Broncos vs. Titans: 2016 Week 14 Preview

The push to the playoffs continue as two playoff contenders are set to square off in Nashville. I preview the Denver Broncos vs. Tennessee Titans here.

Two teams in the thick of the playoff race are set to battle it out in Nashville, Tennessee.

For the Denver Broncos, they currently reside as the sixth seed in the playoffs. But they are still in play for a division title and a higher seed.

However, they are going to need quite a bit of help and take care of business on their own.

As for the Tennessee Titans, they currently are in a three way tie for first in the AFC South. But fall behind both the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans in tiebreakers.

Both the Colts and Texans play each other at the same time this game kicks off.

This means the Titans will know how much ground they will have to cover after their game.

For this matchup, this could be a preview of an AFC Wild Card Game. So, we will get to see two teams that will be playing for one of the spots in the AFC Playoffs.

Let us dive into the information and some keys to Sunday’s clash in Nashville.

Game Information:

Who: Denver Broncos at Tennessee Titans

When: Sunday December 11th, 2016

Where: Nissan Stadium

Time: 1:00 PM EST/11:00 AM MST

TV Station: CBS

Announcers: Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts

Line: Tennessee (-1) as of Wednesday

Key Matchups:

Broncos Run Defense vs. Demarco Murray and Derrick Henry

The Denver Broncos run defense has struggled quite a bit this season. It appears the loss of Malik Jackson really did a number on that category.

It will not get any easier for the Broncos as they go up against Demarco Murray, Derrick Henry, and the Titans third ranked run offense.

The Broncos will also have to be careful and spy on Marcus Mariota. Denver has had issues when it comes to mobile quarterbacks in recent years.

Marcus Mariota vs. Broncos Secondary

While Mariota could beat the Broncos with his feet, it could come down to his passing in this game. This could be especially true if the Broncos find a way to eliminate the running game.

The Broncos secondary feasted on Blake Bortles last week, recording two interceptions and keeping him under 200 yards passing.

Mariota has thrown for 2,998 yards and 25 touchdowns this season, so he has improved from his rookie campaign.

If the Broncos are going to have a shot at defeating the Titans, it all comes down to forcing Mariota into mistakes and pressuring him.

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Keys to the Game

Stop the Running Game

As I mentioned in the key matchups, stopping the two headed monster in the running game is going to be key for the Denver Broncos. They can not afford to have Murray and Henry to run all over them.

If they can limit their running lanes and stop them for small gains, the game will then rest on Mariota’s arm.

The No Fly Zone has been solid at creating turnovers, so hopefully Mariota will be baited into some throws that could help out.

Win the Turnover Battle

The Denver Broncos have won every game in which they were on the positive side in the turnover battle.

It is a lot easier said than done. Marcus Mariota has only thrown eight interceptions so far this season. And the Titans do not put the ball on the field very often.

If any team can create some turnovers, it is this Broncos defense.

Prediction:

This is such a difficult game to call. It is all going to depend upon if Trevor Siemian will be healthy to play on Sunday.

If he is not, the team will have to rely on Paxton Lynch for at least one more week.

The Denver Broncos seem to always find ways to win difficult games on the road. With both teams battling for a playoff spot, I expect both teams to give their all.

However, I believe the Denver Broncos will play hungrier. One slip up with them, seeing their remaining schedule, could prove to be costly.

And they know it too.

With that said, I believe that the Broncos will do enough on the defensive side of the football in order to escape Nashville with a win.

Broncos 23 Titans 17