Mother Nature may have given the Denver Broncos an assist against the explosive Los Angeles Rams’ offense. The Broncos should come out strong.
The Denver Broncos come into a week six game against the 5-0 Los Angeles Rams at Broncos Stadium at Mile High with lots of futility and missed opportunities.
This is not a place for me to give solutions to problems the Broncos have. My Predominantly Orange colleagues are much wiser than I am in that regard. Rather, I delve into what the Broncos can do to be successful based on things I have seen.
Anyway, as for the Broncos’ 34-16 loss to the Jets, let’s get down to brass tacks.
Sans the Peyton Manning era, the Broncos have never, under any circumstances, excelled in the 11:00 am MDT/MST time slot.
Insomuch as opponents traditionally have a hard time playing the Broncos at 5,280 feet, the inverse is true when the Broncos have to play in the early window. Yes, even when the legendary John Elway quarterbacked the Broncos, playing at 11:00 am was never a picnic.
The one exception was when there was an 11:00 am kickoff at Denver for the Broncos’ 1989 AFC Championship win over the Cleveland Browns and, the 49ers trounced the Rams in the late window.
There’s no need to explain what happened in the Super Bowl a fortnight later.
The Broncos never got off the flight to the Meadowlands last week. Early success, just as in the Ravens’ game, proved to oddly spell their doom.
Statistically, the Jets did not measure up with their performance. Nevertheless, when you fail to show up in the NFL, that’s precisely what happens. If the Broncos’ locker room has any pride at all, the veterans should come out incensed Sunday and realize the chance before them to knock off one of the best teams in the NFL.
I would not worry about the Broncos coming out flat Sunday. I think that with the Rams coming to Denver, it’s a tremendous opportunity to turn your season around if you can pull off the upset.
The NFL is fascinating. The early-window games western teams are forced to play on the road and the Dolphins’ intense heat advantage early in the season help to shape this.
No one is invincible. The Rams have shown their vulnerability to big plays, especially the last two weeks. In short, the Broncos will have opportunities Sunday. If they can capitalize thereon, they could shock the world.
Statistical Analysis
The Broncos’ NFC brethren are the Carolina Panthers. When I have seen Carolina run the ball effectively this season on the film, it opens everything up for signal-caller Cam Newton and a solid cast of receivers.
This is exactly how the Broncos are, and especially with snow coming to Denver Sunday (more info on this later in the thread), the writing is on the wall for the Broncos.
The Broncos are third in the NFL in rushing yards per game (137 yards) and have lost zero fumbles. Also, kicker Brandon McManus is tied for first in the NFL in kicking field goals, having made all eight of his attempts this season.
Therefore, the Broncos should play old-school football and control the clock with the running game to keep the explosive Rams’ offense at bay.
Undrafted rookie tailback Phillip Lindsay averages six yards every time he touches the ball. My great colleague Jakob King suggests what the Broncos’ offense could be like if he gets more touches.
Also, the Broncos may have finally unleashed the potential of Lindsay’s fellow rookie, Courtland Sutton, the 40th overall pick in last April’s collegiate draft out of Southern Methodist.
When Broncos QB Case Keenum (122-192, 1,365 yards, 7 TD’s) was intercepted by Jets free safety Marcus Maye on the last play of the game Sunday, Sutton chased him down, preventing a touchdown.
Now, I’m someone who was a horrendous athlete in high school but I gave it everything I had on the gridiron when the coaches let me play.
Therefore, I’m so impressed when someone like Sutton, who has all these prodigious athletic skills, gives optimum effort.
Our stellar colleague, Cameron Parker, has more info on Sutton right here.
Even in the snow, let’s be honest, the Broncos’ offense has to find a way to score points.
The Broncos being -2 in turnover ratio does nothing to help a defense that is 26th in yards surrendered per game (395.8 yards), tied for 23rd in scoring defense (26.2) and 30th against the run (139.6 yards).
The Rams come in with the top signal-caller in the NFL in many statistical categories in Jared Goff.
Goff, in only his third year out of California, is tops in the NFL in passing yards (1,727), passing yards per game (345.4 yards) and yards per attempt (9.80 yards). He engineers an offense that is tops in the NFL in yards per game (468.4 yards), yards per play (7.4 yards) and third in scoring offense (34.6 points per contest).
Also, with tailback Todd Gurley, who is first in the NFL in rushing touchdowns with seven and first in the NFL in total points with 58, Goff has a reliable bell-cow to share the wealth with.
Additionally, the Rams’ offense will be blessed by the return of receivers Brandin Cooks (19.4 yards per touch, second in the NFL) and Cooper Kupp (second in the NFL with five receiving touchdowns.)
This Rams’ offense, for all intents and purposes, is brilliant with Sean McVay calling the shots. The erudite head coach has taken the NFL by storm and he will not be 33 until January 24.
It is reasonable to suggest his 33rd birthday will be celebrated with the Rams in the midst of a playoff run in the NFC. Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is a big name and sentimental to Broncos Country. However, his defense has been susceptible to the big play.
This may be significant to this game thread as this week’s game notes say the Broncos lead the NFL with 11 different players have recorded a 20-plus-yard play in 2018.
In any case, tune into this one. You may just be surprised at the outcome. It is interesting that the Rams, for all of their magnificence, are 26th in field goal percentage (72.7 percent) on the season. Should the game come down to a game-winning kick, you have to like the Broncos’ chances.
The Rams lead the Broncos 8-5 all-time and the series is 3-3 all-time at 5,280 feet.
Broadcast Details
Date: Sunday Oct.14, 2018
Start Time: 2:05 pm MT
Location: Broncos Stadium at Mile High
TV Info: FOX (506sports.com for local listings nationwide)
Announcers: Dick Stockton (play-by-play), Mark Schlereth (analyst), Jen Hale (sidelines)
Injury Updates
Thanks to Cameron DeSilva, the managing editor of the Rams Wire at USA Today SMG for his detailed Broncos-Rams injury report.
Final Rams-Broncos injury report. All clear for L.A. pic.twitter.com/x1a9CA6tzS
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) October 12, 2018
Weather Update
As everyone knows, it’s really snowy for this one. Here’s Danielle Grant of 9 News in Denver with her forecast.
Soak in the #TGIF sunshine! Chilly changes this weekend! #9wx #cowx pic.twitter.com/7xMRDvZ1Vn
— Danielle Grant (@theWXwoman) October 12, 2018
Anyway, this is your game thread. Tell your friends about us and get our numbers up, please. This is ingenious work that everyone should know about!