Broncos dominance nearly negated by late play calling

The Broncos’ dominance against the Patriots was nearly negated by second-half play-calling

The Denver Broncos dominated the New England Patriots for three-plus quarters in their week 6 matchup. Despite having to settle for six field goals, the Broncos defense shut Cam Newton and the Patriots down and the offense successfully moved the chains and came away with points.

That is, until late in the 3rd quarter. The play calling got predictable and stale at that point. I hate to be critical of the play calling in a much-needed win, but this game shouldn’t have been close.

The Broncos forced a fumble up 15-3  late in the third quarter. Rather than attempt to bury the Patriots when they forced a turnover the play calling was back-to-back runs and a 3rd down incompletion. The aggression on offense never seemed to return.

The next drive two drives were three-and-outs followed by a five-play drive ending in an interception, only extended because Lindsay ran three times in a row picking up a first down on his second carry. After Lock had a bad exchange of the snap he was forced with another third-and-long that turned into his first pick.

The next time the Broncos saw the ball they were suddenly in a one-possession ballgame and Lock tried to aggressively force the ball downfield. The pass went off Tim Patrick’s fingers and was intercepted again.

Had Denver put up another score early in the 4th quarter or a touchdown after the fumble late in the 3rd, their lead would have been nearly insurmountable. Instead, the offense seemingly took their foot off the pedal leading to the Patriots drawing closer and young Drew Lock being forced to try and force a drive to secure the win.

Quarterbacks will throw interceptions, and Drew Lock will have to execute drives under pressure when called upon, but the fact that Lock threw two interceptions late in the game that could have derailed a Broncos victory falls in the lap of offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.

By not giving Lock and the offense a chance to close out the game earlier, a situation arose where Lock could have been the scapegoat.

Overall, Lock and the offense have to get the ball in the endzone and score more points. That part is on them, but the attempt to sit on a lead nearly cost the team a win and left it on the conscience of a young quarterback. Those two throws are simply mishaps in the course of a normal game, but by kicking the can down the road Shurmur made them potentially win-costing mistakes.

Moving forward, the offensive players and coaches will have to do a better job of putting up points, but I hope the New England game can teach them to attack whenever possible and not wait for the game to dictate their aggressiveness.

Sometimes a risk taken in the 3rd quarter can eliminate a mistake in the 4th.