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On Ring of Fame reunion night, Sharpe impressed by Broncos**
With the Broncos 1997 Super Bowl team at Sports Authority Field at Mile High to witness Pat Bowlen's induction into the Ring of Fame and for a revisitation of the classic Super Bowl XXXII matchup between Denver and Green Bay, the historic team got to see the current team put on its most complete showing yet.
Offensively and defensively, the Broncos made esteemed alumni proud and after the game, they started to trickle into a jubilant 7-0 locker room.
The Broncos topped the Green Bay Packers to remain undefeated. Here are the best shots of the win.
"For the team to have their best performance all year, I think that speaks to what this team can actually be," said Ring of Fame and Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe. "They played well, they ran the ball well, they protected Manning, Manning threw the ball well, the guys caught the ball well. [...] The offensive line has gotten better and better and better. They can run the ball now and I don't think—Manning might have gotten pushed down once tonight."
"The defense, I mean if you can hold [Packers QB] Aaron Rodgers and that offense to under 180 yards of total offense—I think they might have had 120 yards passing—that speaks to what this defense we have and what type of team this can be."
It was actually considerably fewer yards than that. Rodgers totaled just 77 net passing yards, which fell to 50 once you incorporate the 27 yards he lost when sacked three times. As a whole, the Packers mustered 140 net yards. The last time Rodgers played in a game with fewer total yards than that was a Nov. 19, 2006 matchup against the Patriots when he came into the game after Brett Favre was injured as the Packers got shut out 35-0.
Sharpe, however, cautioned that as powerful that win was, it means little for the games to come.
"They're 7-0 but 7-0 doesn't get you anything," Sharpe said. "All it does is get you an opportunity to say 'Hey, we played good this week.' Now they've got to go back on the road next week then carry it over."
- Ben Swanson
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'Tight-end friendly' offense make statement**
Head Coach Gary Kubiak has always been known for running tight-end friendly offenses at all his coaching stops, but through six games, fans had yet to see a real jump in production from the position -- until Sunday night.
Combined, tight ends Virgil Green and Owen Daniels lit up the Packers defense, becoming unexpected targets for quarterback Peyton Manning.
The tight end duo picked apart the Packers safeties with short crossing routes, exploiting the weaknesses in their man defense.
"We knew they were going to be playing man and a lot of those crossing routes you could just see the man coverage with a single safety," Green said. "You give those guys a move at the line of scrimmage then you got a chance. I think everybody did a great job, not just in the passing game, but in the running game as well."
On the day, the pair combined for 105 yards on six receptions. Green tallied 61 yards on and Daniels was responsible for 44 yards.
"I feel like tonight it was attitude. We went out there wanting to make a statement," Green said. "I feel like towards the end of the game, we just had them. We were manhandling them and I felt good about our execution."
Before Sunday's game, Green had collected just three receptions for 38 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown in Kansas City this season. Daniels had accrued 85 receiving yards on 14 catches.
- Allie Raymond
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With the Broncos' win, fans can take advantage of the following promotions:**
- With three touchdowns, Arby's is offering one-dollar roast beef sandwiches.
- Papa John's' 'If the Broncos win, you win!' promotion gives fans in Colorado 50 percent off all orders on Monday.
- McDonald's is offering fans in Colorado one-dollar Big Mac sandwiches or one-dollar sausage egg McMuffins on Monday and 30 percent off any jersey in the Broncos team store.*
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