The Broncos have to run the ball
Think of the Denver Broncos’ big wins this season. What’s the one similarity between the Chargers win, the Patriots win and the Packers win?
They ran the ball!
Every time the Broncos offense has come up big this season, it’s been because they’ve built their offense around their run game; in all four of those games, at least one of Denver’s backs scored a touchdown, and aside from the Bengals game, at least one crossed the 100-yard threshold.
But what happened in the Steelers game? Denver’s backs only totaled 18 carries on the night, and, you guessed it, they lost.
Now, remember, this was a game where the Broncos held a 17-point lead late in the first half. They had every reason to take control of the clock, grind out some yards on the ground and protect that lead. Instead, they put the ball in Brock Osweiler‘s hands, and he led eight second-half drives that took two minutes or less off the clock — the ninth took 2:03.
That’s unacceptable.
If you’re looking to salt away a two-touchdown lead in the second half, the last thing you want to do is take as little time off the clock as possible. The Steelers scored the game-winning touchdown with 3:24 left in the game; maybe they don’t get that touchdown if the Broncos drained a few extra minutes off the clock.
According to PFF, the Steelers have the 22nd best run defense in the NFL. If I’m Gary Kubiak, I’m giving Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson 15 carries each, I’m taking pressure off of Peyton Manning and I’m instilling our will on the Steelers’ front line. The Broncos are not winning any games where Manning (or Osweiler) is throwing the ball 45-plus times.
