By Jim Lyles
BRONCOS RUSH OFFENSE:
The Broncos averaged 3.6 yards per carry, and gained 124 yards on 34 tries. Tim Tebow was the leading rusher with 49 yards from scrimmage. The Bears front seven held the Broncos rushing attack in check for the entire game.
Grade: C-
BRONCOS PASS OFFENSE:
With the ground game struggling, the Broncos offense turned to Tebow’s arm. Tebow went 21-for-40 for 221 yard, one touchdown, and one interception. Tebow didn’t have a statistically great game with a quarterback rating of a 68.3.
Tebow “Tebowed” and was perfect on an all important touchdown drive going 7-for-7 on a 63-yard drive that pulled the Broncos to within three points with barely over two minutes to play in regulation.
Demaryius Thomas caught seven passes and the Broncos sole TD on a 10-yard pass play.
The Broncos offensive line allowed 5 sacks with one of those sacks leading to a Tebow fumble.
Grade: C+
BRONCOS RUN DEFENSE:
The Broncos run defense allowed 159 yards on the ground on 38 attempts for a 4.2-yard average. The Broncos defense forced a crucial fumble by Bears running back Marion Barber that put a halt to what looked like a potential game winning overtime march by the Bears.
Grade: C
BRONCOS PASS DEFENSE:
The Broncos pass defense was very good. The Bears only completed 12-0f-19 passes for 86 yards.
The Broncos sacked Caleb Hanie four times, led by D.J. Williams (2.0), Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil (1.0).
Grade: A
BRONCOS SPECIAL TEAMS:
Matt Prater kicked a 59-yard field goal to tie the game in regulation. He also had the game winning 51-yard field goal in overtime for the win. That’s handling pressure.
The Broncos did have a field goal blocked in regulation by Bears defensive end Julius Peppers.
Britton Colquitt had eight punts for a 45.4 average. The Broncos did allow Bears return specialist Devin Hester to return a punt 26 yards that led to an eventual Marion Barber 9-yard TD run midway through the third quarter.
Grade: A
OVERALL TEAM RATING:
This was not a game where the Broncos out coached their opponent. This was the tale of two teams. A Bears team trying not to lose by playing conservatively against a Broncos team believing they were going to win.
When you believe in yourself, you take chances. If you don’t believe you don’t take chances and you play a self-conscious game hoping to avoid mistakes. Any coach will tell you if you’re thinking about making mistakes, that’s when mistakes happen.
The Broncos “never give up” attitud is one that the entire team has bought into. Its apparent that from week-to-week the Broncos believe in their possibility to win under adverse situations and quitting isn’t in the formula.
Grade: C+
Make sure to follow Predominantly Orange on Facebook and on Twitter.