Broncos look to get back in saddle
While the Kansas City Chiefs aim Monday to end their little two-game losing streak, the Denver Broncos have more of a crisis on their hands.
Since opening 2-0, including a blowout victory against the Dallas Cowboys, the Broncos have gone 1-3. Facing the prospect of a 3-4 start after Monday’s game at raucous Arrowhead Stadium, the Broncos vow they’re not panicking even if the locals in Denver are.
Second-year Broncos starting quarterback Trevor Siemian has come under fire as has offensive co-ordinator Mike McCoy.
Bottom line with the Broncos’ offence: when they can run it well, the Broncos have more of a chance to win. But when the Broncos can’t run it, they ’re doomed.
The Broncos are 3-0 when they rush for more than 120 yards. They gained 140 against the Los Angeles Chargers, 178 against Dallas and 143 against Oakland and beat all three. The Broncos gained 111 yards at Buffalo, 46 against the then-winless New York Giants and 69 in the return match against the Chargers, losing all three.
Turnovers are another big reason for Denver’s October dive as first-year Broncos head coach Vance Joseph keeps pointing out. That’s why he insists frustrations aren’t compounding in the locker-room, where the NFL’s stingiest defence resides.
“No one’s blinked and no one’s wavered,” Joseph said. “We know we have good schemes every Sunday. Our issue is just tightening the details of our job up and not giving the ball away. That’s our issue.
“In our three wins, we’re even in turnovers. And in our three losses, we’re minus-8. It’s as simple as that.”
Joseph also is adamant nobody is tipping plays on offence.
“I thought in the games where our running game was really good, we saw a lot of shell coverage and a lot of soft cover-threes. Now teams have closed the middle, they’re making us block heavy fronts and they’re forcing our pass game to be effective.
“We have to, first of all with the run game, block the heavy fronts, block the eight-man fronts.”
This is the first time running back Jamaal Charles will face his former team in the Chiefs. He starred for most of nine years in K.C. until being cut earlier this year. In May. he signed with the Broncos.
In K.C., Charles rushed for 7,260 yards, averaged 5.5 yards per carry and scored 44 touchdowns. After blowing out a knee in 2015, he never recovered. He has rushed for 196 yards and one touchdown this season.