Broncos Making Plays, Will Face Stiff Challenge in Minnesota Vikings
By Brad James
After three weeks, the Denver Broncos’ defense is statistically-speaking the best in the league, leading them to a 3-0 record and overpowering all offenses who dare challenge them.
Against the Detroit Lions in a 24-12 win Sunday evening, the Broncos limited their explosive foes to 290 net yards and contested every play, even containing arguably the NFL’s best wideout, Calvin Johnson, limiting him to 8 catches for 77 yards and no scores.
In this vein of thought, the Broncos, who give up an NFL-best 259 yards per game, as well as a league-best 176.3 passing yards per contest while ranked third in scoring defense (16.3) with only the Jets and Panthers having stingier units thus far.
Thus, while Peyton Manning ( a season-best 73.8 completion percentage against the Lions and his first 300-yard game of the 2015 campaign) seems to be figuring things out, the defense has been gangbusters in the early going and helped the Broncos to a 3-0 start, keeping them atop the AFC West by their lonesome for another week.
Sunday, the Broncos welcome in an interesting foe in the Minnesota Vikings who are enjoying the talents of a resurgent Adrian Peterson (59 car, 291 yards, 2 TD’s) thus far on the season. The Vikings are 2-1 and after giving up 20 points in the first game of a season, a loss to San Francisco, have only surrendered a combined 30 points the last two games, wins against Detroit and San Diego.
Presently, the Vegas line has the Broncos as 6 1/2 point favorites as it’s uncertain how Minnesota will fare on the road, having previously lost by 17 in their first road game of the season.
In any event, defensive back David Bruton in words with the Denver media Monday, reported that defensive coordinator Wade Phillips should get all the credit for the Broncos’ success on that side of the ball. As long as humility and complementary words emanate from the Broncos, the team has the chance to be really good as the offense should be more like the Detroit game than the Baltimore and Kansas City ones to start the season.
As the game draws closer, please stay with Predominantly Orange for more Broncos stories leading up to this Week 4 matchup.
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