Mile High Report
After a two week wait, the Denver Broncos will square off against the Buffalo Bills this afternoon. The winner of this game advances to the AFC Championship Game. There is no doubt the Bills are a formidable foe, but the Broncos have what it takes to advance in the postseason. Here are three players I believe need to play at a high level in order to defeat the Bills.
If the Broncos hope to topple the Bills, they are going to need to make a big play or two on defense. Turnovers have been a focal point of emphasis from Head Coach Sean Payton and recent weeks. If they can continue where they left off against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Broncos will have a great shot at advancing in the playoffs.
One player I believe is poised to have a big game is safety Talanoa Hufanga. The fifth-year pro proved to be the best free agent addition the Broncos added last spring to their roster. He put together an impressive first season in Denver. A seventeen-game starter, Hufanga notched 106 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 3 quarterback hits, 2 sacks, a once forced fumble, and a career high 11 defended passes.
Those efforts were good enough to earn him second-team All-Pro honors. There is no doubt he helped revitalized Denver’s defense throughout the year. He has been a tone-setting Swiss Army knife for Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph all season long. While the Bills certainly have their X-Factor in quarterback Josh Allen on offense, expect Hufanga’s versatility, tenacity, and range to be on display this afternoon against the Bills.
One of the longest tenured players on the squad, veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton performed well for most of the regular season. Sutton proved once again to be the top target in their passing game. When he and quarterback Bo Nix had a strong connection, the passing offense thrived. When they didn’t, it most always struggled.
On 124 targets, the eighth-year pro had 74 catches for 1,017 yards and 7 touchdowns. Those numbers tell two tales. The bad side shows a sub-60-percent catch rate. That’s less than ideal for the top-volume receiver in an NFL offense. However, when Sutton did come down for the ball, he made a difference. In fact, 59 of his 74 catches resulted in a first down or a touchdown. That’s quite impressive.
It’s safe to argue this is the biggest game of Sutton’s career. Their secondary will be without Maxwell Hairston and Jordan Poyer for today’s matchup. That being said, I expect Sutton to receive additional help over the top to try and limit his impact on the game. The Broncos will need him to have an impact if they hope to defeat the Bills.
While Hufanga was an impact free agent for the Broncos this season, their biggest offensive acquisition didn’t live up to the hype of being...
