Per their usual routine, the Broncos ended their season with a paltry 8-8 record. Losing their final game by a gigantic margin and, perhaps fittingly, losing the AFC West by a measly half game. In a season where 8-8 won the division, it seemed appropriate that the Broncos couldn't even attain that "lofty" goal. It could have been worse, though. The Broncos could have played the Detroit Lions and handed them their first win on that unblemished 0-15 record.

Sunday night's game was an appropriate prime time slaughter to alert the rest of the country just how miserable the Broncos have become. It's been 10 seasons since they've won the Super Bowl and in that time they've gone to the playoffs exactly 4 times (2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005). Yet to hear the Bronco organization tell it, they're simply a nosehair away form becoming the next dynasty of the NFL. So every year they go out and end up hovering around the .500 mark and needing every other team in the AFC to collapse to have any chance of making a playoff run.

Coach Mike Shanahan stated before Sunday night's game: "if you can't play your best football in a game like this, then you probably won't last long in this league". Fair enough... but shouldn't that principle apply to the head coach as well? After the battle of Gettysburg, General Robert E. Lee stood up in front of his retreated troops and accepted full responsibility for the Confederacy's defeat in Pennsylvania. Don't expect Shanahan to do anything close to that. He'll simply reshuffle defensive coaches, waste another draft pick on an overrated defensive lineman and sign more marginal free agents. Then the Broncos will find themselves right where they've been the last 5 or 6 seasons: hovering around .500.

In November 2006, Shanahan made the switch at quarterback, benching Jake Plummer for Jay Cutler. His rationale was that Cutler would improve the team and give them a "better chance to win". They ended up missing the playoffs. At the end of that season, defensive coordinator Larry Coyer was fired. Jim Bates was brought in as defensive coordinator in 2007...and promptly suffered the same fate as his predecessor. Bob Slowik was handed the defensive clipboard this year...and will probably not be at Dove Valley for offseason mini-camps. Never mind that all three coordinators combined to force approximately 20 punts by opposing teams in those three seasons. Shanahan apparently knows what's best for his team.

So if it isn't the players (or, specifically, the quarterback)...and it isn't the assistant coaches, shouldn't the target be centered on the head coach? At the end of the 1992 season, Dan Reeves was excused from his position as head coach after the Broncos had fallen to a disappointing 8-8 finish. Ever since losing the AFC Championship at the end of the 2005 season, Shanahan has gone exactly 24-24. The Broncos will always be the flagship team of Denver, so mediocrity should not be tolerated by the city. Pat Bowlen was fed up after Reeves went .500 and then when ensuing coach Wade Phillips went 16-16 in two season and was shown the door. Shanahan has gone 24-24 in the past three seasons and has been given the keys to a new mansion.

It's true that Shanahan and Bowlen have a close relationship. So much so, that if Mike is ever lonely and wife Peggy is out-of-town, Mike can call up Pat and arrange a blow-job. Shanahan rescued the team from mediocrity and did the impossible by winning not one, but TWO Lombardi Tropphies. But that was the in the 90's. When the Spice Girls and Hanson were hot. Time has simply passed by Shanahan just like it did for Ginger, Sporty and...whatever the Hanson boys' names were.

In any other NFL city, fans would be calling for Shanahan's head. Sure, the 1997 and 1998 seasons were phenomenal...but the last three have been miserable. That's THREE seasons. In a row. You can already predict what the average Bronco will say: "well, y'know, it is what is, y'know. Y'know, in this league, y'know, you're going to have days like this, y'know. Y'know the key is to come back next time, y'know, and hopefully, y'know, put ourselves in a better postion, y'know". Such a wishy-washy answer from a wishy-washy team. At the end of the 1996 season, the entire organization seemed to have a sense of urgency, professionalism, discipline and determination. Now, they have a rather aloof attitude about the game. Which makes it highly appropriate that the only postseason action the Broncos-- specifically Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall-- will see is the Pro Bowl; a game that means absolutely nothing and is a complete waste of time.

Thus, expect 90% of the 2008 Broncos to return for 2009. All that "talent" will be back, along with the same coach that pissed the season away by trying to kick a 54 yard goal against Buffalo last week. More years of complete HorseShit.

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