Get the run game going
The Denver Broncos have collapsed in two straight weeks, and a big part of that has to be attributed to their lack of a run game. And while C.J. Anderson, Ronnie Hillman and the offensive line are most definitely at fault, a big part of the problem is that Gary Kubiak just hasn’t been calling run plays.
In the last two weeks, despite having the lead for the vast majority of both games, the Broncos have thrown the ball on 69 percent of their play calls; that’s not ideal.
Despite holding 12 and 14 point leads going into halftime in the last two games, the Broncos have remained a pass-first offense. If they had just emphasized the run and taken some time off the clock, then maybe they hold onto that lead for another five minutes. Maybe they win one of those games and have the No. 1 seed in hand.
Right now, the important part about running the ball is not the yardage gained; it’s the fact that they’re running the ball. As it becomes clear that not only can the Broncos not run the ball but that they’re not willing to, either, opposing defenses react and play the pass; that may be a major factor in why Brock Osweiler’s performance drops off so severely in the second half.
The Bengals are a very good defense, but if they have one weak spot, it’s in their run defense; Pro Football Focus has them ranked as the 16th best run defense in the NFL, despite being the ninth best unit overall. If the Broncos can exploit that, then maybe they can extend their offensive success through four quarters.
