With an unheralded approach, using bubble screens and swing passes, their passing attack is right in the middle of the pack with passing yards per attempt at 7.3. As pictured above, Baron Browning has been phenomenal since stepping in as one of the team’s two starting inside linebackers.
His ability to effortlessly run sideline-to-sideline will go a long way when having to chase down these backs slipping out of the backfield. He and Kenny Young will have to continue to fly around the field and play fast, something they both have excelled at since becoming Denver Broncos.
It will be interesting to see if Fangio runs more of a base cover 2 to have his corners sitting on the flats to limit the opportunities there, or if he continues to attack this a man-to-man approach. Another thing we must remember is Jalen Hurts is a fantastic athlete, so there is always some vulnerability in pressing with an athletic quarterback like Hurts.
This season Hurts has thrown for 11 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, so the Denver Broncos defense really shouldn’t be overly concerned with Hurts terrorizing them through the air. Rookie wide receiver Devonta Smith is their biggest receiving threat, having 537 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 38 receptions this season.
After Smith, the most talented wide receiver on this roster is Quez Watkins who has 22 receptions for 375 yards and zero touchdowns. Tight End Dallas Goedert can cause problems for some, but after seeing Baron Browning blanket Dalton Schultz this past weekend, I’m growing confident in his coverage abilities.
There are a few wildcards in this offense, and that is where the concern should be, in my opinion. Not that the Broncos cant limit Boston Scott’s rushing attack, or the dual usage of Kenneth Gainwell, but the defense must be wary of the gimmick that this offense could send out onto the field.
Hurts continues to be this team’s primary offensive weapon, he is the team’s leading rusher and passer. Along with passing for 1,981 yards, Hurts has 494 yards on the ground. He isn’t Lamar Jackson, but he is a very poor version of him. This defense struggled to stop Lamar Jackson, but Hurts is not on his level, nor is this the same defense that fell apart against Baltimore.
Three keys for stopping the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense:
- Limit Jalen Hurts’ rushing success, force him to beat you through the air.
- Keep your eyes on Kenneth Gainwell, don’t let him thrive in the gadget player role.
- Shut down Dallas Goedert and take away one of Hurts’ security blankets.
If the Denver Broncos are able to successfully achieve all three of these goals, I think the defense will smother the Eagles’ offense much like they did with the Dallas Cowboys.