During a frustrating loss to the Giants on Sunday night, the Broncos couldn’t seem to stop the run on defense. Their offense came to the game prepared to pass the ball, but an atrocious showing by the offensive line short-circuited that notion. After a game that the Broncos organization appeared unprepared for, they look to next week — and a game against the division-rival Chargers — to hit the reset button.
As the Broncos travel to Los Angeles this Sunday, they find themselves going up against a struggling defense; one that their wobbly offense needs to take advantage of. Fortunately, the Broncos have learned some recent lessons. Yes, as hard as it may seem to find them, there are some positives to look forward to after a tough loss against the Giants.
The Broncos have been successful this season with the run game; even after the loss to the Giants, they’re still ranked 9th in the NFL. C.J. Anderson has been reliable in the backfield, and against this Charger defense, there is no reason to move away from that kind of game plan. The Chargers give up an average of 152.5 yards per game this season; last in the league. Anderson and Jamaal Charles are averaging 108.2 yards per game, combined.
Wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Isaiah McKenzie have already been ruled out for Sunday’s game due to injuries. With the shoulder injury that Trevor Siemian suffered as well, the Broncos may look to rely heavily on their run game. Look for the Broncos to attack early and often from the running back position to put this Chargers defense on their heels early.
The Chargers’ offensive strength this season– as it has been many times in the past — has been passing. Philip Rivers is averaging 272 passing yards per game, but against the Broncos’ ‘No-Fly Zone’, that number isn’t daunting. Rivers has targeted Keenan Allen 60 times this season; double the amount of Tyrell Williams; whose 29 targets exceeds everyone but Allen and running back Melvin Gordon (39). The Broncos’ secondary will need to contain both Allen and Williams to assure any success, while ensuring that Gordon doesn’t get loose on swing passes and dump-offs. The way the Broncos’ passing defense has performed this season, this shouldn’t be a tall order to ask.
Although it was heartbreaking to watch, the loss to the Giants is not the end of the season for these Broncos, and if they bounce back quickly, it may end up as little more than a hiccup in a 16-game season. The Broncos have showed improvement on both sides of the ball in the first five games of their season, mainly in the run game. While the Chargers pose a real threat to the Broncos, if Denver responds the way they should, they can get back on track Sunday.