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 11 Preview: Broncos vs. Rams

Well, the Broncos were able to go to Oakland and take care of business against the Raiders, and this week they find themselves on the road once again, as they prepare for their third straight road game.  They will face off against the St. Louis Rams who enter this game with a 3-6 record.  So this one should be an easy win right? Wrong this St. Louis team is much better than their record indicates, and if they had a serviceable quarterback they would be right in the thick of things in the NFC.  The Rams have a lot of talent, especially on the defensive line where they have three former first round picks.  This game will present a huge challenge for the Broncos offensive line that has struggled this entire season.  The Broncos are obviously worried about the offensive line, because they brought in Richie Incognito this week and considered signing him.  This shows that the Broncos are concerned about the play that they are getting on the interior of offensive line.  They obviously have no worries about Louis Vasquez or Ryan Clady, and Will Montgomery played well last week, but the play of Manny Ramirez and Orlando Franklin has become a liability.  These players are not showing the ability to stop pressure that comes in the A gap (between the guard and center) and this means there is pressure in Manning's face.  While Peyton is great at disguising these weaknesses because he gets rid of the ball in two seconds, it is also a big reason why he had five passes batted down last week.  When there is pressure up the middle it makes it harder for the quarterback to get the ball past the line of scrimmage.  It will be worth watching the interior of the offensive line today to see how they perform against a very talented Rams defensive line.  

Keys to the Game

Denver Broncos

It is hard to talk about the keys to the game without talking about another new running back for the Broncos.  It seems like the Broncos have a new running back almost every week.  In reality they are on their third starting running back of the season.  C.J. Anderson was sensational last week against the Raiders, sparking a stagnant Broncos offense, and beginning the blowout that followed.  His 51 yard catch and run is his highlight play, but what I liked seeing was the way he was running the football.  For a bigger back he shows tremendous quickness in the first ten yards and he shows the ability to fight for yards after contact.  Today is a huge opportunity for Anderson to really seize control of the starting job.  While Ronnie Hillman did look good as the starter he is not really built to be an every down kind of back.  If Anderson is able to keep his production up, look for him to remain the starter, and when Hillman comes back he would become the third down back.  As I stated earlier this game will be very important for the running game.  If the Broncos struggle to run the ball, and protect Manning do not be surprised if the Broncos think long and hard about signing Incognito.  The Broncos should look to run the ball need to establish the run early to slow down the dynamic pass rush of the Rams and make sure that Peyton Manning stays upright in this one.  

Denver Broncos

If Peyton is able to get the time that he needs look for the Broncos to have a big game through the air.  This game will be played on turf which means everyone is just a little bit faster and that could spell trouble for the Rams.  I loved what I saw last week from Julius Thomas.  He finally emerged as more than a red zone threat.  I have been saying for weeks that the Broncos need to target Julius more often in all areas of the field.  That finally happened against the Raiders, and Julius showed what a great weapon he can be when he is involved in the game plan.  Look for the Broncos to continue to use Thomas all over the field, as he presents matchup problems wherever he lines up.  This Broncos offense has continued to improve as the season has rolled along, and I think that they are every bit as good as last seasons record breaking offense.  The emergence of Emmanuel Sanders has added such an explosive dimension to the offense.  His ability to beat one on one press coverage shows why the Broncos were so excited to add him in free agency.  He has also been very impressive when he goes up to fight for a contested catch.  He has great ball skills and consistently wins 50-50 balls, which is all the more impressive given that he is only 5'11".  Look for the Broncos receivers to have another great day against the Rams as long as Peyton is well protected.  

Denver Broncos

What was more impressive last week was the play of the Broncos defense that struggled the week before against the New England Patriots.  The Broncos have shown once again that they have some secret formula for finding linebackers out of nowhere.  Brandon Marshall has been a revelation this season, and his play in the absence of Danny Trevathan has stabilized the Broncos linebacking corp.  He is currently leading the Broncos in tackles, and he has left the Broncos with a tough decision to make whenever Trevathan does make his return.  He has performed so well that the Broncos will most likely look for ways to keep both of these players on the field once Trevathan comes back from injury.  Marshall has been one of the players that has been so key in the Broncos having the #1 ranked running defense in the NFL.  One player that deserves a lot of credit for that is Terrance "Pot Roast" Knighton.  His play in the middle of the defense has been unbelievable this season, and it has allowed linebackers to have a free run to the ball carrier.  If I was John Elway I would make sure I got Pot Roast locked up long term, because he is the reason this run defense is so good.  Malik Jackson is another guy who has been playing great week in and week out, but often does not get the recognition he deserves.  I expect the Broncos defense to shut down the Rams running game early, and get to Shaun Hill early and often in this game.  

Denver Broncos

Another player that has been making plays every week for this defense is rookie corner Bradley Roby.  Last week he got another interception, that set up the C.J. Anderson 51 yard catch and run.  Roby's emergence has allowed the Broncos to move Chris Harris into the slot on obvious passing downs.  Another player that has been very impressive this season is safety Quinton Carter.  Carter is playing for the first time in almost three years, as he missed the previous two seasons with injuries.  This year he has allowed defensive coordinator, Jack Del Rio, to do a lot of creative things with the nickel package (3 corners in the game).  When the Broncos go to the nickel or dime they walk T.J. Ward up and he basically becomes a linebacker, and Carter then comes into the game at safety where he is very good in coverage against opposing tight ends, which is not a strength for Ward.  The play of these two young players has allowed the Broncos to come at the opponents offense with lots of different looks, and it gives them the versatility to deal with any look the offense may throw at them.  I expect the Broncos secondary to lock up the Rams weapons and make life very hard for quarterback Shaun Hill.  

Prediction

I do think that this one is going to be close for awhile because the Rams defense should be able to cause problems for the Broncos offense.  The Broncos may struggle to find a rhythm on offense, especially if the running game has a slow start.  I would not be surprised if this game was close at halftime, but I expect the Broncos to pull away as the game rolls along because the Rams just do not have the offensive personnel to keep up with the Broncos offense.  I think the Broncos defense will clamp down on the Rams offense and make life hard for quarterback Shaun Hill.  In the end the Broncos should come away with a victory in this one.  

Final Score- Denver Broncos 34, St. Louis Rams 13

Manning vs. Brady 16

Another week in the NFL and another huge game for the Denver Broncos.  It seems like every game so far has been a "must win" for the Broncos and this week they face another tough test against the New England Patriots.  The Patriots have been on a roll lately, scoring 51 points last weekend against the Chicago Bears.  This game is so important for the Broncos because if they are able to win this game they will be in control of the AFC's #1 seed.  If they lose things will become a little more difficult for them although not impossible.  As always this game takes on added significance because of the quarterback matchup.  Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time so anytime they face off against one another, it is a media spectacle.  This game also marks the third consecutive year that this matchup has taken place, all of which have been played in Foxborough.  The Broncos have not fared too well the last two seasons, but this year could be different and I'll tell you why.

Keys to Victory

Denver Broncos- Gabriel Christus

The biggest key in this game has to be the turnover battle.  The Broncos have to avoid beating themselves in this game.  In the last two regular season meetings against the Patriots the Broncos have been careless with the ball and it has cost them the game.  We all remember last years game where the Broncos managed to squander a 24-0 lead because of two turnovers deep in their own territory.  That is how the Patriots beat you.  They play good disciplined football and when you make a mistake they are sure to capitalize on it.  In this one the Broncos need to make sure that they are not helping the Patriots out with turnovers.  If Denver can win the turnover battle I think they will win this game, if they cannot then it could be a different story.

Denver Broncos- Gabriel Christus

One player that could play a big role today for the Broncos is Emmanuel Sanders.  If the weather is going to be as bad as they say then the Broncos may not be able to push the ball down the field in the passing game.  This could mean that the Broncos run a lot of underneath routes, and bubble screens that give their playmakers the ability to run after the catch.  Sanders is one of the most dynamic pass catchers that the Broncos have and he is always fun to watch when he has the ball in his hands.  In the last several games the Broncos have run a downfield screen that has been very effective.  They ran this play twice last week on third and long situations and I think they could look to run this play on a more consistent basis if the weather is bad.  On this play the Broncos set three receivers in a trips formation to the right with one receiver (Demaryius Thomas) set to the left.  The three receivers on the right side of the formation come flying off the line of scrimmage which forces the defenders to back off quickly.  The receiver on the left of the formation then runs a shallow crossing route, once the ball is thrown the three receivers who are downfield find a man and block.  So far this has been an effective play for the Broncos and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Broncos try it a few times.

Denver Broncos- Gabriel Christus

Assuming the weather is as bad as predicted the Broncos will have to rely on the running game, and given recent performance that might not be such a bad thing.  Ronnie Hillman has been a fresh breath of air for the Broncos running game.  He has transformed the running attack from an area of concern to a real strength of this team.  Since taking over as the starter Hillman has consistently shown the ability to hit a hole and get as many yards as he can.  He has also shown great quickness.  His ability to break big plays has shown up in each game so far and I would not be surprised to see him bust loose for a big play again this week.  The last two weeks he has had runs of over thirty yards, and I think that trend will continue this week.  The fun thing about Hillman is that once he gets past the second level he has the ability to run away from everybody.  Last year against the Patriots the Broncos ran for 280 yards and seemingly had their way with the Patriots defense.  I think that this trend will continue against a Patriots defense that is missing it's leading tackler as well as its best pass rusher.

Denver Broncos- Gabriel Christus

As for the Broncos defense they will have their hands full against a Patriots offense that is firing on all cylinders at this point in the season.  At the start of this season the Patriots looked out of sync and there were some who said that this was the end of the Patriots dynasty and that Tom Brady was done.  Well a few weeks later and those ideas have been solidly laid to rest as the Patriots have been on fire over the last several weeks.  What changed? One word: Gronk.  The biggest difference for this Patriots offense has been the play of the tight end known only as GRONK.  Over the first four games Gronk just did not look like the same dominant player that we are so used to seeing.  He ran mostly crossing routes and did not challenge the defense vertically.  Things have changed over the last few weeks though and it appears Gronk is healthy and back to terrorizing opponents.  He has been running down the seams and dishing out punishment when he makes contact with a defender.  So how do the Broncos slow down this Patriots offense?  I think that if the Broncos are able to stop the running game and make the Patriots one dimensional Tom Brady could be in for a long day in this one.  The Broncos are the #1 run defense so far this season and if they can continue to stop the run they can make life tough for the Patriots today.  If the Broncos can stuff the run that means the pass rushers can pin their ears back and get after Tom Brady.  This is important because the Patriots offensive line has been suspect at times this season and going against Von Miller and Demarcus Ware is no small task.

Denver Broncos- Gabriel Christus

These two pass rushers have been terrorizing opponents all season long, and they show no signs of slowing down.  Von Miller in particular has been practically unstoppable and he now has a sack in six consecutive games which is the best current streak in the NFL.  Von Miller is a great pass rusher there is no doubt about that, but one thing that often goes overlooked with Von is just how dominant he is against the running game.  If you watch him on running plays he regularly gets into the backfield and at the very least forces the play to go the opposite direction of him.  If the Broncos pass rush can get to Brady quickly they should have the ability to either bring him down for a sack or force him to throw it before he is ready.  This should provide the defense with opportunities for takeaways and I would look for the Broncos to get at least one interception in this one.  Rahim Moore has looked great so far this season and he seems to be seeing the field really well.   I was particularly impressed with his interception last week against the Chargers.  On the play Moore had deep responsibility and as he saw Malcom Floyd head down the sideline he immediately drifted that way and made a great play on the ball to pick off Phillip Rivers.  This shows just how far he has grown as a player.  We all remember the play against Baltimore where Moore failed to make the play on the ball.  I think he has really developed as a safety and he is a major cog in one of the best secondaries in football.

Prediction

This one is hard to predict because of the weather.  If it is cold and windy that takes away the Broncos ability to throw the ball downfield and forces them to dink and dunk a lot more.  However, even if the weather is bad I still think the Broncos have the better team.  The Broncos have superior talent and as long as they do not make mistakes with the football they should take care of business.  I look for Peyton Manning to get his first regular season win in Foxborough as a Bronco in this one.

Final Score- Denver Broncos 24, New England Patriots 17

Broncos vs. Seahawks Super Bowl Rematch

Super Bowl Rematch

Denver Broncos- Erik Lars Bakke

Well everyone the game Broncos fans have been waiting for is finally here.  The Denver Broncos will get the opportunity to show that the super bowl was just a culmination of unfortunate plays, and they will look to prove that they can play with the best in the NFL.  This game is the biggest measuring stick of the season for the Broncos.  If they can travel to Seattle and beat the Seahawks at home that will go a long way towards proving they can win the Super Bowl this season.  So can they do it? The short answer is yes, but they will have to play a great team game to beat the Seahawks especially when the game is being played in Seattle.

How do they do it? 

If Denver hopes to beat Seattle they will need to play near perfect football which they have been unable to do so far this season.  They cannot have turnovers in this game like they did in the Super Bowl, the Seahawks feed off of takeaways and we all saw what happened in the Super Bowl when Denver turned the ball over.  So far this season the Broncos have done a great job of protecting the football with just one fumble (which they recovered).  They will have to continue to take care of the football to challenge Seattle.

One thing that the Broncos have to improve on from the first two weeks of the season is penalties.  Not only have the Broncos had far to many penalties but they have come at the most inopportune times.  Just last week the Broncos defense had two third down stops thwarted because they jumped offsides.  The Broncos will not be able to win this week if they continue to make mental mistakes and shoot themselves in the foot.

Another key for the Broncos will be third down.  So far third down has been a major problem for both the offense and the defense.  Last week against the Chiefs the defense allowed the Chiefs to convert on eleven of sixteen third down tries.  On the first drive of the third quarter, the Broncos allowed the Chiefs to convert a 3rd & 16, a 3 & 13, and a 3 & 9.  The defense must do a better job of stopping the opponent on third down if they hope to win.  The offense must also be better on third down so they can sustain drives and give their defense a breather on the sideline.  This has been something they have struggled with so far especially in the 2nd half.

Denver Broncos- Erik Lars Bakke

The offensive line also has to do a good job of keeping Peyton upright in this game.  In the Super Bowl Peyton was under constant pressure and never really looked comfortable in the pocket.  If the line can give Peyton just enough time I think the Broncos will look to take a page from the San Diego Chargers playbook.  In their win over Seattle last week, San Diego looked to throw short routes underneath which allowed the receivers to make plays after the catch.  The return of Wes Welker could be a huge factor in this game as Peyton will get his security blanket back.  Welker should help alleviate some of the problems the offense has faced so far on third down.

Denver Broncos- Gabriel Christus

The Chargers also exploited the coverage of the Seahawks linebackers by throwing three touchdowns to tight end Antonio Gates.  After watching the film on the game it was clear that the Seahawks did not have an answer for Gates.    It looks like their should be plenty of opportunities for Julius Thomas to make some big time plays in this game.  Look for Julius Thomas to be a huge part of the game plan this weekend.

Why they won't win

I hate to say it but I just can't see the Broncos winning this game.  I think if this game was being played in Denver it would be a different story and I would like their chances, but playing in Seattle is really hard and the Seahawks are 18-1 at home in their last 19 games.  The defense feeds off of the crowd noise and all that noise allows the defensive line to get a great jump against the offense.  Running a no huddle offense will be very difficult in Seattle even with "the general" running the show.  I also do not think this team has improved enough to beat this Seahawks team.

Denver Broncos- Erik Lars Bakke

Hopefully by the end of the season the Broncos will be gelling by the end of the season, but right now they do not look like a team who can go to Seattle and win.  If they can take care of the football and eliminate mental mistakes I think they can keep it close, but at this point I just don't know if the defense is good enough for the Broncos to win.  If the defense can get after Russell Wilson and make him uncomfortable they have a chance in this game, but so far this season the Broncos defense has not shown a consistent pass rush.  I will be watching to see how Von Miller does in this game after being fairly quiet in the first two weeks.  The defense also has to stop Seattle on third down and get off of the field.  If they can do all of that I think they stand a chance, and they should be able to at least make this game competitive.

Final Score- Denver 27, Seattle 21

I know I know I said that the Broncos would not win this game but I just couldn't pick against the Broncos and I do think they will be motivated to win this game.  I think one way or another this will be a good close game.  Hopefully the Broncos can catch a couple of breaks and get a few turnovers.  If the ball bounces their way look for them to pull of the upset on the road.  Go Broncos!