Shutting down the Buffalo Bills’ rushing attack will be key to a Broncos victory on Sunday.
The Bills are currently one of the top-10 rushing attacks in the NFL through two weeks. With the combination of running back LeSean McCoy, who is averaging 3.5 yards per carry, and quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who is ranked 22nd out of all players (including running backs) with 93 rushing yards, the Bills’ ground game is a strong threat.
“Shady [McCoy] is probably one of the more electrifying backs, going back to Barry Sanders,” defensive coordinator Joe Woods said as Denver prepared for the first road contest of the season. “The biggest thing against a guy like LeSean McCoy is pursuit. We have to have two and three guys, even more than that, at the point of attack to stop him. He’s a special player. We’re going to have our hands full with him.”
Taylor’s ability to improvise may be just as big a concern for a disciplined Denver defense — and for the Broncos’ alpha dog, linebacker Von Miller.
“You always have to pay attention to where [Taylor] is on the field,” Miller said earlier in the week. “It doesn’t even have to be 30 or 40 yards. If it’s third-and-seven, and he gets eight yards — and does that four or five times a game, that kills defenses right there.”
Taylor is averaging 5.8 yards per carry this season. Despite not having a run over 20 yards, Taylor has managed to convert five first downs with his legs already. “He’s rushed for 500 yards [the] last couple of season[s],” said head coach Vance Joseph. “Right now, he’s got five 10-yard-plus runs. He is probably the one guy who can probably hurt you as far as running the football from that position.”
The Broncos defense are currently ranked third in the league in stopping the run. They have allowed 104 rushing yards through two games, and only average of 2.9 yards per carry. The Broncos are coming off of a game in which they only gave up eight yards to Dallas Cowboys All-Pro running back Ezekiel Elliot, and they have not allowed a rushing touchdown so far this season.
“We have to make sure we execute our defense,” Woods said. “As long as we do everything the right way, each guy on defense, we should put ourselves in the position to play well.”
Despite the unique threat Taylor presents, Miller believes that keeping him under pressure will be an essential key to the Broncos winning.
“At the end of the day, you just have to rush. My opinion and point of view on it is [that] I’m going to rush. I’m going to react to whatever the quarterback does,” Miller said. “Of course I have to pay attention to my rushes. I can’t get 10 yards up the field and leave him or take a big hole and rush off running. I have to pay attention to where he is. But I’m going to rush. It’s what I do.”
The Broncos take on the Bills in Buffalo on Sunday at 11 a.m. MDT.
