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Denver Broncos: Fanzone interview with Matt Petrero

By Tylor Walden

NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 13: Fans of the Denver Broncos celebrate during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 13, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Broncos defeated the Saints 25-23. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - NOVEMBER 13: Fans of the Denver Broncos celebrate during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 13, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Broncos defeated the Saints 25-23. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 16: Quarterback Case Keenum #4 and center Matt Paradis #61 of the Denver Broncos celebrate after a fourth quarter quarterback keeper touchdown against the Oakland Raiders at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on September 16, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Recapping the first two games

The Denver Broncos won a close game against the Oakland Raiders. What do you think made the biggest difference since the Broncos were trailing 12-0 at the half?

I think it was mostly intangibles. We were clearly flat in the first half. I am guessing that was as much a Week 1 hangover than anything. We haven’t seen an offense this competent since (parts of) 2015 and that efficient performance was an exhale moment (It’s sad that an efficient offense gets us all amped up). So I think we let our guard down a bit, even though the players would probably deny that.

As such, there was no panic when the players came out of the locker room. It appears that they made the necessary mental adjustments at the intermission and realized that there was no way that they should be losing to this team. So they reapplied their game faces and took care of business. Vance Joseph said that the defense was not aggressive enough in the first half and it made Derrick Carr way too comfortable.

That was the one strategic change implemented in the second half. It worked. Fortunately we can also always count on the Raiders to play that usual, undisciplined Raiders style of football. A more disciplined team may have effectively put the game out of reach by halftime.

Denver has been involved in two close games, but have come out of them in wins. Is the offense making a difference for the team?

Absolutely! First, the offense can stay out on the field longer, giving the defense longer rest between series, keeping them fresher. The three-and-out nonsense of the past two seasons wore down the defense, which is still the strength of this team. Now, the defensive players’ legs are fresher in the 4th quarter when stops must be made. Also the defensive players know that they don’t have to do more than their jobs to try and overcompensate for an inept offense.

There’s a comfort level in knowing that a 12-0 halftime deficit or a late, lead changing TD by the opposition are not insurmountable. Case Keenum, Phillip Lindsay, Cortland Sutton, Royce Freeman, and an offensive line whose players now line up in their natural positions all seem to have energized the offensive side of the ball…not to mention the entire team. It looks like an offense being run by true professionals.

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