C.J. Anderson's Broncos Aren't the Team You Think They Are

Running the ball, playing physically along the offensive line and wearing down opposing defensive fronts (until they quit) goes against the tired narrative that the NFL is just a “passing league.”

However, in the playoffs, the teams that can utilize the run game to facilitate the entire offense usually advance and move on. 

Take the Denver Broncos as they begin to prep for this Sunday’s AFC divisional-playoff matchup versus the Indianapolis Colts. Based on the tape I’ve watched, this team has become more balanced in the call sheet over the last two months of the regular season given the talent of running backs C.J. Anderson, Ronnie Hillman and Juwan Thompson.

Plus, the Broncos will bring a sixth offensive lineman onto the field—along with tight end Virgil Green—to hit defenses right in the mouth. That’s big-boy football for a team that now doesn’t have to live and die on the arm of quarterback Peyton Manning to consistently make plays.

Yes, Manning is still one of the major keys to another Super Bowl run in Denver. We should all agree there. But the Broncos can also establish tempo in this system running the football out of multiple personnel groupings. 

How are the Broncos winning up front in the run game? Let’s start with their Ace/12 (2WR-2TE-1RB) “plus” personnel (bring a sixth offensive lineman on the field to replace a tight end).

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

The Broncos are in a Unit Wing alignment with Green (Y) in the game. This gives Denver the ability to run the stretch scheme and inside zone (both open and closed) along with the one-back power (pull guard up through the hole).

These are the same schemes we see in Dallas, Seattle, New England, etc., but here the Broncos are utilizing their “big” personnel to create running lanes for Anderson.

This is another look (same personnel on the field) as the Broncos align in a Strong I formation to attack the open side of the field on the Counter OF scheme with Hillman in the game (guard kicks out edge defender, H-back leads up through the hole).

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

Hillman can produce in this system, along with Thompson. But the way I see it, Anderson is the guy the Broncos should lean on during the postseason because of the skill set he brings to the stadium.

Anderson plays with balance, and he has the acceleration to get through the hole along with the lateral quickness to make defenders miss at the second level. Plus, Anderson is physical on contact because of his pad level. He isn’t shy about dropping a shoulder on defensive backs who come downhill to fill the hole.

Check out this example from Week 17 on the inside zone scheme with Posse/11 personnel (3WR-1TE-1RB) on the field.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

As you can see, Anderson displays the acceleration to get up the field as he works through the second level before winning a one-on-one versus safety Charles Woodson to put this ball in the end zone.

One of my favorite runs from Anderson came back in Week 13 versus the Kansas City Chiefs in a fourth-down situation on the one-back power out of the shotgun.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

The Broncos pull the backside guard, but the focus here should be on Anderson and his ability to bounce the ball to the edge. Don’t forget about the finish as Anderson drops a shoulder on the safety taking an angle to the ball.

What does all this talk about the run game mean for Manning?

For starters, it allows the quarterback to dictate the flow of the game even more from the line of scrimmage based on the pre-snap defensive look. That creates positive opportunities for Manning to go to work on opposing secondaries with Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Wes Welker and Julius Thomas.

Depending on the front—and the coverage look—Manning can target one-on-one matchups versus a single-high safety or check to the run against two-deep to take advantage of the light box.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Plus, we can’t discount the play-action passing in the Broncos’ game plan that allows Manning to target open receivers (versus both zone and man coverage) with the second-level defenders removed. 

There is no question Manning has to make throws for this team to beat the Colts on Sunday and advance in the playoffs, but with Anderson and the run game, the quarterback doesn’t have to sling the ball all over the field for this team to win. 

Yes, that goes against the narratives out there, but I see a different Broncos team this time around in the playoffs. It is stronger at the point of attack, and the game plan truly has balance when it focuses on running the ball with Anderson. 

That sells in the postseason for a Denver offensive unit that is built to win in January. 

Seven-year NFL veteran Matt Bowen is an NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report.

Follow @MattBowen41