Don't worry - we'll score points on them.
That is my #1 concern going into a rematch. The D has come around in containing Denver's offense but we have yet to prove we can put points on the board against their D. I don't care how bad other teams make them look.
We have not scored a meaningful TD against the Broncos since Brady hit Givens on 11/3/03. We have put up point totals of 6, 6 and 0 through 3 quarters in our last 3 meetings and faced deficits of 22, 18 and 17 points in the 4th quarter.
We've not been aided by good field position b/c the Broncos have committed just 1 turnover in 3 meetings and that was deep in Pats territory. In order to put up points, we have to manage long drives against Denver's defense and until it happens we'll be kicking FG's and watching them build a double-digit lead before we get serious in the 4th and score TDs while they are in prevent.
IMO the key is converting ONE big play against their D early on, preferably for 6. Just ONE. We need to rattle them somehow, someway - they are simply not intimidated by our offense and have said so. When's the last time we hit them for a big play early on? Yep, the last time we beat them.
If our offense can't get it going it just creates too much pressure on the D to hold its own and create turnovers. We have contained their offense but eventually they will come up with a big play that puts the game out of reach (since we are no threat to score anyways).
Who knows? Perhaps Cutler will collapse in the playoffs and our D will get us the W but I wouldn't count on it- this is the team that went 3-0 against us with Jake Plummer at QB.
Our offense will be the key to victory, if they don't show up then it's another chapter in our painful history with Denver.