The Denver Broncos are just days away from kicking off their first AFC West divisional game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Denver’s defense has looked stout early on in this season, but they prepare to face a Raiders offense that they’ve struggled to contain over the last several years.
Las Vegas Raiders offense presents matchup dynamics vs. Denver Broncos defense
The Raiders (0-3) have struggled throughout the first three weeks to get their offense rolling under head coach Josh McDaniels.
Despite the acquisition of star wide receiver Davante Adams, things haven’t started how they anticipated.
After an impressive Week 1 showing against the Los Angeles Chargers where Adams had 10 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown, he’s been limited the last two weeks in the passing game.
The Broncos (2-1) defense enters Sunday’s contest hungry after an impressive performance against the San Francisco 49ers.
For the Denver secondary, they’ll have to face the task of limiting receiving options like Adams, tight end Darren Waller, Hunter Renfrow if he clears concussion protocol, and Mack Hollins who has emerged early on for the Raiders offense this season.
Broncos cornerback Ronald Darby knows that the Raiders offense will throw things at them that will force them to adapt as the game progresses.
“We’ve got to be able to adapt to the situation, if they go quick we’ve got to play more aggressively, if they go deep we’ve got to play with our eyes more,” Darby told Mile High Sports on Wednesday. “It’s a different challenge each week in this league with any group we go against, each group is good so we’ve got to just play fast.”
When it comes to Adams, the Broncos secondary knows how dangerous he can be.
“He’s a great route runner,” Darby said. “He’s a smart player and knows how to set routes up a certain way, we’ve just got to play fast.”
Broncos safety P.J. Locke touched on the dynamic the Raiders offense presents them despite Vegas’ 0-3 start.
“They’ve always been a good team,” Locke said on Wednesday. “They’re gonna throw the pill this week. Davante Adams makes it much more difficult, but you’ve just got to figure out where they’re putting him. I know he’s a pissed-off guy right now because he hasn’t been given as many targets, so I know they’re going to come out slinging the ball. They do a lot of stuff, but we try to simplify just us.”
Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett spent time with Adams last season in Green Bay and knows how special of a player he is, but how dangerous he can be now that he’s coaching against him.
“You just have to try to slow him down,” Hackett said prior to Wednesday’s practice. “He’s a guy who I’ve been with for the past three years. He’s an amazing human being and somebody that’s very dear to my heart.
“But at the same time, we have to stop him,” Hackett continued. “I know that he’s a dynamic receiver with how he can get the ball vertically, intermediate and all over the place. He is a very smart football player. We’re going to have to do our best to contain him as much as we can. Defense has done a fine job up to this point in the past three games. It’s going to be a great, great challenge for all. It’s not just going to be one guy. It’s going to take the whole team to know where he is and how to stop him.”
Adams and Waller will present the Broncos with one of the toughest challenges they’ve faced this season from a skill position standpoint, will Patrick Surtain, Ronald Darby and the Denver defense limit them on Sunday?