Scouting The Denver Broncos
Happy Thanksgiving Steelers fans! We have a lot to be excited for going into this week, including an interesting Week 12 matchup. This week, the Steelers will be going up against a Denver Broncos team that is coming off a huge win over the Los Angeles Chargers last week. The Broncos have had an up and down season as they are sitting at 4-6 and trying to get back in the playoff race. While the Steelers are rolling and things are looking to be in their favor this week, it is important not to overlook this team as they have a great amount of talent. It is also important to note that Mile High Stadium is a tough place to play for opposing teams. With those factors being considered, let’s take a look at this week’s opponent.
Injury Report
Luckily for Denver, they aren’t having to deal with too many injuries. However, they do still have a few key injuries to keep track of. On offense, guard Max Garcia was placed on the Injured Reserve due to an ACL injury. Wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton is listed as questionable with a knee injury.
On defense, the Broncos are dealing with a couple of injuries in the secondary. Defensive backs Dymonte Thomas and Bradley Roby are both listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. Thomas is dealing with an ankle injury while Roby is in the concussion protocol. Inside linebacker Brandon Marshall is also listed as questionable with a knee injury.
Rookie Phillip Lindsay leads Denver’s ground attack
Denver’s offense has been solid for the most part so far this season as far as stats go. They rank 11th in the league in total offense with 371.9 yards per game and 22.8 points per game. Their running game has led the way so far as they rank 8th in the NFL in rushing offense with 124.8 yards per game. Undrafted rookie running back Phillip Lindsay has burst onto the scene this year as the Broncos’ leading rusher. He ranks 8th in the league in rushing yards with 670 yards and has also scored five touchdowns on the ground so far.
While they might not be as impressive as their running game, the Broncos’ passing game hasn’t been terrible this year either. Denver currently ranks 15th in the NFL in passing offense, averaging 247.1 yards per game. Newly acquired quarterback Case Keenum hasn’t been as good as he was in Minnesota but is still putting up decent numbers as he has thrown for 2,605 yards and 11 touchdowns so far this season. His only downfall has been his turnovers as he has already thrown 10 interceptions so far. Following the departure of Demaryius Thomas via trade, former Steeler Emmanuel Sanders has been the top receiver for the Broncos. He has accounted for 60 receptions for 763 yards and three touchdowns this season. Rookie wide receiver Courtland Sutton has also become a key factor in Denver’s offense since the Thomas trade.
Denver’s defense has struggled so far
For the past several seasons, the defense has been the strong suit for the Broncos. Unfortunately, that has not been the case so far this season. Denver currently ranks 22nd in the league in total defense, allowing 375.5 yards per game and 23.5 points per game. They have struggled tremendously against the run, sitting at 27th in run defense. The Broncos have allowed 127.9 yards per game and eight touchdowns on the ground so far this season. This could be due to inside linebacker Brandon Marshall being limited due to injury. In Marshall’s absence, Todd Davis has stepped up as their leading tackler with 51 tackles, 72 with assists included. He is joined in the linebacker core by Marshall (if healthy) or rookie Josey Jewell, along with Von Miller and fifth overall pick Bradley Chubb on the outside. Their defensive line consists of newly acquired Domata Peko Sr. at nose tackle with Derek Wolfe and Adam Gotsis starting at the ends.
Denver has a been a little more impressive against the pass as they rank 18th in the league in passing defense. They have allowed 247.6 yards per game and 18 touchdowns through the air this season. Although those numbers may not be the best, they can still create havoc for opposing quarterbacks as they have two tremendous pass rushers in Miller and Chubb. Their secondary has forced 10 interceptions this season with All-Pro cornerback Chris Harris and free safety Justin Simmons leading the team with two apiece. They are joined in the secondary by Bradley Roby at the opposite corner and Darian Stewart at strong safety.
Final Thoughts
In a hostile environment at Mile High Stadium, I believe this will be a very close game through three quarters. Denver will make some plays in the secondary to keep them in the game. However, I see James Conner bouncing back from a disappointing performance against Jacksonville and putting up big numbers against a terrible run defense. The Steelers will put their foot on the gas in the fourth and pull away with a two-score victory to improve their win streak to seven straight.
