The Denver Broncos defense has gotten off to a hot start this season, and Sunday’s game against the New York Jets will be an all-around test for them on the road. How are the Broncos approaching facing Aaron Rodgers and Breece Hall?
Denver Broncos have tough test on their hands vs. Jets
Last year, when the Broncos prepared for the New York Jets, they had to prepare to slow down Breece Hall. That will still be one of their key areas of focus in Sunday’s game, but the Jets added another running back who has been impressive early on in Braelon Allen.
“The challenge is two,” Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said. “Obviously, both backs are good players. The challenge is really with the quarterback and the receivers in the passing game. That’s the balance between committing all to the run game and being kind of short in the pass game, or vice versa. It’s a cat-and-mouse game, kind of pick and choose your moments where you have to load the box versus play some shell to defend the quarterback and the receiver combination. It’s an every week problem. This week it’s a larger problem because of the two backs and the quarterback. It’s a cat-and-mouse game to kind of figure out what we need to get them stopped on that down.”
Early down success is crucial for Denver’s defense this week because of that dynamic. Add in Aaron Rodgers, who looks like he’s getting back to where he needs to be at the position coming off of last year’s Achilles injury, and Denver will have to account for a lot.
At wide receiver, Garrett Wilson will be his top option in the passing game, followed by Allen Lazard. Those are the Jets’ two leading receivers, but Hall is the team’s third-leading receiver out of the backfield with 120 yards.
“He’s a [Pro Football] Hall of Fame player,” Joseph said. “He’s played a long time. I think I saw a stat yesterday from one of our coaches that his last two years of sacks have only been with a four-man rush in coverage. So pressure doesn’t bother this guy. He’s going to see it. He’s seen every kind of pressure you can give him. Obviously when you’re playing a guy like this, you have to be in his head a little bit as far as knowing what he sees and knowing what you’re showing him and taking it away. He has seen it all. It’s our job to obviously win our one-on-ones. That’s the challenge. He’s the quarterback—he doesn’t catch the ball. So we have to win our one-on-ones, rush the passer, stop the run and do NFL things this Sunday to win.”
Coming off of a seven sack performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver is hoping to recreate that same type of output, even though they’ll be without one of their defensive captains in Alex Singleton, for the rest of the season.
Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss, and Dondrea Tillman will look to continue their hot streak. Bonitto, Cooper, and Tillman each registered sacks off the edge last week against Baker Mayfield, and they’ll more than likely be facing a rookie offensive tackle due to injuries for the Jets.
The Broncos will wrap up their final practice here this afternoon in West Virginia before they get to New York for Sunday’s 11:00 a.m. MT kickoff.
Broncos injury news and notes from Thursday
The Denver Broncos injury report was promising once again, with only three players listed.
Safety JL Skinner (ankle) missed his fifth straight practice as he battles through the injury he suffered in Denver’s Week 2 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Wide receiver Josh Reynolds (Achilles) upgraded from limited on Wednesday to full participation on Thursday. Tight end Nate Adkins (shoulder) was a limited participant for the second straight day.
We’ll get the final injury report and game status from Sean Payton following Friday’s practice.
