Atlanta, GA. When the Denver Broncos try to improve to 2-0 at Atlanta, they will have several players who know the area quite well, and for different reasons. Champ Bailey, Demaryius Thomas, Knowshon Moreno, and Keith Brooking all have ties to the state of Georgia, and will want to make their marks in their return to the peach state. For the Denver Broncos, a win would be a huge step in their pursuit of being an AFC contender for the Super Bowl this year. But for the four Broncos players who know the Atlanta area well, this game may provide added motivation to make some plays that lead to a Denver win.
As one of the older players on the team, Champ Bailey’s time to win a championship is dwindling. Bailey was the 7th overall pick by the Redskins back in 1999, after playing three seasons at the University of Georgia. Champ is one the last players to truly play in all three phases of the game in college, as he was a major threat on offense, defense, and special teams as a Bulldog. He has definitely not disappointed as a pro either, as enshrinement in Canton will undoubtedly happen one day down the road. A great performance against the Falcons and near his old school sure would be a nice touch. Demaryius Thomas is also returning to Atlanta, the very city where he played college ball at Georgia Tech. It’s pretty safe to say that he will have plenty of folks in the seats rooting him on to have a bust-out performance. Knowshon Moreno, like Bailey, played at Georgia, where he excelled in ’07 and ’08. Moreno ran for 2,734 yards in his two years as a Bulldog, and will be looking to play well in front of his old fans. Keith Brooking has the double whammy on his side, as he was the leading tackler in school history while at Georgia Tech, and then went on to play for the Falcons for 11 seasons. Although it has been a few years since he played for Atlanta, he will definitely want to show his old fans that he isn’t done making plays.
The Denver Broncos have plenty of incentive to get a victory against Atlanta. They can join San Diego atop the AFC West with a win, and move to 2-0. Peyton Manning may very well continue to show that he is back, and help the Broncos light up the scoreboard. But don’t be surprised if it happens to be one or more of the players previously mentioned who makes an impact in this game. Sometimes playing in front of the old hometown fans is what gets certain guys to crank it up a notch or two. For Bailey, Thomas, Moreno, and Brooking, a huge play or two that results in a Denver Broncos win would be a perfect homecoming.
Denver Sports by J Simp
Recent Comments