Hello Broncos Country. The Rainclouds are beginning to move away. Those clouds still loom in the distance mind you but, the Denver Broncos are the hottest team in football right now. It’s still not pretty but the team is relevant again. National media outlets like the NFL Network are doing long segments on the team’s miraculous turnaround. Players like Patrick Surtain II are being interviewed there as well. Five wins in a row and a close look at a possible playoff berth will get everybody’s attention. It’s fun to watch again and honestly, it’s more fun to write about too.
The Houston Texans rookie Head Coach DeMeco Ryans has them at 6-5 as well and the team that loses today is not likely going to the playoffs. Texans QB C.J. Stroud is having an outstanding rookie campaign. He’s #2 in the league with 3,266 yards passing. He’s thrown 19 TDs with just 5 INTs and has a 100.8 passer rating. (#6 behind Russell Wilson) It’s not often a rookie QB learns how to pass proficiently in the NFL as Stroud has done. That must mean they have star receivers, right? If you only follow one team or hardly follow the NFL, I promise you’ve never heard of Texans’ WRs Tank Dell and Nico Collins. Combined with TE Dalton Schultz, they’ve hauled in 17 of Stroud’s 19 TD passes. Although they are a passing team, Houston is #6 overall rushing with RBs Devin Singletary and Damien Pierce sharing the load. Offensively, they rank #6 overall. Defensively the Texans rank #22 overall. LB Blake Cashman leads the team in tackles with 78. They are stingy against the run, allowing only 95.1 yards per game. However, an opportunity to open up the passing game for the Broncos presents itself as the Texans rank #27 versus the pass.
To say the Broncos’ return from the dead is amazing is an understatement. In the positive realm, there things that are and are not being talked about. The team leads the league with 22 turnovers. (10 INTs, 12 fum rec.) That’s a stat that rings loud and clear. The team is much healthier than in recent years. I don’t hear much praise for an obviously improved strength and conditioning staff. The Broncos O-line was the best in the NFL last week. Yes, I said that out loud. As a unit they are dispensing justice play after play. Garrett Bolles stoned one of the top sack specialists in the league. RG Quinn Meinerz has been mauling people and he might be the best guard in football right now. K Wil Lutz was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month.
It’s not all rainbows and unicorns folks. With all those turnovers must come TDs. They are not being aggressive and capitalizing on timely turnovers. Wil Lutz receives accolades for kicking all those FGs but we like TDs better. Russell Wilson and Courtland Sutton are doing most of the dirty work and it’s been more fun to watch. However, WRs Jerry Juedy and Marvin Mimms Jr. must gain the trust of Russell Wilson and present themselves as playmakers more often. The defensive front seven is giving up way too much yardage in the running game. Continuing to improve communications across the board is paramount.
As I mentioned last week, the Broncos have laid a foundation to become a really, good team. They are learning how to win different types of football games. They’re playing tough, gritty football and I like it. When they needed the running game to get tougher, the 235 lb Semaje Perine answered the bell. The challenges will keep coming though and this matchup with the Texans in Houston ranks right up there. Containing C.J. Stroud will be a tall task. He can and will run. Mush rush this kid and don’t allow any running lanes. I see two teams vying for a chance to enter the playoffs. This game will impact the AFC playoff picture more than any this year to date. The Texans are favored by 3 and I can’t pick this one. Raincloud out!
Pro Football Debate 
Leave a comment