Week 15: Broncos vs. Chargers

Denver Broncos

Another week and another tough test for the Denver Broncos.  This week the Broncos will be playing for their fourth consecutive AFC West title.  If the Broncos are able to snag a win today they will set themselves up nicely for the playoffs and inch closer to a first round bye although they will need help to secure the number one overall seed for the third season in a row.  This week look for the Broncos to get their passing attack back on track.  For those who say Peyton Manning is done, this should be evidence that he is far from done.  I think the Broncos will get the passing game rolling today and the nice weather should be a great aid to Peyton Manning.  Now that doesn't mean that the Broncos will stop running the ball.  I think that they are still going to put an emphasis on the running game, but I think their goal in this one should be to be more efficient both running and passing the ball.  Last week the Broncos were not very efficient at either, and I expect them to work to move the ball in a more efficient manner.

Denver Broncos

One positive from last week was the running game in the red zone.  If C.J. Anderson can continue to be a threat down inside the ten yard line this offense will be tough to beat when they get down near the goal line.  The running game is very important for the Broncos going forward, because it will keep defenses honest.  Having a running game in the playoffs will make a huge difference for the Broncos because they will be able to rely less on Peyton Manning.  I love the way this team is playing football right now because they can win with a subpar game from Peyton Manning.  During the last two postseasons they have relied way to heavily on Manning and if he does not play a perfect game they struggle.  Over the last few weeks the Broncos have proven that they can win football games even when Manning is not in top form.  Running the ball and defense will be the key for the Broncos going forward, and the occasional pass from #18 sure won't hurt either.

Denver Broncos

Speaking of defense, how good have they been over the last few weeks?  The defense is finally clicking on all cylinders and they have been extremely impressive over the last several weeks.  If they can continue to play at such a high level the Broncos are going to be a very tough team to beat going forward.  One player that has finally been rewarded for his stellar play is Chris Harris.  He got a five year contract extension this week and no player is more deserving of a pay raise.  He is one of the best corners in the league and it is good that he is finally paid like a top flight corner.  It seems like every single week he is making a huge play in the football game.  Last week he made a great play near the end zone that helped seal the Broncos victory.  I expect him to make another big play this week against Philip Rivers.  Rivers is a guy that Harris has made big plays against in the past and I think we could see another big play this week.

Denver Broncos

Another player on the defensive side of the ball that has been playing at a high level lately is Malik Jackson.  It seems like he does not get the credit he deserves because guys like Von Miller and Demarcus Ware get most of the accolades along the defensive line, and deservedly so.  However, if you watch the play along the defensive line Jackson is consistently making plays wether it is stopping the running game or getting after the quarterback.  He has been a big reason for the defensive improvements lately because he adds another pass rushing threat to this defense.  I expect him to make some big plays today because he often lines up at defensive tackle.  This should give him a great opportunity to rush the passer because San Diego is very weak in the middle of the offensive line, and more specifically at the center position.  They have lost three centers for the season and it has been a real problem spot for them throughout the season.  Look for Jackson and others to look to create pressure up the middle and get right in the face of Philip Rivers.

Denver Broncos

Brandon Marshall is another Bronco defender that deserves a ton of credit for the great play of the defense over the last several weeks.  He has been a huge difference maker for the Broncos, and has helped lessen the blow of losing Danny Trevethan.  Trevethan is expected to return this week and that will give defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio lots of options at the linebacker position.  It gives him two guys that are tackling machines, and have the ability to make plays in coverage as well.  One thing that I would look for the defense to do is match up one of these guys on Antonio Gates on obvious passing downs.  Tight ends have had a field day against the Broncos defense and I think they will try a few different things today against Gates to try to slow him down.

Prediction

I think this game is going to be close and it will be a back and forth contest.  I think the winner will be decided by turnovers.  Taking care of the football will be key in this game as the teams are fairly evenly matched.  The Broncos defense has been great lately at taking the ball away, but that has been slightly negated by the offense not taking care of the football.  Look for Peyton Manning to take better care of the ball today.   Ultimately I think the Broncos defense will be the difference in this one.  They have been playing great lately, and I think that will continue today.  Look for a turnover or two that will be the deciding factor in this game.

Final Score- Denver Broncos 27, San Diego 21

Week 13: Broncos vs. Chiefs

The Broncos finally found a running game! For the first time this season the Broncos were able to run the ball and not just when the defense allowed them to do so.  They ran the ball against the Dolphins when they knew the Broncos were going to run the football.  That is the biggest difference that you could see in this game.  When the Broncos went for it on 4th and 2 and popped one off for twenty yards, it was a good sign for the Broncos running game.  C.J. Anderson will get most of the credit for the improvement of the running game and deservedly so, he played great and will be the starter for the rest of the season, but enough cannot be said about the offensive line.  They have been attacked all season as the Broncos weakest link, and last week they responded with their best performance of the season.  You could see that they were physically controlling the Dolphins in the running game and the passing game.  If the line is able to maintain their level of play the Broncos offense will be one of the most dangerous and balanced offenses in the league.  Thats the good news.  The bad news is that the Broncos defense struggled to do much of anything in this one and they were consistently beaten by the Dolphins.  One of the most concerning things that I saw was the lack of a consistent pass rush.  Teams are often chipping Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware with a running back or tight end, and making it harder for those two to get to the quarterback.  The Broncos have to be able to generate pass rush in other ways, whether that is blitzing or finding another player who can consistently create pressure.  Keep a close eye on the defense this week to see how they handle the Chiefs in the passing game.

Denver Broncos

Speaking of C.J. Anderson has he been impressive or what?  The Broncos coaching staff finally gave him his shot and he has not disappointed.  He has been great both running the ball and catching the ball.  If the Broncos want to continue to be successful on offense they need to feed Anderson the ball early and often.  Running the ball also had a profound effect on the offensive line.  When the Broncos run the ball it keeps the offensive line aggressive and that is part of the reason that they looked so good last week.  The Broncos also need to stay committed to the running game this week because the Chiefs have one of the worst running games in the NFL.  They are currently ranked 26th in the NFL and they have struggled even more over the last several weeks.  The Raiders managed to run all over the Chiefs last week and I would expect the Broncos to look to do the same.  Another reason I loved the way the Broncos ran the ball is that it set up the pass so perfectly.  For the first time this season the Broncos opponent didn't know if they were going to run the ball or pass the ball.  That meant that Peyton Manning was not under constant pressure when he dropped back to pass, and Peyton looked far more comfortable in the pocket against the Dolphins.  This will be important this week as well as the Broncos face off against a Chiefs pass rush that is very formidable.  Slowing down Tamba Hali and Justin Houston just a little bit could mean the difference between a win and a loss.

Denver Broncos

I am also looking for Demaryius Thomas to continue his torrid pace in this game.  He has been unbelievable this season after a bit of a slow start.  I know he did not reach 100 yards last week but he scored three touchdowns and had ten receptions so I would say he had a pretty good game all in all.  His role will become even bigger if Julius Thomas is unable to go again this week, which is looking more and more likely.  He did not practice again this week and that is usually not a good sign for a players availability on game day.  One player that could benefit from the absence of Julius is Wes Welker who finally got a second touchdown pass last week.  The chiefs will look hard to take away Demaryius and Emmanuel Sanders which means Welker will have plenty of opportunities in this one if he can get open.  Last week he was great on third down and in short yardage situations which is how I would expect the Broncos to use him going forward.  He is not the player that he once was but he can still be a valuable contributor for this Broncos team.

Denver Broncos

One player I would like to see more of this week is Omar Bolden.  Last week he took over kick returning duties and he did a much better job than Andre Caldwell has done at any point this season.  I expect him to keep that job and as long as he continues to perform he could look to take over the punt returner job.  This is something that has been a problem all season.  Isaiah Burse is simply not that special and to be honest I don't know how he managed to secure a roster spot on this team.  Had Jordan Norwood not been injured in the preseason there is not way that Burse is on this team.  Last season we had Trindon Holliday returning punts and he had fumbling issues, but at least he provided the chance for a big play in the return game.  This year Burse has had no big returns and he has had fumbling issues as well, fumbling three times (has only lost one).  The Broncos need to find somebody who can provide decent returns and hold onto the football so Peyton Manning and the offense can at least have a chance.  The special teams have been an issue all season but hopefully things will improve now that Brandon McManus is finally gone.  How he managed to hang around this long is anybody's guess, but I suppose the 33 yard field goal miss was the straw that broke the camels back.  It will be interesting to see how Connor Barth does as the new kicker.  My only concern with him is that he did not play last year so he could be rusty but he must have impressed the Broncos in workouts as he beat out an experienced kicker in Jay Feeley.  Keep an eye on special teams this week as they just need to avoid costly mistakes, which have plagued the special teams unit all season long.

Denver Broncos

If the Broncos hope to win this game they are going to need to see some major improvements from the defense.  They struggled to stop the Dolphins last week, although I will say they made some good halftime adjustments and got big stops when they needed to in the 2nd half.  The dolphins were able to exploit the Broncos run defense, which most teams have not been able to do.  They ran a lot of zone read run in the first half and the Broncos defensive ends were getting sucked to far in and the edge was sealed, which allowed Lamar Miller to break free around the edge.  This week it is very important that they keep Jamal Charles contained, because if he breaks contain you are in for a long day.  He is one of the most dangerous runners once he hits the open field, so the Broncos have to do the best they can to force him to run in between the tackles.  Another key when facing Charles is tackling him as a unit.  He is great at making people miss, so the Broncos have to swarm the football, and gang tackle him so he is unable to use his trademark elusiveness.  I expect the Broncos defense to rebound in this game, but if they do not and they continue to struggle this will be a major concern going forward.

Prediction

This will be a hard fought game and I think the Broncos are going to struggle in this one.  The Chiefs will be playing at home during primetime with some of the loudest fans in the NFL.  I think if the Broncos struggle early they could be in for a very tough night.  They need to come out and score a few touchdowns early to take the crowd out of the game and force the Chiefs to throw the ball.  I think the Broncos should be able to win this game if they execute and avoid turnovers.  Look for a close ball game that will most likely not be decided until the fourth quarter.

Final Score- Denver Broncos 27, Kansas City Chiefs 21

Week 12: Broncos vs. Dolphins

Clearly the Denver Broncos have a lot of things that they need to work out if they have any hope of playing in Super Bowl 49.  If this team wants to be playing in February they need to start by figuring out their offensive line.  The Broncos problems begin and end with the offensive line.  For starters they have absolutely no aggression at the point of attack, and they are getting eaten alive in the running game.  There is penetration on almost every single play, and that is a big reason why the Broncos attempted a measly nine running plays.  There were many who criticized the coaching staff for the nine runs but there was little option as the running game has been shut down because of the poor play of the line.  The line is also causing serious issue in the passing game as Peyton Manning is being moved off of his spot by pressure far to often.  The biggest problem rests in the middle of the line where defenses have brought lots of pressure through the A gaps and gotten pressure right in Peyton Manning's face.  The decline in Peyton's play recently can be directly attributed to the play of the line, even when there isn't pressure he is anticipating pressure and rushing throws.  Anyway, time to move on and see what the Broncos can do against the Miami Dolphins.  

Preview

Denver Broncos

If there is one positive to take away from the game against St. Louis, it is that Emmanuel Sanders looked great once again and I think we can expect him to continue playing well.  If he wouldn't have been hurt in the game against the Rams the Broncos may have been able to stage a comeback. It sounds as if Sanders has fully recovered from the concussion that he suffered and I would expect him to have another huge game.  If the Broncos offensive line can give Manning the time that he needs I expect a huge bounce back game from the Broncos offense.  This is a group that is used to dominating the opponent, and last week they were embarrassed by the Rams.  The offensive line has said all week that things will change and they will improve as a unit. The Miami Dolphins will provide a great test for this offense, and it will be a great gauge for the Broncos to see where they stand in terms of being a Super Bowl contender.  One thing this team must improve on is running the football.  This has been a struggle for the Broncos all season, and last week was a new low for the Broncos as they ran the ball a pathetic 9 times.  The Broncos will have to show commitment to the running game in this game and in the future if they hope to make it all the way to the Super Bowl.  When Peyton Manning has a successful running game he is a far more dangerous quarterback, and the Broncos need to establish a running game to keep opposing defenses honest.  

Denver Broncos

The real key going forward is going to be the Broncos defense.  If the Broncos continue to struggle on offense they may have to count on the defense to win them a few games going forward.  This unit was assembled to be dominant and so far this season they have yet to have a truly dominating effort.  The defense needs to show the ability to dominate games so Peyton Manning and the offense do not feel like they have to go out and win the game every single week.  It would be nice if the defense could start locking down the opponents offense.  One player on the defense who has been holding up his end of the deal is Von Miller.  Miller has been phenomenal all season long and he has looked like the best player on the field.  This is great for the Broncos, and it allows them to drop men back in coverage.  The Broncos currently rank 30th in blitz percentage in the NFL which means they are getting pressure on the quarterback by only bringing four men.  So far this has worked great for the Broncos, but they need to do a better job of getting stops on third down and long.  They have struggled most of the season with getting off the field on third down, and they need to make improvements on third down going forward.  

Denver Broncos

Another player that has been impressive this season has been Derek Wolfe.  Wolfe has looked like a player worthy of being drafted in the second round, after returning to a healthy playing weight.  Last season he struggled with seizure like symptoms and other various injuries, these problems caused him to drop weight and he was not able to make an impact on the game.  Now that he is healthy and back to his playing weight he has been a much more effective player.  The Broncos defense will need more great play from players like Derek Wolfe if they are going to win games for the Broncos.  Look for players like Wolfe and Malik Jackson to continue to make plays as defenses focus more and more attention on Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware.  

Denver Broncos

Keys To Victory

If I were game planning for the Broncos in this one my number one priority is to get the running game going.  Even if they struggle to run the ball they have to continue to run the ball in order to keep the pass rush of the Dolphins honest.  This is something they failed to do last week against the Rams, and Robert Quinn came flying off the ball on every play and didn't worry one bit about the running game.  If the Broncos want to keep Peyton Manning upright in this game they have to stay committed to the running game.  Hopefully this offensive line will improve as they get more reps in the running game.  This will only be their third game playing in their current alignment.  If the play of the line doesn't improve we could see yet another shake up along the offensive line in the coming weeks.  Defensively I would take away short and intermediate routes.  Ryan Tannehill has definitely played better over the last few weeks, but a lot of his game is hitting receivers on underneath routes.  The Broncos need to take these easy throws away and make him make difficult throws down the field.  Throwing the ball deep is something that Tannehill has struggled with throughout his career and the Broncos need to force him to make the tough throws in this game.  If they can do that they may force him into some tough throws and force a few turnovers, or he may choose to hold the ball and the Broncos pass rushers can get there.  

Prediction

Last week I called for the Broncos to start slow against a tough Rams defense, and they did.  The problem was that they never found their rhythm and the offense struggled to make plays all day.  I think this week the Broncos may struggle again offensively as they are facing off against a very talented Dolphins defense.  Look for the Broncos defense to keep the Dolphins at bay until the offense starts to get rolling.  I think that because this game is at home that will be the difference in this one.  So far this season the Broncos have been a very different team at home, and this week shouldn't be any different.  I think the Broncos will bounce back this week and get back on the winning track.  The thing to keep an eye on in this game is the play of the offensive line, a good game from them will likely result in a Broncos victory.  

Final Score- Denver Broncos 31, Miami Dolphins 17

History in the Making: Broncos vs. 49ers Preview

Week 7: Broncos vs. 49ers

The pursuit of 509 is nearing the end for Peyton Manning.  With three more touchdown passes Peyton Manning will pass Brett Farve for the most touchdown passes in league history.  The atmosphere in the stadium should be electric for this one as the crowd anticipates history being made.  However, this game is about more than Peyton Manning getting his record.  The Broncos need to get a win on Sunday as they are entering one of the most difficult stretches of their schedule.  In the next three weeks the Broncos face three playoff teams from last year, and most likely three teams that will be playoff teams this year as well.  If the Broncos can get a win on Sunday, they will set themselves up nicely over the next three weeks.  The schedule thus far has not been easy, as the Broncos will face teams that won ten games or more in 7 of their first 8 games.  The Broncos need to win on Sunday and protect home field advantage.

Denver Broncos

Keys to Victory

For the Broncos to win they are going to need to exploit the weaknesses of the 49ers defense.  This defense is one of the best in the NFL but there are areas of the field where they can be beat.  Most notably in the middle of the field where the 49ers will be without All Pro middle linebackers NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis.  This is a huge loss for the 49ers as these two players shut down the run and also patrol the middle against the passing game.  The Denver Broncos should look for Julius Thomas early and often.   He is a mismatch even against some of the best players in the game, and when he is being checked by an untested rookie, that spells trouble for the defense.  Julius should continue his torrid 2014 pace and add to his touchdown total on Sunday night.  I think he will make more of an impact running down the seams in this game.  So far he has been more of a red zone threat, but I expect the Broncos to let him run down the middle of the field and look for him to make some big plays in this game.  Another receiver that should make a big impact in this game is Emmanuel Sanders. He has been dynamic up to this point but has yet to score in a Denver Broncos uniform.  I think that this is the game where he changes that.  I think the Broncos will challenge the 49ers deep and Sanders is the player that has the ability to take the top off of the defense.  Look for Peyton Manning to look his way early to stretch the defense, and open up underneath routes for players like Wes Welker.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos should also look to test the front seven of the 49ers with the running game.  Not having two of the best linebackers in the game is going to affect any team and the Broncos need to at least try to run against the 49ers.  Last week the team was able to effectively run the ball and have good balance in the game.  Are the Broncos going to be a run first team? No, but  that is not how this team is built anyway.   This team was built to air the ball out, but having the ability to run the ball against five man fronts will be very important to the Broncos going forward.  I thought Ronnie Hillman was effective last week as he showed a good burst to and through the hole.  The Broncos need to work at getting him going early to keep the defense honest.  I would also look for the Broncos to look for Hillman in the running game as he is very good with the ball in his hands after his catch.  If the Broncos are able to show that they can run the ball when challenged to do so by the 49ers they should maintain a good offensive rhythm.  I think Denver's offense will struggle at times in this game, but the loss of Bowman and Willis might be too much for the  the San Francisco defense to overcome.

Denver Broncos

Defensively Denver is going to have it's hands full with Colin Kaepernick and all of the weapons on the 49ers offense.  Kaepernick is one of the most dynamic athletes in the NFL and he just happens to play at the most important position in the NFL.  He is a rare physical specimen who can beat a defense running or throwing the ball.  He is the key to slowing down this offense.  The Denver pass rush has to get to Kaepernick quickly and make sure that he is not able to escape the pocket to make big plays with his feet.  The edge rushers for the Broncos need to make sure that they do not get to far up the field and create running lanes for Kaepernick to take advantage of.  If the Broncos can keep him in the pocket then they can force him to make big throws.  With Aqib Talib and Chris Harris on the outside the Broncos should be able to lock down the receivers of the 49ers.  The way to beat Kaepernick is to force him to use his arm to beat you.  Now he does have a cannon of an arm he is not a quarterback who is going to move through his progressions until he finds an open receiver.  He typically makes two reads and if he doesn't have an open receiver he will take off.  He usually has one deep route and one underneath route that he reads.  If the Broncos can keep him in the pocket and take away his two options he will be in a lot of trouble.

Denver Broncos

If the defense is able to do that then they will be able to force Kaepernick into mistakes.  When he doesn't have an open receiver in his first two reads and he can't run he tends to make bad decisions with the football.  He will try to force throws and make something out of nothing.  The Broncos have to jump on these mistakes and make sure they take the ball away when they are given the opportunity.  Look for Aqib Talib to make a play or two in this game as he has been close to an interception in almost every game.  Last week he sealed the game with a pick six and it wouldn't be surprising to see him make another big play in this one.

Ultimately I expect this to be a hard fought game that is close throughout.  The 49ers will be one of the best teams the Broncos will face all year and they should be a very good test for the Broncos.  In the end I think the loss of Willis for the game will be a huge blow to the 49ers defense.  It will allow the Broncos to make enough plays to win the game.  This should be a huge statement win for the Broncos as a team, and a historic day for quarterback Peyton Manning.

Prediction

Denver Broncos 27, San Francisco 49ers 24

Peyton Manning 509 touchdowns (record breaking touchdown caught by Demaryius Thomas)

Week 2 Preview: Broncos vs. Chiefs

Week 2 Preview

It's time for football again, as week two is already here and the Broncos are getting ready to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.  The Chiefs will be looking for a win after a disappointing 26-10 loss in week one to the Tennessee Titans.  The Broncos will be looking for win number two, although they hope to have a good performance for the full 60 minutes this weekend.  The Broncos looked dominant for the 1st half in week one but struggled to close out their opponent.  I think the Broncos will look to score early and never look back.  They need to do a better job of playing for a full 60 minutes.

What to watch for

One thing that bears watching in this game will be how the Chiefs respond after losing two defensive starters during week one.  I think the loss of Derrick Johnson is going to be a crushing blow for the Chiefs.  He is the heart and soul of that defense, and one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL.  His loss leaves a huge hole in the middle of the Chiefs defense.  The Broncos should look to take advantage of the weakened Chiefs defense and run the ball early and often.  This game should be a great opportunity for the Broncos to get their run game on track.

Last week it appeared that the running game was struggling to get things moving, and I think a big reason for that was Montee Ball missing most of the preseason.  It just seemed like he was a step behind and it appeared he was not in sync with the offensive line.  Once they get more game action together he should get his timing down better and the running game should greatly improve.  People have been to quick to panic about the running game in week one but really it isn't anything to worry about.  I have heard some people saying that the Broncos made a bad decision in getting rid of Knowshon Moreno.  I will admit that he looked very good last week for the Dolphins but the notion that he is better than Montee Ball is just not right.  People forget that in the last six weeks of the season last year Montee Ball had the second best yards per carry in the NFL.  He is a far superior runner and as the season goes on we should see huge improvement from the ground game.

Players to watch

Earlier today I was going to focus on Wes Welker but it appears that he will not be playing this Sunday after the NFL council drug their feet on approving the new drug deal, which is ridiculous.  So on offense I think the player to watch this week will be Demaryius Thomas.  After struggling last week with three drops and only 48 yards receiving I think that DT will be in for a big week.  He has always had big games against the Chiefs and this week shouldn't be any different.  They have a pretty pedestrian secondary and after losing two starters I expect the Broncos to move the ball easily against the Chiefs defense.

Defensively, I will be watching to see how Chris Harris Jr. plays.  It appeared last week that he was back to full speed and he played well when he was in the game but it looked like his conditioning needed a lot of work as he was not on the field very often.  He is a huge player for this defense, and he is one of the most underrated cover corners in the NFL.  The Broncos will need him at full strength this season if they want to be successful.  It will also be interesting to watch Von Miller and see how he does this week and in the weeks that follow.  The recovery of these two players is essential to the success of the Broncos defense this season, and without them the Broncos defense could struggle just like they did last season.  Hopefully both of these players will continue to improve each and every week.  If they do I think that the Broncos defense could be one of the top units in the NFL.


Game Prediction

I think this game is going to be a bit of a blowout as long as the Broncos take it seriously and come out ready to play.  If they play like they did in the first half last week for the entire game they should be able to take down the Chiefs with no problem.  The chiefs offense has not looked good and the injuries and inexperience along their offensive line should mean Alex Smith is uncomfortable all night.  I look for the Broncos to bring pressure early and often to keep him off balance.  I would not be surprised if he ended the night with a turnover or two.  On the other side of the ball the Broncos offense should have no problem moving the ball against a Chiefs defense that is missing two starters.  Peyton Manning has had no problem with the Chiefs since joining the Broncos and tomorrow afternoon should be no different for him.  Expect the Broncos to score plenty of points, and win this one easily.

Final Score- Broncos 38, Chiefs 14

Broncos, Colts Game 1 Recap and Analysis

Well everyone week one is in the books and the Broncos find themselves atop the AFC West at 1-0.  The game was a little too close for comfort at the end but as they say a win is a win and nowhere is that more true than in the NFL.  Getting a win against a quality opponent in the opener always makes you feel good and this win should get the season started off right.  The game ended up being much closer than it should have been because the Broncos offense struggled to gain traction in the second half.

Reasons for Optimism 

Denver Broncos-Ben Hays

One of the biggest reasons for optimism on the offensive side of the ball had to be the play of Julius Thomas.  The colts had absolutely no answer for the big tight end.  They tried several different coverages on him, and they simply could not stop him.  The three first half touchdowns showed just how good Thomas could be this year.  Another offensive player that really stood out was Emmanuel Sanders.  He was a player that I thought might have a big time impact this season and I think that is going to be the case.  He showed the ability to beat people deep down the field and he also showed that he can make people miss in space.  I think Sanders should be in for a huge year and by the end of the season most Broncos fans will probably forget all about Eric Decker.  The re-tooled offensive line also seemed to be in sync and seemed to be better than last years unit.  For most of the night Manning had plenty of time, aside from one missed blitz pickup the unit performed very well.  I think overall the offense should be every bit as good as last year.  There were a few reasons for concern but I will delve into that more later.

Denver Broncos-Ben Hays

Another reason to be excited about this years team is the play of the Denver defense last night.  I know the defense gave up 24 points and Andrew Luck did throw for almost 400 yards, however these stats are slightly overblown due to the fact that the colts were throwing almost the entire second half.  The defense completely dominated the Colts in the first half and set the tone with physical play and great man coverage.  As I stated previously the second half was a little bit more of a struggle, but I believe that a big reason for that was the struggles of the offense.  The Denver offense was unable to move the ball and the defense was stuck on the field for a good part of the second half.  They were also put in bad situations with short fields.  The real positive for the defense though was the ability to make big stops when they needed to.  On two second half drives the Colts made it inside the Denver 10 and managed to score a measly three points.  The fourth and goal stuff of Andrew Luck was a huge play in the game.  The Broncos were also able to do a great job in man to man coverage down the field.  On two different occasions Denver defenders were able to knock the ball away and Rahim (the Dream) Moore was able to come away with an interception.  I thought the secondary looked very good in man to man coverages.  One area where they did struggle a bit was covering a tight end or running back that was coming out of the backfield but I am sure that Jack Del Rio will shore that up very quickly.

Denver Broncos- Eric Las Bakkes

One defensive player that played tremendous was Bradley Roby.  The rookie was forced into a very tough situation and he thrived in his first NFL game.  With the loss of Kayvon Webster to illness, Roby was thrown to the wolves and he more than met expectations.  For much of the game Roby was asked to cover Reggie Wayne in the slot, one of the toughest assignments in football.  The rookie showed the ability to play tight man to man coverage and he made one of the biggest plays of the game on the Colts last possession when he was able to knock the ball from Wayne on a fourth and six that would have kept the drive alive, had Wayne made the catch.  With Chris Harris working his way back from a torn ACL having someone like Roby will be invaluable for the Broncos.  His production in the game shows once again that John Elway and the Broncos have the ability to make impact picks even late in the 1st round.

Reasons For Concern

Denver Broncos- Gabriel Christus

Now for the negatives from the game. I thought this game did provide a few reasons for concern.  The biggest problem for me in this game was the offense in the second half.  They struggled to gain traction and were unable to stay on the field which put the defense in a bad position.  I think one reason for the struggles could be attributed to the play-calling.  On first down the Broncos called 11 pass plays that gained an average of 11.8 yards and provided several big passing plays down the field.  They also called 18 runs which gained an average of just over three yards per carry.  The run-pass balance was not terrible for the game overall but in the second half things got much worse.  In the second half there were only four first down passes.  Two resulted in a completion for nine yards and twenty six yards, another drew a five yard defensive holding and the fourth was an incompletion.  There were ten running plays on first down in the second half that gained an average of only 2.3 yards.  This kind of play-calling is way too conservative and it allowed the Colts to put the Broncos offense in bad down and distance situations.  I know a lot of people are down on the running game after the game but I think the running game will be fine, and I am a big believer in Montee Ball.  I think that Adam Gase needs to do a better job of play-calling in the second half to keep the defense off balance, and give the offense an opportunity to maintain the rhythm they enjoyed in the first half.  I think the offense will shore up the problems that arose in the second half and they should be just fine for the rest of the season.

Denver Broncos- Erik Lars Bakke

A bigger concern that I had as the game went along was the lack of a consistent pass rush.  I know they were able to get three sacks in the game, but on two of the sacks Luck was forced to hold the ball for a significant amount of time.  I was also a little bit concerned that Von Miller did not make any significant plays, he just did not look like the player that had 18.5 sacks in 2012.  I know that he is coming off an ACL injury but the Broncos really need him to have a more significant impact than he did last night.  Hopefully it was more of a conditioning issue and not a problem with the ACL. One player along the defensive line that really impressed me was Malik Jackson.  He made several plays in the backfield and he forced Andrew Luck to make several hurried throws.  I do think that the Broncos need to find a way to generate more pressure on the quarterback throughout the game or they could give up a lot of big plays.


Look Ahead

Let's take a look ahead to next week when the Broncos will face off against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority field.  The Chiefs offense looked anemic in their opener against the Tennessee Titans and I think they could be in for a long game against the Denver defense.  I think Alex Smith will struggle to find open receivers and could have a few turnovers again this week.  Once again the Broncos defense will get to face an offensive line that is facing serious questions and struggled to protect Smith in the opener.  It will also be interesting to see how the Chiefs defense fairs after losing two starters (Derrickk Johnson and Mike DeVito) to season ending achilles tendon tears.  Later in the week I will go into more detail on this matchup and what I think the outcome will be.

Final Thought

This is a little bit off topic from the rest of the article but as I was typing this up the Ravens announced that Ray Rice's deal was terminated and the NFL followed suit and suspended him indefinitely.  These moves were well overdue and it really makes you wonder why it did not happen sooner.  I know the video came out today and it was graphic to say the least, but really what did the NFL think happened when he knocked his fiancé unconscious?  They should not have had to see the video to come to this decision.  It really makes me question the decision makers of the NFL when a guy like Matt Prater gets suspended four games for drinking a beer and Ray Rice gets two games for knocking a woman unconscious.  I hope the NFL gets this right in the future.  They can start by suspending Greg Hardy, who was involved in a physical altercation with his girlfriend in which he threatened to kill her.  Hopefully the NFL does the right thing and does its best to eliminate domestic violence.