The Denver Broncos travel to East Rutherford, New Jersey. to play the New York Jets. This is a challenging game, but this is one they should win.
The Denver Broncos, coming off the heels of a 27-23 loss at the hands of the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs Monday, get back to the grind Sunday at MetLife Stadium against the New York Jets.
The middling Jets are 1-3. After astounding the NFL with a 48-17 rout of the Detroit Lions in week one, they have crashed down to earth significantly. In last Sunday’s 31-12 loss at Jacksonville, the Jets looked positively outclassed in every conceivable way.
The Broncos, at 2-2, to the experts of Broncos Twitter (such as my Predominantly Orange colleagues) are not the horrendous team they were last season.
To bolster my point, I invoke the words of blog boss Sayre Bedinger, who has a report on who played well in the heart-breaking loss to Kansas City.
It does bear mentioning that in the loss to Kansas City, the Broncos ran for 159 yards on 22 carries, which was good for 7.2 yards a carry. Rookie tailbacks Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman combined for 136 yards on 20 carries, or 6.8 yards per tote collectively Monday night.
Against a Jets team that surrenders 108.3 yards per game on the ground, the Broncos should feast. The Broncos lead the Jets 20-15-1 all-time and are 8-7-1 against them on the road. Furthermore, the Broncos have won four of their last six games against the Jets on the road.
History is on the Broncos’ side and even current trends. The one test that the Broncos must conquer is winning an 11:00 am kickoff on the road in the Vance Joseph era.
The one road game the Broncos did win last season came at Indianapolis on a Thursday night. Thus, as we move on in this thread, it’s important to remember that the Broncos are essentially playing for a wild card berth.
Therefore, wins against AFC common opponents, be they division or otherwise, are extremely important. I call this a “must-win” for the Broncos.
Statistical Analysis
Turnovers continue to be the bane of the Broncos’ existence. They come into this game as -3 and the Jets are +2. Thus, if the Broncos want to win, they must win the turnover battle, as rudimentary as that sounds.
The Broncos’ statistics are strong in net yardage per game (383.3 yards per game, 13th in the NFL), yards per play (6.0, 9th in the NFL) and rushing yards per game (148.3 yards per game, 3rd in the NFL). They have also lost no fumbles.
However, the Broncos are 25th in scoring offense (21 points per game), 19th in passing yards per game (235 yards per outing, 27th in interceptions thrown (6) and tied for 15th in sacks allowed (9th).
While Case Keenum (87-141, 988 yards, 3 TD’s/6 INT’s) hasn’t been stellar, if he manages the game and plays to the Broncos’ strengths, he can still be effective. The Chiefs game was actually solid for him as his one interception was the byproduct of dumb luck Kansas City benefited from.
I still believe in Keenum and Joseph. Anyone who has seen the Broncos closely this year knows there is wisdom in having confidence in both.
The Jets’ offense is horrendous in every category and their defense is only statistically sound in turnovers forced, as has been previously discussed. The Jets’ 10 forced turnovers is tied for third in the NFL.
I will say that Jets strong safety Jamal Adams is a stud as he has an interception and forced fumble already on the season and is always around the ball on the film. He also has 22 solo tackles. The Broncos must account for him at all times.
If the Broncos make smart decisions, they should win this one going away, but that’s why they play the game.
Sometimes, in the NFL, crazy things happen.
This game should provide an ample opportunity for linebacker Von Miller to break out of his funk as the Jets’ 10 sacks allowed are tied for 19th in the NFL.
With Jets’ prized signal-caller Sam Darnold having thrown five interceptions thus far himself, if the Broncos can force him into bad decisions, they should have a chance to succeed.
Also, Lindsay, Freeman and fellow rookie, receiver Courtland Sutton, have combined for 678 yards from scrimmage in 2018 through the first quarter of the season.
Also, any time the Broncos can get the ball in fullback Andy Janovich’s hands, he can be as effective as his San Francisco counterpart Kyle Juszczyk in his own sphere. He has shown himself to be a dangerous weapon in space.
With the genius of offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave at the controls, the Broncos should be able to find ways for Janovich to get favorable matchups in space.
Also, punter Colby Wadman looks likely to play Sunday. Sayre Bedinger has the scoop.
Broadcast Details
Date: Oct.7, 2018
Start Time: 11:00 am MT
Location: MetLife Stadium,
TV Info: CBS Sports (506sports.com for local listings nationwide)
Announcers: Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Dan Fouts (analyst), Evan Washburn (sidelines)
Live Stream: fubo.tv, NFL Sunday Ticket (out of local markets only)
Injury Updates
Our friends at Orange Stallion have the latest information on the Broncos-Jets injury report. With Billy Turner playing admirably in Jared Veldheer’s stead last Monday night, the Broncos may be better off with all due respect.
The Jets being without cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who has looked magnificent on film, should serve the Broncos well if Musgrave and Keenum come prepared to win.
Weather Update
The weather is expected to be really warm for autumn at East Rutherford, N.J. Sunday. There are going to be partly cloudy skies with temperatures hovering between 78 and 81 degrees. Here is the forecast.
Thus, the Broncos should hydrate and beware of the humidity, especially in the 4th Quarter. If the Broncos have the lead and can take the air out of the ball with the running game down the stretch, the humidity can work to their advantage.
Anyway, this is your game thread. Tell your friends about us. GO BRONCOS!!!