Special Teams Kicking And Covering Broncos To Wins

The Denver Broncos special teams has played as much a role in the team’s recent success as the guys on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

Britton Colquitt is averaging 47.6 yards per punt which is good enough for 7th in the league, and Matt Prater is hitting his field goals in crunch time. Quan Cosby is averaging 10.9 yards per punt return (11th in the NFL), and as a team the Broncos are 6th in the league in kick returns averaging 26.8 yards per return.

The Broncos special teams took things to another level when they played the Chargers on Sunday. They won the field position battle, and in the end, gave Prater a chance to kick a 37-yard field goal in overtime.

“If there are any unsung heros is this situation, it’s really the guys playing on those special teams because Britton Colquitt and Matt Prater have been tremendous in the kicking game,” John Elway said.

It hasn’t just been the kickers, however. Coverage on special teams has stepped it up as well.

“The coverage teams have been unbelievable, and really done a good job in situations where if we’re playing field position against other teams, we’ve been able to win that war which in the long run is very beneficial,” Elway offered.

In a game like Sunday’s, where each team punted twice in overtime before an outcome was decided, the game is won and lost because of field position.

The game itself is measured in yards, but wins are measured in inches. Special teams knows this all too well.

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