If the Denver Broncos hope to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in their Week 15 matchup at Heinz Field, Denver’s offense is going to have to correct a number of issues that plagued them in the Week 14 loss to Oakland. And that includes getting better play from backup quarterback Brock Osweiler, says Dee White of Mile High Sports AM 1340.
White’s not giving Osweiler the same pass that many others did after the 15-12 loss to Oakland in which Denver scored zero offensive points in the second half for the second straight week. He calls Denver’s loss last week “a complete failure offensively,” and points to the 23 consecutive drives Osweiler has led without his team finding the end zone.
Renaud Notaro, White’s co-host, wholeheartedly agrees. Michael Schofield took much of the blame after surrendering four of Khalil Mack‘s five sacks in the Oakland game, but he also blames the four crucial drops by receivers and Osweiler’s critical missed targets in the red zone as part of a combined failed effort.
White wants to know why Broncos fans and many in the media “skewered” Peyton Manning for similar results, but aren’t holding the same standard for Osweiler.
Notaro believes that question has a two part answer, both related to Manning’s overall poor play (and the stats that coincide): 1) Manning still, even though he hasn’t played for four weeks, leads the NFL in interceptions with 17, and 2) Fans still have the four-interception effort in two and a half quarters against Kansas City as their most recent memory of his play.
Osweiler has avoided such eye-popping numbers, although his 17 sacks surrendered in 18 quarters and the 23-drive (and counting) touchdown drought are starting to look more alarming.
Those numbers could get worse at Pittsburgh, where the Denver offense is going to need to score touchdowns to keep up with a Steelers offense that Notaro says “is in the groove.” White is equally laudatory of Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown‘s output, and especially impressed with the fact that their offense is clicking so well even without a player he calls “arguably the best running back in the league,” Le’Veon Bell.
DeAngelo Williams has been as productive as a backup can be, says White, who wonders what Denver will do when they can’t run the ball – just as the case was against Oakland.
Last week, Osweiler was 22-of-29 for 199 yards in the first half. Unable to run against the Oakland front seven, however, he was just 13-of-22. White attributes two of his sacks to holding the ball too long and being indecisive. Osweiler also did not target many receivers downfield. Only eight of his 51 attempts were more than 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
Pittsburgh is averaging 35.2 points per game in their last five games. “The Steelers and Chiefs are two teams you don’t want any part of,” says Notaro. “Especially in the playoffs.”
That will certainly be true if Osweiler, or whoever is running Denver’s offense, can’t find a way to start putting the ball in the end zone. Osweiler’s free pass will end in Pittsburgh, win or lose this weekend.
Listen to the full discussion, including some bonus talk on Todd Gurley and the Rams, in the podcast below…
Catch Notaro and Big Dee every Monday-Thursday from 6p-8 on Mile High Sports AM 1340 or stream live any time for the best local coverage of what’s new and what’s next in Colorado sports.