October 7, 2008 4:00 PM
Broncos true colors not determined
You are what you are.
If the record says 4-1, that's it.
But if recent seasons are any indication, the Broncos fast starts aren't always the truest indication of their league-standing.
The middle portion of the schedule is what's most telling.
In five of the last six years, Denver has opened with at least a 4-1 record but soon after began a middle stretch that helped define its season for better, or usually, worse.
A rundown:
--- 5-1 in 2006, only to drop 5 of 7 games from Oct. 29-Dec. 10 and finish out of the postseason;
--- 5-1 in 2005, but after a one-point defeat at the New York Giants, a run of eight wins in nine games (Oct. 30-Dec. 31) to clinch the AFC West;
--- 5-1 in 2004 but losses in 4 of the next 6 games (Oct. 25-Dec.5) killing division title hopes and leading to a second straight road wild-card game in Indianapolis;
--- 5-1 in 2003, spoiled by a 1-4 stretch (Oct. 5-Nov. 23) and the first Colts post-season buzzsaw;
--- 4-1 in 2002, padded to 6-2 before four losses in five games (Nov. 11-Dec. 8), sending Denver on a path out of playoff contention.
As you can see, all but one of those streaks began in October.
When the leaves have completely changed, the Broncos show their true colors, too.
This season should really bear that out, given the road-instensive path ahead.
After this week's game vs. Jacksonville at the Stock Yard (I've always wanted to get that in. Sounds better than Invesco Field, doesn't it?), the Broncos have four of the next six contests through the end of November on the road.
All four are in the Eastern time zone, with excusions to New England, Cleveland, Atlanta and New York.
They'll definitely be packing their bags It will alsodemonstrate whether they ought to pack it in, too, despite the early momentum.
--- Lee Rasizer
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