dumervil, or Von Doom as the tandem has come to be known, now have combined for 28.5 sacks on the year. If Denver is to make a deep playoff run there is no doubt that these 2 will need to continue hammering opposing quarterbacks.
• There were a lot of impressive stats yesterday, especially if you are a Broncos fan, but probably the most important was Denver’s 9 of 15 rate on third-down conversions. NFL quarterbacks earn their money on third downs and Manning is an artist in those situations. Two of his touchdown passes came on third downs, the first on the opening drive to Demaryius Thomas and the second to Eric Decker early in the second quarter.
• It’s hard to be critical of a team that has won 10 straight games and continue to win with ease, but the one area of concern is the special teams. In particular they need to figure out their fumble issue on punt returns. Trindon Holliday and Jim Leonhard each fumbled a return against the Browns. Denver was lucky enough to recover both of them, but it’s worrisome that Holliday’s fumble issues seem to have spread to the “fair catch guy”. A turnover after a defensive stop can be bad enough, but to do so deep in your own territory can change the outcome of a game. The Broncos may have been able to avoid such a play against the Browns but they might not get as lucky in the playoffs.
• Next up is the regular season finale at home against the sad Kansas City Chiefs. If Denver takes care of business they will end the season on a ridiculous 11-game winning streak and lock up at least the #2 seed in the AFC playoffs. Go Broncos!
• Last thought: I hope you all have a safe and joyous holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas! (Photo: Chris Krier)

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Peyton Manning (18) calls for a hike in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Sports Authority Field. The Broncos defeated the Browns 34-12. (Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports)

With the Denver Broncos’ 34-12 win over the Cleveland Browns, we can have ourselves a merry little Christmas, and let our hearts be light. Our losing troubles are way, way out of sight. The Broncos have gift-wrapped us 10 wins in a row this season which is their third double-digit winning streak in franchise history.

Tis’ the season for giving and receiving. Peyton Manning gave and gave to his receivers from the start. Demaryius Thomas had 5 catches for 67 yards in the first quarter alone in addition to the Broncos’ opening drive touchdown, a 22-yard beauty. Eric Decker joined in on the first half air attack with 4 receptions for 48 yards and a 10-yard touchdown catch in the back of the end zone to put the Broncos up 14-3 at the start of the second quarter. Thomas and Decker finished the day with 9 receptions for 102 yards (1 TD), and 6 receptions for 65 yard (2 TDs),  respectively.

Tight end Jacob Tamme got in on the receiving act as well with his only two catches going for career longs. He had a 36-yard catch in the second quarter and then a 33-yard reception in the second half that set up Decker’s second touchdown of the day. With that score, Manning posted his 72nd career game with at least 3 passing touchdowns which ties Brett Favre for the most in NFL history.

Manning showed his human side on Sunday as well when he led the Broncos down the field in the two-minute drill. First, the Broncos received a delay of game penalty coming out of the timeout. That was followed up by a Manning interception in the end zone on a pass intended for Knowshon Moreno. Still, Manning finished the day going 30-for-43 for 339 yards with 3 touchdowns.

Speaking of Moreno, he went dashing through the turf in a white horse open sleigh on his way to 78 yards on 22 carries in addition to 49 yards on 5 receptions. Moreno has 100+ yards from scrimmage in the last four of five games which is tied for second in the NFL. Although Moreno didn’t get into the end zone, the running attack was able to pound the ball in from the 1-yard line with fullback Jacob Hester after the Broncos recovered a muffed Josh Cribbs punt in the fourth quarter. The rushing attack finished the day with 118 yards on the ground.

The Broncos’ defense held the Browns to just 142 yards passing and forced them to go 3-for-12 on third down. It wasn’t until Colt McCoy found Greg Little in the end zone midway through the fourth quarter that the Browns got a touchdown on the board.

Starting quarterback Brandon Weeden left the game in the second half with a shoulder injury and never returned. The Browns’ quarterbacks were sacked 6 times and hit 9 times.

Von Miller recorded 1.5 sacks bringing his total up to 17.5 on the season. With that, he set a franchise record for most sacks in a season to beat Elvis Dumervil’s record setting 17 sacks in 2009.

“He’s a great player. I think he’s gotten better,” head coach John Fox said after the game. “The thing I really appreciate about the guy, he’s a team guy, he’s not about the personal accolades, he’s about those [wins].”

Dumervil, the guy that Miller passed in the orange and blue record book recorded 2 sacks while Wesley Woodyard added 1.5 sacks.

This win heading into the holiday is a far cry from where the team was this time last year. Nearly a year ago to the day, the Broncos lost to the Buffalo Bills 40-14 on Christmas Eve. Three interceptions, one fumble, and 152 passing yards from Tim Tebow was the equivalent to coal in the orange stocking.

This year, the Broncos and Manning have made it the hap-happiest season of all. They’re in the running for No. 1 in the AFC.

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Trent Richardson (33) during a game against the Washington Redskins at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Washington won 38-21. (David Richard-USA TODAY Sports)

This week, we’re going Inside the Villain’s Venue with Steve DiMatteo of Dawg Pound Daily. Steve is Fansided’s go-to guy for all information on the Cleveland Browns.

The Browns are 5-9, but they can be a deadly bunch. They beat the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals earlier in the season. Let’s get to know this team a little better as we go Inside the Villain’s Venue with Dawg Pound Dailiy.

Predominantly Orange: The Broncos gave Brandon Weeden a look before last year’s draft. Do you think he’s the Browns’ QB of the future?

Dawg Pound Daily: Because of his age, Weeden can be the quarterback of the future, but only for a limited time. He has, at times, looked like he could be the answer for a few years, but the Browns must still look for prospects that can be groomed. For now, Weeden can be a stopgap option for a few seasons while the Browns look for a younger quarterback to groom.

PO: Trent Richardson, another rookie, is a top-15 running back right now. What makes him so difficult to stop?

DPD: Elusiveness isn’t his style, so he just beats you through pure strength. I’ve never seen anyone so hard to bring down – he carries defenders with him down the field. If he incorporates more moves into his game, he could be unstoppable.

PO: What are the Browns’ biggest strengths and biggest weaknesses?

DPD: The Browns are a strong defensive team – for the most part – when CB Joe Haden is on the field, but their biggest weakness continues to be an inability to put everything together for an entire game. Overall, they are not a bad team, but their youth is often their own worst enemy, as they are still trying to figure out what it takes to play consistently strong football.

PO: Do you think head coach Pat Shurmur is the guy that can finally revive this franchise?

DPD: Unfortunately, I don’t think he gets that chance. All signs point to him being let go at the end of the season.

PO: Finally, your prediction for Sunday’s game?

DPD: Peyton Manning is his usual robotic self and the Browns are reeling from their disappointing game against the Redskins last week. Broncos win, 24-13.

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