NFL
By Keith Richards
Well, Week 2 didn’t go as I hoped for the Broncos, but they still pulled off the win. Sitting at 500 early in this season, and much like last week, there are things Denver needs to work on in Week 3. Conversely, there are still positives that the team can carry into this matchup in primetime against the San Francisco 49ers. Enough with the small talk! Let’s get right into the offensive and defensive keys to victory in Week 3!
Offensive Keys to Victory
The most important key to victory for the offense in Week 3 is to let the running game dictate the passing game. As expected, the 49ers’ defense has been downright nasty to start the season. San Francisco has only given 420 this season. Not per game. They have only given up 420 TOTAL yards all season. The way to break a stingy, disciplined defense is with play-action passes. So how do you set up the play-action pass? With a strong running game, of course!
The running game for Denver hasn’t been bad through two weeks. In fact, the Broncos’ 126 rushing per game ranks ninth in the NFL. However, the rushing attack will still need to be better in Week 3. With Jeudy and Hamler looking to work their way back into the lineup from injury, getting Courtland Sutton as many opportunities as possible will be imperative. Williams and Gordon getting off to good starts will greatly help Sutton. It sets up the play-action pass and takes the pressure off the offensive line, which is the second key to victory for the offense in Week 3.
Looking at the glass half full, the 49ers only have four sacks so far this season. Looking at the glass half empty, the Broncos’ offensive line has given up five sacks this season. At their current pace, Denver is looking at giving up 42.5 sacks in 2022-2023. That’s a problem! For reference, Joe Burrow was sacked 51 times last season behind one of the worst offensive lines in history. That’s not the company that Denver wants to keep. So how do you help keep pressure off the quarterback with a struggling offensive line? With a strong running game, of course!
The 49ers have one of the best front sevens in the league. They don’t need to rush often to get to the quarterback. Denver must alleviate the pressure by forcing San Francisco to respect the run. If the Niners don’t respect the run, the Mile High offensive line will struggle again in Week 3, and Russell Wilson will have another bad time.
Defensive Key to Victory
Notice that the header says key as in the singular version. There is a single key to victory for the defense in Week 3: Play a full sixty minutes. The Broncos’ defense has been like a great rushing attack in the first two games. A team starts to wear down to where the pressure increases in the second half. Then, in the fourth quarter, the Broncos’ front seven begin to get in the backfield. That won’t do in Week 3.
Gregory, Jones, and Chubb need to bring the fire in Week 3 from the first defensive snap to the last. Unfortunately, we don’t know who the defensive will have available on Sunday, but the defense will need to find a way. They have to start to create turnovers to help out the struggling offense.
Bonus Key
While I don’t think it’s time to panic, Nathaniel Hackett has to make a statement this week. Thus far, Hackett is taking over as play caller in addition to his responsibilities as head coach. Coaching in the NFL is hard. So there have been first job jitters for the new coach for two weeks. I’m not ready to hammer Hackett, but if the offense struggles in the red zone again this week, it might be time to discuss someone else calling the plays.
So, the bonus is key is that Nathaniel Hackett needs to call effective red zone plays in Week 3. The red zone trips will likely be scant. So, when Denver gets to the red zone, they need to score touchdowns. That all falls on Coach Hackett.
The Prediction
I’m not as pessimistic as the rest of Broncos Country. I do not believe that San Francisco will come into Mile High Stadium and run Denver out of it. This will be a close game. Unfortunately, I think it will be a close game that Denver loses. If Jeudy can play, that might be a different story, but he just returned to practice Friday and is questionable for Sunday. I’m taking the 49ers 24-20.
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