IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT’S TIIIIIIIIIIIIME! (*Bruce Buffer voice*)
This is the main event we’ve all been waiting for, and I’m geeking out. I’m not going to lie to you guys. This game against the Steelers is the beginning of the most-important playoff run since the Broncos’ first title run. Why? Because it may be the last one we have for a long, long time.
Even after we lost to the Ravens, Seahawks and Colts, at least Broncos Country could head into the next season with the realistic expectations of another Super Bowl run. I can’t say that this year.
We just don’t know. If I had told you that it would take nearly two decades for the Broncos to get back to the Super Bowl following John Elway‘s last win, would you have believed me? If I told you it’s going to take another decade plus for the Broncos to get back into a position where they’re vying for titles on a yearly basis, would you believe me?
This, as far as anyone can tell, is Peyton Manning‘s last stand, and whether or not you think he’s the answer right now, he’s the reason the Broncos are in the position they’re in — having been the No. 1 seed three of the last four years. The moment he leaves Denver, it’s all up in the air, even if you do believe in Brock Osweiler.
How will we look back on these last four years if the Manning-era Broncos don’t walk away with a single championship? For me, it’ll be nothing short of a complete disaster. Opportunities like this don’t come around often, but when they do, you have to take advantage of them.
This year, starting with the Steelers, will, in all likelihood, be their last chance.
With that said, here are three things all Broncos fans need to be watching for this weekend:
Bonus: Kansas City Chiefs vs. New England Patriots
Now, I don’t want any of us to get ahead of ourselves, but if there’s any other game you should be watching this weekend, it’s this one. Everybody seems to be giving Tom Brady and Bill Belichick the benefit of the doubt, but they’re the ones riding a two-game losing streak, while the Chiefs are riding high with 11 straight wins.
And if there’s one thing you should be paying extra close attention to, it’s the Kansas City pass rush. They’ll be going up against a beat-up offensive line, much like the one Denver will be trotting out on Sunday, and their performance could give us some great insight into what the Broncos could possibly accomplish in the AFC Championship game (*knock on wood*).
If the Chiefs pass rush can dominate New England’s o-line, then so should the Broncos. Conversely, if Belichick devizes a way to combat the rush and minimize the effect of his line, the Broncos will be able to use that to their advantage next week (*KNOCKS ON WOOD*).
Whoever is playing right tackle:
As of right now, it sure looks as if Michael Schofield will be starting again this Sunday, as he’s been getting most of the first-team reps, but who knows who’ll see the most time on the field.
Kubiak said Tyler Polumbus and Michael Schofield will both play Sunday.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 14, 2016
Personally, I can’t come up with one reason why Schofield should be stepping back out onto the field for one more snap this season, but whatever; it is what it is. At least we know that Gary Kubiak won’t be afraid to make a change if need be.
But keep your eyes open. Watch how that right tackle performs, especially when Peyton Manning drops back from under center. The biggest issue with Schofield isn’t just that he’s getting beat; it’s that he’s not even touching the guy. On more than several occasions, that outside rusher has simply crossed Schofield’s face in one step; it’s been so bad that I’ve wondered if the refs might call a pity penalty: Lineman trying to sabotage his own quarterback.
If Manning has a defender in his face as he’s finishing up the play-action, things aren’t going to turn out well for the Denver Broncos. Normally, when we say that a game comes down to one player, we’re talking about the quarterback; in this case, the play of that right tackle could go a long way towards deciding the outcome of the game.
How are the Broncos defending an injured Ben Roethlisberger?
Big Ben may be injured, but that doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous. Even without Antonio Brown, we’re talking about a two-time Super Bowl champion who has battled through nearly ever injury imaginable during his career. If he’s on the field, he’s lethal.
The question, though, is how will Wade Phillips attack whatever is left of the Pittsburgh’s passing game? Before the news about Brown broke, I believed he’d institute considerably more zone coverage into the game plan, limiting the amount of times Chris Harris Jr. would be left on an island all by himself with the game’s top wideout. Now, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Broncos went man-to-man all day.
And how much pressure will Phillips bring? Will he unleash blitz after blitz? Or will he sit back, let his front four go to work and leave everyone else to shut down Ben’s receivers?
If Big Ben does have one weakness, it’s succeeding against the blitz, but if his arm truly does limit his ability to push the ball down field, then blitzing him may play exactly into the Steelers’ game. With Brown out and Big Ben’s arm ailing, Pittsburgh will likely rein in their offense, relying on a much shorter passing attack then they’re used to. By blitzing extra defenders, Denver may leave themselves susceptible to those quick passes.
I’d expect the Broncos to do everything they can to force Big Ben to test his arm down the field; they can’t allow him to pick them apart in the short-to-intermediate range like the Bengals did on Pittsburgh’s final drive last weekend.
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[adrotate banner=”16″]Center, pistol or shotgun?
Where is Manning going to line up? Under center? In the pistol? Shotgun?
For me, that’s the biggest question heading into the game.
Against the Chargers, when Manning came in during the second half, he spent a lot of time under center, but he also spent the majority of that time handing off to C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman. I’m still not sure if I feel comfortable having him drop back from under center. As we saw through the first few weeks of the season, with this line, he simply doesn’t have the time to read the defense and make the right decision.
At the same time, things didn’t look all that much better when Denver switched to the pistol; Manning was still turning the ball over at a crippling rate.
So should the Broncos simply go back to the Manning offense of old? Should they up the tempo, live in the shotgun and let Manning do his thing?
No.
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: The Broncos are not winning a Super Bowl because of Peyton Manning, which means that nobody should be catering their offense around what he wants. If the Broncos are going to win a Super Bowl, it’s going to be because Anderson and Hillman are rushing for somewhere between 150 and 200 yards a game.
If I’m Gary Kubiak, that’s what I’m crafting my offense around, the run game. If that means I’m better off with Manning under center, then Manning will be under center.
Unfortunately, I’m not Kubiak, and I don’t know what he’s going to do. I’ve seen him ditch the run game all season; who’s to say he won’t do it again?