Broncos vs Bengals Week 4: Keys to the Game

The term “must-win” is usually an overused one nowadays, and even if this Monday Night Football matchup isn’t a make or break game for the Broncos, it’s pretty dang close to being one. The Chargers have a chance to take a three-game lead on the division, and falling to 1-3 will only make a playoff bid that much more unlikely.

The good news is that Denver gets to take on a struggling team, missing their star quarterback, boasting an offensive line that can hardly block, and a defense that ranks near the bottom of the league in most categories. If there was ever a get-right game, this is it.

Here’s how the Broncos can get back to .500 and stop the bleeding.

1. Keep that pass rush chugging

The Broncos have the best pass rush in the league, and it’s not close in some categories.

As a team they lead the league in sacks, pressures, and pass rush win rates. Individually they’re also near the top of the league as well.

A crazy stat is that, before Sunday, Joe Alt went the first two weeks without giving up a single pressure in pass protection. However, after Sunday, he is now second among left tackles in pressure rates at 2.4% (our guy Garett Bolles is leading all left tackles at 1.9%). Nik Bonitto did that much damage in just one game. He is insane. Zach Allen and Jonah Elliss have also been tearing things up in the passing game even though they’re not on this list.

The Bengals are giving up at least three sacks a game this year. The Broncos are averaging four sacks a game this year, and they’ve gone against two of the better lines in the league. Monday should be a massacre up front.

2. Be successful on early offensive downs

Luckily, the Broncos aren’t the worst team in the league when it comes to 3-and-out rates, but it’s a glaring issue on this offense. I’d argue that three-and-outs were what cost them a win in Los Angeles last week. It was pitiful.

Currently the Broncos sit at 19th in the league in 3-and-out rate at 25.7%. This is obviously not a winning recipe.

What goes hand-in-hand with this stat is Denver’s early down success rate. They sit dead last at a mere 32.4%.

The main offensive focus this week should be doing whatever it takes to pick up at least four to five yards on first down. Ideally they’d be accomplishing that on the ground with JK Dobbins or RJ Harvey, considering they are averaging over seven yards per carry on first down. And another way they can fix this success rate is being better disciplined as a team. Their early-down penalties are ruining drives before they even have a chance of getting going.

3. Increase offensive efficiency with intermediate-yardage plays

This key mostly falls on Bo Nix and the Denver passing game. According to SIS Data Hub, Nix is the worst quarterback...