Mile High Report
This Sunday, the Denver Broncos have their biggest game of the season to date going up against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. At 2-2, the Broncos are back to being a .500 ball club. It’s not the record they had hoped for at this juncture, and an even more surprising one considering the manner of their two losses.
Yet, there is no sense crying over spilt milk. The Broncos can’t change the past; they can only control what lies ahead of them. This weekend’s matchup is an opportunity for them to show the rest of the National Football League what type of team they are. Through four games, it’s hard to gauge what their identity is. They’ve shown flashes of brilliance on both offense in defense during that time. However, they have remained inconsistent in certain areas that have held back their overall potential.
After last week’s 28 point and 500-yard performance against the Cincinatti Bengals, the Broncos feel like they have makings of something special on the offensive side of the ball. While many fans thought it would be the year of Bo Nix through the air, the second-year signal caller seems to believe that a strong rushing attack will help the team ascend to greater heights and realize their full potential.
“I think we showed ourselves when we run the football early, we get into third-and-manageable. We stay on the field for longer, we score points. So that’s what we’re going to continue to try to work on and continue to do,” stated Nix with respect to the Broncos finding their offensive identity early on in the season.
Taking down the defending Super Champions won’t be easy. But Nix is right, a strong ground game on the road will help them control the pace of the game. It will also keep the Broncos’ defense fresh, who has a significant challenge going up against the likes of Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and A.J. Brown. The Broncos have the star power on defense to match up against the talent Philadelphia has on offense, but the offense will need to sustain drives in order to set the defense up for success.
The task ahead of them is tough, but one the Broncos a perfectly capable of achieving if they limit their self-inflicted wounds and play disciplined. The Eagles are a team that has a penchant for forcing turnovers and doesn’t give the ball up. It’s one of the reasons they find themselves at 4-0 and winning close games, while the Broncos have split their first four.
“They’re doing a great job with the turnover ratio. I think they’ve only given the ball away one time in the first four weeks. They’re taking it away, their special teams, they have the blocked punt last week, the blocked field goal, blocked extra point against the Rams. All three phases are doing a good job. That’s one of the reasons they’re the champion,” remarked Head Coach Sean Payton taking notice of the...
