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DENVER -- Hes watched draft picks flounder and free agents falter, seen some of his best players sidelined by injuries and witnessed Peyton Mannings successor struggle to stay safe behind a spongy offensive line.Yet, John Elways Denver Broncos are 7-3 at their bye.He can thank a great defense led by Super Bowl MVP Von Miller and some lucky breaks such as Carolinas missed last-second field goal in the season opener and Justin Simmons block of an extra point last week that led to the first defensive 2-point game-winner in NFL history.I think we would take it if you said at Week 10 wed be 7-3 with whats happened, Elway said. We havent played our best football yet, which I think is the encouraging thing.Another reason Elway is grinning and not grimacing is that his team is about to be astonishingly healthy when they host Kansas City (7-2) in a Sunday night showdown that begins a brutal six-week homestretch.DeMarcus Wares fractured forearm is history, and hes about to double his snap count after averaging just under 29 snaps in the three weeks hes been back in the lineup.Aqib Talibs bad lower back has quieted down and Derek Wolfes cracked right elbow is on the mend.The only sidelined star that wont be coming back anytime soon is running back C.J. Anderson , who had knee surgery but hopes to be available for the playoffs.Andersons absence looms large because the Broncos sport the youngest backfield in the NFL.Second-year quarterback Trevor Siemian threw his first NFL pass this season. Rookie tailback Devontae Booker has two TD runs, rookie fullback Andy Janovich has been hampered by a broken hand and third-year backup running back Kapri Bibbs scored his first career touchdown this month.Additionally, the tight end group has been largely invisible in the passing game with veteran Virgil Green averaging 1.8 catches per game without a single touchdown grab and second-year pro Jeff Heuerman managing just two catches.Similar to last season when he acquired Vernon Davis for the stretch run, Elway made a deadline-eve deal to toughen up his tight end group, this time getting A.J. Derby from the Patriots.Derby has two catches and tons of promise as the Broncos try to clear out defenders in the middle of the field. That would open up more chances for star wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders plus clear some running room for the Broncos sputtering ground game.Denvers dazzling defense is just as star-studded as last years version that brought home the Lombardi Trophy. But the Broncos run defense has proven leaky without free agent departures Malik Jackson and Danny Trevathan and Vance Walker, who blew out a knee in training camp.Elway exudes confidence even with Denvers offense sputtering as it did last season.We feel like we can get better on the offensive side. We have room for improvement there, Elway said. Weve figured out ways to win. Thats what you have to do. Were excited about the last six.Two of those are against Kansas City, one with Oakland and another versus rival New England in addition to trips to Tennessee and Jacksonville.I know that the schedule is a tough schedule from here on out, Elway said, but thats what happens when you win the division.Thats something Denver has done five years in a row.The AFC West is much more competitive this season, sporting three of the conferences four seven-win teams.Thats why Kubiak says its time for Siemian, 7-2 as Denvers starter, to step things up a notch.I want Trevor to play big, Kubiak said.To do that, hes going to have to stay upright.The reason he does make a lot of plays is because he will sit in there and get hit right in the mouth and make a play, Kubiak said. That is a great characteristic of a quarterback because you have to do that sometimes.But it can also send a quarterback to the sideline as it did Siemian for six quarters in October after he bruised his left shoulder.Its been a target for pass rushers ever since, and its not only his scuffling O-line thats to blame. Kubiak said hes dropping back too far in the shotgun at times.Were not going to protect you if youre doing that, Kubiak said.That was Kubiak defending his beleaguered O-line, something hes willing to do because hes as much assured in Siemians mental toughness handling criticism as he is in his physical toughness.Siemian received another cortisone injection in his bruised left shoulder this week and watched rookie Paxton Lynch run the one full practice before they all bolted on a five-day furlough.Siemian wasnt planning anything special.A lot of rest. Wont be doing much bench press this week, said Siemian, well aware hell be doing the heavy lifting soon enough.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton Nick Mullens Super Bowl Jersey . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. Jimmy Garoppolo Super Bowl Jersey . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. http://www.49ersofficialfanshop.com/colin-kaepernick-jersey-sales.html Mitch Wishnowsky Super Bowl Jersey . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. Joe Montana Super Bowl Jersey . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota.ATLANTA -- Former NBA star Mookie Blaylock was charged with driving on a suspended license and failing to stay in his lane in a head-on crash that killed a woman, police said Sunday. Jonesboro Police Chief Franklin Allen said authorities wanted to talk to Blaylock, 46, before deciding whether he should face more serious charges. Officers had not been able to speak with Blaylock because of his injuries but they hope to do so as early as Monday, the chief said. "The last update I got was that he is awake but groggy," Allen said. Blaylock was driving an SUV that collided Friday with a van after crossing the centre line in the Atlanta suburb of Jonesboro, police said. The crash killed Monica Murphy, 43. Her husband was drivinng the van and suffered a broken ankle.dddddddddddd Blaylock was seriously injured, but a spokeswoman at Atlanta Medical Center said his condition was upgraded to fair Sunday. He was initially in critical condition. Allen said talking to Blaylock would be the first step in determining what caused the accident. The chief said those discussions and talks with prosecutors would determine whether Blaylock will face more charges. Blaylock was a first-round draft pick by the New Jersey Nets out of Oklahoma in 1989. He played for the Atlanta Hawks between 1992 and 1999, appeared in the 1994 NBA All-Star game and had his best season in 1996-97, averaging 17.4 points and 5.9 assists. Blaylock also played for Golden State. ' ' '