Mile High Sports

Kubiak conservative to the end in another Broncos win

Casey Light
Gary Kubiak

Just as it did seemingly all year last year, including in the Super Bowl, the Denver Broncos’ offense did just enough to let its defense win the game. In a 34-20 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, the Denver defense scored twice as many touchdowns as the offense despite Trevor Siemian passing for 266 yards and the offense totaling 400 yards on the day.

The Colts, meanwhile, only mustered 253 total yards and Andrew Luck was held below 200 yards passing, but the game never really felt like the Broncos were in full control until late in the fourth quarter when Von Miller worked his magic. A strip sack by Miller, which Shane Ray recovered for a touchdown, proved to be the nail in the coffin in a game that was never separated by more than 10 points prior. Denver pulled away slightly with an Aqib Talib pick-six earlier in the quarter. The offense, meanwhile, put just eight points on the board (a C.J. Anderson touchdown run and a two-point conversion to Demaryius Thomas on the Ray touchdown). Brandon McManus accounted for 14 of Denver’s 34 points – four field goals and two PATs.

The lack of offensive productivity (Denver narrowly escaped their opener with a win on a missed field goal), has some folks in the Denver media concerned. The game, as you’ll read below, was a referendum on Kubiak’s offense – especially in the second half when the play calling became very conservative.

The biggest question mark on the day was why Denver was so reliant on the run when the Colts were down to their fourth- and fifth-sting cornerbacks. With an elite wide receiving tandem like Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas at his disposal, Kubiak remained steadfast with his play calls for C.J. Anderson and Devontae Booker.

Denver actually ended the game with more pass attempts than rush attempts, 33 to 31, but 25 of those came in the first half. In that half Denver amassed 294 total yards but only 13 points. Indy had six points on just 72 yards at the break.

The offense had a setback in the first half when Donald Stephenson left the game with a calf injury. His replacement, Michael Schofield, isn’t particularly strong in pass protection, but with such an advantage on the edges it was hard to believe Kubiak wouldn’t be more aggressive with his two stars.

Last year the Broncos relied on its defense and this year is off to a similar start. Gary Kubiak appears willing to stick with his game plan, even if it causes some gray hairs among his fan base.

Here’s what the team at MHS was saying about the offense, Kubiak’s game plan and the play calling:

It appeared very early that Gary Kubiak would test the Colts’ depleted secondary…

However, missed opportunities might have planted a seed of doubt…

https://twitter.com/RonnieKRadio/status/777605957664645120

Kubiak flipped the script in the first quarter…

An injury to Donald Stephenson caused some shuffling on the o-line, but set up a big 44-yard screen pass to Demaryius Thomas…

But Siemian couldn’t get the ball into the end zone through the air and the Broncos settled for three…

https://twitter.com/RonnieKRadio/status/777609775425003520

After two drives going pass heavy, Kubiak went to the run but kept the offense spread out…

It was a balanced attack through one quarter, but Denver had only three points…

Denver took a few shots downfield in the second quarter, trying to keep the Colts honest, but never connected on a “dagger”…

Kubiak spread the wealth. Siemian would eventually complete passes to 10 different players, nine in the first half alone…

The screen pass became a bit predictable, though, and nearly resulted in a pick-six. A pulled hamstring saved Siemian’s bacon…

https://twitter.com/RonnieKRadio/status/777621118316228609

As the first half came to a close, it was clear Kubiak didn’t want Siemian to make any more mistakes…

Denver went to the ground more heavily in the second half and still moved the ball, but again failed to really capitalize…

Chuck Pagano made adjustments at halftime, knowing Kubiak would go more run heavy…

https://twitter.com/RonnieKRadio/status/777635193964273664

Kubiak responded with some passes to open up four running plays that accounted for 51 yards from C.J. Anderson and Devontae Booker…

https://twitter.com/RonnieKRadio/status/777636206620217344

But the offense would again settle for three points inside the red zone…

Kubiak appeared content to nurse a three point lead heading into the fourth quarter…

Trevor Siemian made just eight pass attempts in the second half, including at least three checkdowns. It had many folks scratching their head, given Indy’s health at cornerback…

https://twitter.com/RonnieKRadio/status/777643517824733184

Kubiak made the ultimate conservative call when he decided to kick a field goal instead of going for a first down on fourth-and-one. The decision gave Andrew Luck the ball with less than two minutes and trailing by only six…

https://twitter.com/RonnieKRadio/status/777650465626390528

Denver walked away with a win thanks to two fourth-quarter defensive scores, but a game that was closer than it should have been for too long has everything to do with Denver’s conservative game plan in the second half.

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