Broncos' pow-wow pays big dividends

After struggling out of the gate with a 3-5 record, Denver players decided enough was enough -- it was time for a players-only meeting.

Eight-time Pro Bowl safety John Lynch has been around long enough to realize when one of those babies is called, something's seriously wrong.

That was just the case with the Broncos, who were in jeopardy of seeing their season spiral out of control.

"At times they can help the team," Lynch said. "I've been in many of them and usually when you're having them, it's not a good situation."

But this one seemed to work. Since the meeting, the Broncos have won consecutive games -- beating Kansas City 27-11 and Tennessee 34-20 Monday night.

The Broncos look to make it three in a row against the Bears on Sunday at Soldier Field (3:15 p.m., Channel 2).

"We just made the decision as a team to forget about the wins and losses," Lynch said. "We were going to change the way we approach the game each and every week and the way we went about our preparation. We were a team that a lot of our leadership from prior years had either left or guys were on the sideline hurt.

"I think that some stuff had kind of creeped in and we made the decision to change the way were went about our business and it's paid off. We've played a lot better the past couple of weeks and that's the key."

Running on full: Since 1995, the Broncos have featured seven different players with over 1,000 yards rushing.

What's the deal?

"It's hard to say; we believe in the system and the system has been good to us," said Denver coach Mike Shanahan. "We've had guys that are very talented.

"A lot of guys play together to get that running game going, not just the offensive line. The running backs, tight ends, the receivers blocking downfield ... it's got to be a group effort."

Is there a certain type of runner that wouldn't succeed in the system?

Said Shanahan: "The guy that makes too many cuts, isn't a north-south runner, he can't make anybody miss, he falls every time he gets touched. ..."

Sound familiar?

Numbers game: November, the Broncos, on the road … a lethal combination.

Bears fans looking for a good omen heading into Sunday's game won't like these numbers: the Broncos are 11-3 on the road in November since 2000 and own the top wining percentage (.714) in the NFL in the month of November since 1995 (35-14).

He said it: John Lynch on the scouting report on Bears quarterback Rex Grossman: "The report is he's a talented football player; a quarterback who can get very hot if you allow him to. He throws the deep ball extremely well, throws timing routes extremely well. He had his best game of the year last week. He's hot right now so we have to be ready for a hot quarterback."