As we speak, Brandon Marshall's suspension still stands at two games.

Two games. Two out of 16. Twelve-point-five percent of the Broncos' season, if my liberal-arts math is correct.

But history suggests it's much more than that.

If there's one trend in Mike Shanahan's track record, it's this: When the Broncos get off to a fast start, they make the playoffs. When they don't, they don't. Pretty simple stuff.

Numbers? You want numbers? Glad you asked.

The Broncos have made the playoffs six times in the last 11 seasons. In those six years, they have won 20 out of 24 games in the first month of the season. In the five years in which they didn't make the playoffs, they were a pedestrian 11-9 in the first month.

Clearly, Shanahan's M.O. is to win early and ask questions later. That isn't going to be easy this season, what with Marshall suspended for the first two games. Not that the suspension is carved in stone. Marshall and his attorney, Harvey Steinberg, were in New York Tuesday appealing their case to the powers that be in the league office.

Given the history of Shanahan's teams, you can see how important a reduction of the suspension could be to the Broncos' season.


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