Earlier today, Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla wrote that these 2-4 Denver Broncos are much better than their 2009 counterparts who started the season a shocking 6-0 before missing the playoffs.
↵He's right.
↵The Broncos went into Sunday's game bruised and battered, limping after Baltimore pummeled them last Sunday. They were missing one of their top linebackers in Robert Ayers, their top safety in Brian Dawkins and still held one of the top teams in football to 17 (okay, 24) points. They pressured Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez all day, forcing him to make mistakes. They attacked, they were aggressive, and they were successful. Knowshon Moreno gave the running game a boost -- which had to happen eventually -- and gave Kyle Orton some much needed support, especially with Darrelle Revis lurking in the secondary.
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This is the heart of the argument. These Broncos have survived the most difficult part of their schedule, running a brutal gauntlet of Indianapolis, Tennessee, Baltimore, and now the New York Jets. What remains is eight games within a division that is still completely up for grabs, with only the surprising Kansas City Chiefs and the 2-4 Broncos showing enough fight to be competitive within the AFC West.
↵The Broncos have passed through the early season fire, and may finally be growing up.