A record 41,304 fans flooded into Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium for the Broncos scrimmage on Saturday.

Those who have followed the Denver Broncos all their lives have seen hundreds of special moments throughout the history of the franchise. Still, there was something extraordinary about seeing Peyton Manning run onto Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium in a Broncos uniform for the first time. Even fans raised on Mile High Magic and John Elway comebacks couldn’t help but be moved by what took place at the annual scrimmage on Saturday. A record 41,304 fans packed into the stadium which forced the opening of the middle bowl to handle the overflow. There were several loud roars and reasons for fans to cheer, but the loudest and longest occurred during Manning’s grand entrance. You would be hard pressed to find fans that didn’t get goose bumps at that moment. It signaled the beginning of an exciting journey that is going to last until Manning decides to hang them up, and Broncos Country is ready for the ride.

Manning may have been the headliner, but there were several other things worth talking about by the time the crowd headed for the exits. Here are some thoughts on the Broncos scrimmage:

• Willis McGahee was in full-on Beast Mode. It may have been his first real action of the preseason but he looked to be in regular season form already. He had a couple of tough runs for big yardage where he either dragged tacklers along or went right over them. If McGahee hadn’t already introduced himself to Drayton Florence earlier in camp, he certainly did it with his stiff arm on Saturday.
• The offense took a little time to get started, but by the time Manning was finished he led the Broncos offense on an impressive touchdown drive that culminated with a nice grab by Eric Decker. The touchdown play was vintage Manning. On third-and-six from the 9-yard line he was shouting directions to his teammates until the last second and delivered a beautiful back shoulder pass to the left corner of the end zone. Decker adjusted to the ball, hauled it in, and touched off another celebration from the big crowd.
• The first and second defensive units both put a ton of pressure on the quarterbacks. The biggest concern from the entire scrimmage was how much pressure the starting offensive line allowed on Manning by the second team defensive line. Pass protection should be a focal point in the meeting rooms going forward during camp. The Broncos need Manning upright if he is going to be effective.
• It was interesting that Caleb Hanie took the second team reps at quarterback, but it made more sense after Brock Osweiler took the field.  Osweiler looked raw, but as with every rookie he probably should at this point. I still fully expect him to move into the backup role by the time the season rolls around.
• Quarterback Adam Weber turned my head a few times. He threw the ball with authority and had a nifty scramble that exhibited his elusiveness. I’m interested to see what happens with Weber during the rest of camp.
• The first team defense looked nasty during their live reps. They completely bottled up the offense, put constant pressure on the quarterback during passing plays, and did a good job of gang tackling. Elvis Dumervil had the signature moment with a sack that was helped along by some penetration by Von Miller.
• At defensive tackle (possibly the most interesting position to watch during training camp), Ty Warren started with the first team and played well. He is trying to bounce back from consecutive missed seasons due to injuries and got off to a fast start. He would have registered a sack against Hanie but the quarterbacks were off limits on Saturday.
• Broncos Country brought it as always! Denver fans never cease to amaze me but the sight of 41,000 plus fans at a glorified practice was very impressive. If Saturday was any indication the season opener against Pittsburgh is going to be something to be remembered.
• The Broncos may have some issues to work out still, but regardless of what happens the rest of the year this team is in good shape as long as Manning is behind center. His arm looks fine and at this point it’s hard to see any lingering effects from his neck injury.
• Denver’s first preseason game is Thursday against the Chicago Bears. With as many new faces as the Broncos have on their roster these games are extremely important and each one is going to tell us quite a bit about what we can expect in 2012. Hit me up on Twitter and let’s chat during the games in real time!

Make sure to follow @MileHighMonday &@Predomorange on Twitter and Predominantly Orange on Facebook.

Matt Prater drills a 59-yard field goal to tie the game. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Thoughts on the amazing win over the Chicago Bears at Mile High Stadium (In no particular order):

• Mile High Magic is back! I thought it had died years ago when the Broncos moved into the new stadium, but it turns out it was just lying dormant. What I saw yesterday was eerily similar to some of the wildest finishes in franchise history. Everyone who watched that Marion Barber fumble in overtime had to be reminded of “The Fumble” game in 1988 when the Broncos won the AFC Championship over the Cleveland Browns on an Earnest Byner fumble. The atmosphere and electricity flowing through the stadium literally jumped off the TV. I believe that there is no place in the league with a better atmosphere during games like that than Mile High Stadium, and that game was one you had to see to truly believe. When Denver failed to recover the onside kick after they scored to pull within 10-7, I let doubt enter my mind for a few moments. I should have known better. I was lamenting the fact the streak might be over just as Barber ran out of bounds while trying to kill the clock which gave the Broncos new life. I quickly snapped out of it and immediately realized that they were in fact going to win the game. I didn’t even need to watch the final drive or the 59-yard game tying field goal by Matt Prater. I knew his kick was going to be perfect before they even lined up. There is just no other way it could happen for this Denver Broncos team. That belief — the knowing that they are going to win — is exactly what Mile High Magic is all about. It’s infectious, and every fan and player on the field knows what is going to happen. This team has awakened the tradition and the spirit of the franchise, and I believe that their improbable run is just getting started.
• Once again, the Denver defense put forth an incredible effort. They held the Bears to only 12 first downs, 245 total yards, and a 2 for 15 rate on 3rd down attempts. D.J. Williams (2), Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil all registered sacks, and Williams led the team with 9 tackles and 4 tackles for loss. Wesley Woodyard made the play of the game defensively when he stripped Marion Barber in overtime and gave the ball back to a red-hot Tim Tebow. I love to see guys like Williams and Woodyard step up to dominate a game like that. If they can complement the consistent stars like Miller, Dumervil, and Champ Bailey, the sky is the limit for this group.

(more…)

There are literally hundreds of nail-biting victories, unbelievable plays, and chaotic finishes from the Broncos past to choose from. But one game that always seems to come up when talking about an amazing Broncos finish is a 1985 contest with the San Diego Chargers at Mile High Stadium.

(more…)