Denver Broncos Vs. Indianapolis Colts: Five Keys To The Game For Broncos
If the Denver Broncos look to win two in a row, they must beat their arch nemesis of late, Peyton Manning.
Both the Broncos and the Colts are battling early season injuries. This week the Broncos are at home in in "Mile High" city and have a favorable match-up against the Colts. In order to take down Manning, the Broncos must be successful in these five areas of the game.
#1 Key To The Game For The Broncos: Fast Start
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Quarterback is always the most important position on the football field.
Kyle Orton at the helm for the Broncos must orchestrate scoring drives early in the game if he is going to stick with Peyton Manning and the Colts. The Colts have been very successful in Denver in the previous meetings and in order to break the current home losing streak to the Colts (0-4 since 2004),
Kyle Orton must connect early and often with rookie wide receiver Demaryius Thomas to keep the Colts on their heels defensively.
#2 Key To The Game For The Broncos: Step Up In The Running Game
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In the first two games of the season the Broncos have rushed for only 154 yards. They rank 27 in the NFL, and are last in yards per carry, a meager 2.4. This must improve against the Colts to keep Peyton Manning off the field.
This will be no small task since the Broncos lost last year's No. 1 draft pick, Knowshon Moreno, this week to a pulled left hamstring injury. Correll Buckhalter will likely start against the Colts, but he only has 34 yards rushing in 17 attempts in the first two games of the season. He has a touchdown and a fumble thus far.
The Broncos might also play the newly acquired Laurence Maroney who is probable for Sunday's game and Andre Brown, a second year running back, acquired from the New York Giants who was signed from the practice squad this week.
The Broncos must move the ball at the line of scrimmage if they want to avoid long third down situations and give Kyle Orton a chance to sustain long drives. One of their running back must step up.
#3 Key To The Game For The Broncos: Rookies In Secondary Vs. Peyton
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Champ Bailey (heel) and Andre Goodman (thigh) are both questionable for Sunday's game.
If either or both are out against the Colts, rookies Perrish Cox and Cassius Vaughn will be called upon to cover Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon, who will be targeted often by Peyton Manning all game.
Historically, Peyton Manning has attacked inexperienced CBs with great success. These rookies need to prove that they can come back when Peyton Manning makes "undefendable" passes for big plays. If they can push back when Manning shows his flashes of greatness they may be able to keep him at bay.
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#4 Key to The Game For The Broncos: Protect Kyle Orton
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Kyle Orton needs to be able to make quick, down-the-field passes to compete with Manning. In order to do that, the Broncos O-Line, consisting of two rookies (C J.D. Walton, RT Zane Beadles), must keep him off the turf.
As evidence of this truth, look at how Eli Manning fared against the Colts last week: he was hit six times, sacked a total of four times, lost two fumbles, and was picked off.
The constant pressure on Eli gave him little chance to make a game of it. The Broncos must protect Orton—to stay in this game.
#5 Key To The Game For The Broncos: Stop Colts At The Point Of Attack
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Not only does Denver's secondary need to step it up, but up front the defensive line and linebackers have to stop Joseph Addai and Donald Brown at the line of scrimmage.
Also, Peyton needs to be limited in the amount of time he has to get rid of the football. If there is pressure on Peyton to make the throws, the likelihood of making a mistake will greatly increase.
Last week, the Broncos harassed Matt Hasselbeck who was intercepted three times. The Broncos must stay aggressive on defense to take down the Colts.
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