Denver Broncos: Key matchup is Drew Lock vs. Patrick Mahomes
Matchup number one, two, and three: Drew Lock against Patrick Mahomes
I know, I know, 1uarterbacks do not play against the other quarterback. I subscribe to that belief 99 percent of the time. In big games like this, you must outplay the All-World Mahomes to make sure your team gets a win.
Now, that doesn’t mean that Lock finishes this game with a better stat line.
It does mean that Lock must make the smart plays that are in front of him and the big plays when they present themselves.
This Cheifs defense will give up a big play opportunity or two but remain stout across the board as the overall 6th-ranked scoring defense in the league.
How does Lock outplay Mahomes in this matchup?
Even though the Chiefs defense has played well overall, there are significant weaknesses in their defense and the Broncos most take advantage of them to win.
The Chiefs defensively rank in the bottom third of the league in yards after catch (YAC). Meaning, Lock must get the ball to his players on time, and allow them to make plays.
The Broncos have an array of playmakers that flourish with the ball in space. Getting Noah Fant, Jerry Jeudy, and K.J. Hamler the ball early and with an opportunity to make a defender miss could provide this offense with the necessary spark it needs to compete.
Additionally, Lock must continue to build on his last game against the Miami Dolphins. Lock, rebounded from a horrific start to engineer an efficient offense attack. One the Broncos just might replicate in this game.
After starting 0-6 with an interception, Lock finished 18-24 for 270 yards. What went unnoticed was Lock’s two scrambles for key first downs that kept scoring drives alive.
Lock begins to hit his rhythm when he played on schedule and threw the ball to a spot, and not when he saw a man open. Lock began to trust his receivers and put the ball where it needed to be. When the play broke down, he knew where the first down marker was and used his above-average athleticism to pick up chunks of yards.
Drew Lock must repeat that performance and then some this Sunday Night.
How he does it, might look very different as it is safe to assume the Broncos will utilize a game similar to the game plan this last Dolphins game as it aligns with the gameplan Pat Shurmur devised for the Chiefs earlier this year.
Expect Lock to utilize play-action quite a bit as the Chiefs give up 4.7 yards-per-carry. They will play the run first and make Lock beat them. As the Broncos had everything in the run game working earlier this year when these two teams squared off, it would be the smart play by head coach Andy Ried.
What does this matchup mean for Lock?
There is no doubt this matchup can change the outlook for Lock and his Broncos’ future.
This game can change the narrative of the young quarterback’s future.
It is safe to anticipate the Broncos will hang around because of their defense, and that shouldn’t change much even though Mahomes is playing out of this world right now.
Expect head coach Vic Fangio to implement a similar defensive gameplan from their week 7 matchup. If successful, this gameplan was enough to limit the Chiefs and provide the offense with a window to strike.
However, the offense and special teams provided little help on to a route for the Chiefs that matchup, which is why Lock’s performance is magnified this week.
Drew Lock must keep the Broncos on schedule and produce points consistently. If not, the dam will eventually break as the defense (especially without Bryce Callahan), cannot hold up forever.
This week, the game solely rests on Lock. He knows it and Broncos Country knows it.
Mahomes will make big-plays, and Lock has to respond with his own. It is time for him to break out, and he must for this team to get a win.