Week 7 for the Denver Broncos represents a do-or-die duel with a spicy New York Jets team.
How can the Broncos end their three-game losing streak, and which matchups will help them do just that? Let’s look.
Lloyd Cushenberry vs. Quinnen Williams
All offseason, few Denver Broncos received more hype than Lloyd Cushenberry, who was called the ‘most improved member of the offense’ by several of his teammates.
Unfortunately, that hasn’t even neared coming to fruition, as Cushenberry has been the Broncos’ biggest problem up front on a weekly basis.
The third-year center has allowed interior pressure on a consistent basis, making Russell Wilson’s job that much more difficult, and against top-end competition, he’s been completely steam-rolled. Most recently, we saw DeForest Buckner maul both him and Dalton Risner, on his way to accumulating two sacks and three pressures.
Meanwhile, Quinnen Williams has been a one-man wrecking crew in recent weeks. Against the Green Bay Packers, he looked like the best player on the field by a decisive margin and nearly murdered Aaron Rodgers. Over the course of the game, he tallied seven total pressures and two sacks.
If the Denver Broncos want to win this game, they’ll have to rein in Williams.
Advantage: Strongly favors the New York Jets
Zach Wilson vs. the Denver Broncos defense
One of the very very few NFL quarterbacks that has performed worse than Russell Wilson so far this season is the New York Jets’ young quarterback, Zach Wilson.
The younger Wilson ranks 23rd in DVOA, 19th in QBR, 26th in adjusted EPA per play, 30th CPOE, and 29th in success rate.
The Green Bay Packers, who, in many ways, have been experiencing the defensive version of the offensive letdown the Denver Broncos have endured in 2022, completely flummoxed Zach Wilson and the New York Jets offense.
With that in mind, Ejiro Evero and his uniquely aggressive pass rush that ranks near the top of the league in blitz rate, simulated pressure rate, and pressure rate.
It’s a defense that throws everything and the kitchen sink at opposing offenses from a pressure standpoint, and Zach Wilson is a quarterback who notoriously struggles with pressure. Wilson’s passer rating when pressured of 3.4, is the lowest mark in the entire NFL.
With the Broncos’ offense completely moribund, it’ll be on the defense to put the younger Wilson through hell, to ensure the game remains close.
Advantage: Strongly favors the Denver Broncos
New York Jets WRs vs. Denver Broncos DBs
Last week was the first of many that saw Damarri Mathis fill in for Ronald Darby, and the results were a mixed bag.
Now, Mathis did have sticky coverage for much of the night, including a pivotal pass breakup that prevented a conversion for the Los Angeles Chargers. However, the penalties he drew were among the biggest factors in the Denver Broncos ultimately losing that game.
It’s true that the referees seemed to be a little strict on a few of those calls, but 87 penalties and becoming the league leader in defensive pass interference penalties in a single week (Mathis received four DPIs in Week 6, alone. No other cornerback has received more than three through the first six weeks of the season combined), isn’t simply the result of bad luck and unfair officiating.
Mathis will have to clean up his coverage.
If he does, the Broncos’ defensive advantage over the Jets might be so decisive it completely covers up their offensive woes.
Advantage: Coin flip
