Rob Gronkowski wasn’t even old enough to carry a jockstrap when Dan Patrick first used the phrase that is most often used to describe “Gronk”:
You can’t stop him; you can only hope to contain him.
That’s the phrase former Broncos linebacker Andra Davis invoked when he joined The Final Word on Mile High Sports AM 1340 on Sunday to preview one of the most highly anticipated matchups on the NFL calendar this season.
But Davis does believe that Denver has a very good chance of containing Gronkowski and the Patriots on Sunday Night Football if they can force them to play an inside out game.
“You have to force them to be one-dimensional,” Davis told Joe Rico and Alex Ramirez, about how to limit New England on offense. “You have to stop the run game first.”
New England has an extremely depleted receiver corps, and with Denver’s outstanding cornerback trio of Chris Harris, Aqib Talib and Bradley Roby, the Broncos must first commit to limiting a Patriots rushing attack led by LeGarrette Blount and James White, who is taking snaps for the injured Dion Lewis. Denver has been solid against the run this year, allowing less than 94 yards per game. Davis believes they’ll have to snuff out the run early and use the defensive ends to jam Gronkowski and force him to the outside.
It’s easier said than done. “The Patriots are going to play their game,” he says, “whether you like it or not.”
Last Monday New England faced a similar defense to Denver’s in the form of the Buffalo Bills, who limited the Patriots to 20 points in their own backyard. It should be a tougher task on the road in Denver, which means the real difference in this game could come down to what Brock Osweiler can do against the league’s No. 1 scoring defense.
“It’s going to be a ball control game,” Davis said. But he likes what the Broncos have to offer with Osweiler at the helm. “He opens up the offense with the bootleg and his being able to get the ball downfield. They have a better chance with Brock than Peyton [Manning].”
Listen to the full game preview in the podcast below…
Catch The Final Word every Sunday from 10a-12p 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.
