The Denver Broncos offense has struggled to produce points through their first six games of the season while the defense has played at an elite level. If the Broncos are going to beat the New York Jets on Sunday, here’s how. Denver’s defense will need to score a defensive touchdown and limit Breece Hall’s impact on the ground.

Denver Broncos defense wins if they score points

The Broncos defense has been playing at an elite level this season. As a matter of fact, Denver’s defense is the NFL’s 4th ranked scoring defense this year, holding opponents to an average of 16.5 points per game. The Jets on the other hand have the NFL’s 10th-ranked scoring offense, averaging 23.8 points per game.

Last week, Denver held Justin Herbert and the previously high-powered Los Angeles Chargers offense to a total of 19 points in an overtime loss. Patrick Surtain led the secondary’s effort in prohibiting Herbert from throwing a touchdown pass despite him throwing a total of 57 passes. Jets quarterback Zach Wilson isn’t Herbert, but certainly possesses the arm talent to catch a defense sleeping deep.

Wilson has thrown two interceptions and has been sacked five times in three total games played this season. Sunday’s game presents Denver with the perfect opportunity to score a defensive touchdown, whether that be a pick-six or scoop and score, this is the perfect setup. Through six weeks, the Jets have turned the football over nine times which ranks them 22nd in the league, and have allowed 14 sacks which have them tied for 17th in the NFL.

Denver’s defense on the other hand has sacked opposing quarterbacks a total of 19 times through six weeks which has them ranked 4th in the NFL. Led by Bradley Chubb who has 5.5 sacks on the season, Denver’s defense comes in as the NFL’s fastest defense to sack opposing quarterbacks this season. Opposite of Chubb, Baron Browning has emerged as an athletic option off the edge whose body control and discipline have allowed him to accelerate to 2.5 sacks in two weeks, filling in for injured pass rusher Randy Gregory.

If Denver can get after Wilson and generate one or two takeaways, they could take one of them to the house for six points.

Limit Breece Hall’s impact

The Jets offense has found its footing with rookie running back Breece Hall, who has contributed significantly to the hot start New York has found. The rookie tailback has breakaway speed that can hurt a defense if he finds any space. In a 40-17 victory in Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins, Hall had 18 carries for 97 yards and one touchdown while also hauling in two receptions for 100 yards. In a 27-10 win against the Green Bay Packers, Hall rushed 116 yards on 20 carries and one touchdown.

Through six weeks, Hall has 609 all-purpose yards on 94 total touches which makes him the biggest threat for Denver defensively. However, going into Monday Night’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Austin Ekeler was on a similar trajectory going into the game against Denver.

Last week, the Broncos held Ekeler to 36 yards on 14 carries after he had 16 carries for 173 yards and two total touchdowns the week prior against the Cleveland Browns. Denver’s defense has been stout this season against the run minus Josh Jacobs 144 yard game in Week 4.

This column over the last few weeks has featured a multitude of offensive philosophies that Denver needed to accomplish in order to win, but they simply have struggled across the board. With Russell Wilson being downgraded to out, Brett Rypien will start under center.

Can Rypien operate the offense that Nathaniel Hackett envisions? If Rypien can protect the football on Sunday, move the ball downfield, and Denver has a balanced rushing attack, their odds increase significantly.

The Denver Broncos will kick off Sunday’s action against the New York Jets at 2:05 p.m. MT on CBS.