Perhaps lost in the euphoria of a trip to the team’s eighth Super Bowl was another difficult second-half performance for the Denver Broncos offense, one that nearly cost them the game.
Denver escaped with a 20-18 win over the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game, but the offense again struggled to put points on the board in the game’s final 30 minutes. The defense delivered perhaps its greatest performance of the year against its toughest foe, Tom Brady, but the burden really didn’t need to be so heavy on that unit.
Peyton Manning and the Denver offense scored touchdowns on their first drive of the game, and another on a short field thanks to a Von Miller interception, but they were able to generate only six more points on the day, only three of which came in the second half.
In the second half, Denver punted on five of six possessions, four of those being three-and-outs that compiled a combined -3 yards and used a total of 5:37 in clock time.
The running game, which was supposed to be a strength against New England, did not break the 100-yard mark and averaged just 3.3 yards per attempt. Were it not for a 30-yard C.J. Anderson rush, those numbers might have not looked even that good. At one point in the second half, Manning was the team’s leading rusher after a 12-yard scramble.
That wasn’t the only running that Manning was doing. Unfortunately, much of the other running he did was backwards or laterally as he attempted to evade the New England pass rush. While Denver’s pass rush was one of the major determining factors in the outcome, their pass protection was almost the cause for another second-half collapse.
The Broncos offensive line surrendered three sacks for a whopping 31 yards. Fortunately, Manning was able to evade the onslaught better than expected for a 39-year-old and he suffered just four hits on the day. Still, the 10-plus yard average on the sacks stalled out several drives. On the day, Denver went three-and-out on seven different occasions, not including their lone turnover.
On that drive Denver mustered just two plays before Ronnie Hillman allowed a lateral to fall at his feet and be scooped up by New England. The resulting drive was a Patriots touchdown. Hillman struggled running the ball, as well; he had just 16 yards on 11 carries. But his performance was not the most disappointing on the day on offense.
Demaryius Thomas continued his disappointing season with a dismal AFC Championship Game. Denver’s $70 million man had only two catches for 12 yards. None of them came in the second half. He was targeted seven times, second only to Emmanuel Sanders with eight.
One bright spot (sort of) for the Broncos offense (other than Manning’s 12-yard scramble on third-and-10) was Owen Daniels, who was the recipient of both touchdowns. But like the rest of the offense, Daniels did no damage in the second half. Both his catches went for first-half touchdowns; they would be his only receptions on the day.
Some of the responsibility has to fall on Gary Kubiak, who was incredibly conservative yet again in his play calling once the Broncos had a fourth-quarter lead.
Manning was efficient and, most importantly, played mistake-free football again this week. He certainly didn’t get any help from the rest of the offense. He was 17-of-32 passing for 176 yards and those two all-important touchdowns.
Denver is headed to the Super Bowl in part because they turned what last week had been field goal drives into touchdowns. However, their continued struggles on offense – especially in the second half – nearly cost them the game. Needing only a first down or two on two different fourth quarter possessions to run out the clock, the Denver offense went three-and-out. The defense saved the day on multiple occasions, again. The offense surely wants to be a part of the win, but certainly not an “in spite of” part. It almost wasn’t one on Sunday.
Here’s what the Mile High Sports team, plus some of our favorite follows, had to say on some of the different offensive problems as they played out…
On Manning…
Broncos expected to rely heavily on the run, opens with 3 straight passes.
— Steve Cox (@SteveCoxDenver) January 24, 2016
And for those of you who think only Osweiler can run that rollout… Boy, they're full of surprises so far today. #KubiakCreative #broncos
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) January 24, 2016
https://twitter.com/jmorton78/status/691354903365554176
Peyton Manning looked great that drive. #Broncos offensive line and defense can feed off that for confidence.
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) January 24, 2016
#Broncos Owen Daniels has all 3 of Manning's TD passes at home this season..QB has to make play to win games like this. Manning just did.
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) January 24, 2016
Peyton's made several big throws today.. that 1st down pass down and low to where only Sanders could catch was one of his best.
— Nick Griffith (@NickGriffithTV) January 24, 2016
Peyton can't do this. Peyton can't do that. He's washed up.. That's why you don't listen to "THEY" They don't play.. Congrts PManning
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) January 24, 2016
pic.twitter.com/io7N3VGZNi this guy right here deserves so much. Definition of a warrior and a role model! #Legacy #18
— Christian McCaffrey (@CMC_22) January 25, 2016
Not everyone was pleased with Manning’s performance, however…
https://twitter.com/ReillyRick/status/691408761575976960
On the offensive line and protection for Manning…
Pass heavy #Broncos moving the ball well. No pressure on Manning yet.
— Sam Cowhick (@SamCowhick) January 24, 2016
The Pats are just teeing off and going after Peyton now. . . Quick screens and Draw plays? maybe?
— Gil Whiteley, Now and Then (@Gilfest) January 24, 2016
https://twitter.com/MikeKlis/status/691383093979000833
On Demaryius Thomas…
DT is a shameful no show again today. . . They should list him with the attendance no shows later. . .
— Gil Whiteley, Now and Then (@Gilfest) January 24, 2016
DT better find something between his legs soon. #Broncos
— Delano White Jr (@bigdeewhite) January 24, 2016
https://twitter.com/MikeKlis/status/691383514948726784
45 unused tickets, and 46 NO shows if you count DT
— Gil Whiteley, Now and Then (@Gilfest) January 24, 2016
On the run game…
Peyton Manning's 12-yard scramble and Tom Brady's 11-yard scramble are the 2 longest rushes of the game
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 24, 2016
#Broncos just can't run today
— Raul Martinez (@RaulNBCBoston) January 24, 2016
It's about time they ran power. Zone has not been working. #Broncos
— Delano White Jr (@bigdeewhite) January 24, 2016
On coaching…
This is on Kubiak. Against any Pats team, I would drill my guys to pick up every loose ball. Belichick best situational coach ever.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) January 24, 2016
Kubiak is coaching not to lose … That seems to lead to a lot of losing …
— Michael Jaycox (@MilkyMike) January 24, 2016
Kubiak is killing them with bad play calling. Zone isn't working, run power damn it! And run the damn ball on second down. #PlayTheClock
— Delano White Jr (@bigdeewhite) January 24, 2016