If the Denver Broncos are going to find a way to limit the explosive play ability of Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and the Baltimore Ravens offense, they’ll have to find success on first and second down. Sunday’s game has massive implications for the AFC.

Denver Broncos biggest keys vs. Baltimore Ravens

Week 9 starts one of the more crucial stretches of the season for the Denver Broncos as they face the Baltimore Ravens to kick off a two-game road stretch that will see them face Lamar Jackson this week and Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs next week.

First, they’ll have to take care of business on Sunday.

Broncos defense has to find early success vs. Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry

The Ravens enter Sunday’s matchup as the NFL’s top overall offense. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are a big reason why. Denver’s defense has to find success on first and second down if they want to sustain a strategy that can last them all game. If Henry or Jackson are getting five or six yards on 1st and 10, it ramps up the pressure on what Denver’s defense can try and get away with, especially if they struggle to stop the run.

Stopping the run is the biggest key for Denver, but it’s not as simple as that. The Ravens offense not only runs the ball well, but Jackson is also carving up defenses with his arm in the pocket and with his arm on the run during scramble drill situations. He’s connected with Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Isaiah Likely, and Mark Andrews this year, but now they’ve added former Carolina Panthers receiver Diontae Johnson into the mix.

This is the Broncos’ toughest challenge yet and getting early down stops to force third and medium, or third and long scenarios is going to be the most imperative key on defense.

Broncos receivers have to come up big this week

Bo Nix finds himself in a great position entering Week 9 after winning the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Month award for October. Nix was 3-1 as the starter in October and is looking to help Denver’s offense get their sixth win of the season on Sunday.

In Sunday’s win against the Carolina Panthers, Nix dished and dimed when the pocket was clean, showcasing great footwork, mechanics, and delivery. He also took some shots downfield that were dropped by receivers, and that can’t be the case again this week. The Ravens defense has allowed a lot of explosive downfield plays through the air, and that’s an area the Broncos offense has needed to capitalize on more.

Courtland Sutton is obviously the prime number-one target for Nix, but other players like Marvin Mims, Devaughn Vele, and Troy Franklin could be in the mix to see some more targets if the Ravens’ defense focuses on trying to eliminate Sutton as a primary option.

While the explosive passing game element will be key, getting the run game going will afford Denver’s offense the opportunity to take some downfield shots. The challenge here is the Ravens’ defense being the league’s top-ranked run defense, holding opponents to 69.9 rushing yards per game.

All the Broncos need is one or two big runs to break off in order to open things up for them.

This game is huge and a win for the Denver Broncos could shake up the landscape of the AFC.