Broncos: 3 takeaways from the Buccaneers Super Bowl victory

Broncos Super Bowl Takeaways: The game is still won in the trenches

In the Super Bowl, it was evident who had the superior offensive line. It was obvious that injuries to left tackle Eric Fisher and right tackle Mitchell Schwartz left a crater that no one backup could fill.

The Chiefs lacked the horses to compete with the Buccaneers up front.

The Chiefs were unable to get any movement on the ground and Mahomes was pressured from the first snap to his last.

Additionally, the Bucs offensively showed what investing in an offensive line can do as Tom Brady experienced minimal pressure and the ground game controlled the pace. Brady was able to utilize play-action for several big plays due to the offensive line’s ability to push around the Kansas City Chiefs defensive front.

The Broncos have some solid pieces, but they are young and must continue to grow and gel to enter the league’s top 10.

Garett Bolles was the only player up front that remained consistent throughout the season. Lloyd Cushenberry improved but struggled mightily early. Dalton Risner is a solid piece to the offensive line and will need to continue to improve. Addressing the right tackle position with the return of Ja’Wuan James or another draft pick is paramount to the success of the offense.

The Broncos finished the season as Pro Football Focus 25th ranked offensive line while the Buccaneers checked in as fifth-best in the league.

The Broncos have invested a lot in their line, but should not rest on it. The Chiefs injuries showed that depth is necessary to compete throughout the season.

The Buccaneers were able to contain the Chiefs’ defensive linemen including studs Chris Jones and Frank Clark as they were almost non-factors throughout the game.

The Broncos can mimic this formula moving forward and should focus on making sure their line is dominant through their current pieces while continuing to add talent through the draft and free agency.