Browns vs. Broncos: Final Report, Analysis for Denver

Broncos 34 Browns 12 

The Denver Broncos are cruising into the postseason following a 34-12 victory Sunday over the Cleveland Browns, their 10th consecutive win.

The Broncos scored just over two minutes into the game and never looked back.

With Houston dropping a home game to the Minnesota Vikings, Denver can still get the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs by virtue of a home win over the Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday coupled with a Houston loss to Indianapolis. 

For full game grades and analysis on the win over Cleveland, click forward.

Quarterback

Peyton Manning: A-

Manning performed great against the Browns, completing 30-of-43 passes for a season high 339 yards. His only mistake was an interception right before the half that was made by Cleveland saftey Usama Young in the end zone. Still, he finished the day with a 106.6 QB rating.

Manning has shown great command of the Denver offense the entire season and Cleveland had few answers for him on Sunday.

Brock Osweiler: N/A

For the second week in a row, Osweiler got into the game for a few snaps but again it was just to hand the ball off. It would be nice to see the Broncos give him more work in the season finale if they have a commanding fourth quarter lead against Kansas City.

Running Backs

Knowshon Moreno: A-

Moreno had 127 yards of total offense on the day (78 rushing, 49 receiving) and while he missed his third straight 100-yard rushing game, he did what he needed to do to help keep the Broncos' offense moving.

Moreno averaged just 3.5 yards per carry but he provided a solid receiving option out of the backfield for Manning, who found him five times for an average of 9.8 yards per catch.

Ronnie Hillman: B-

Hillman was only given six carries compared to Moreno's 22, but he was able to gain 35 yards on them, averaging nearly six yards per touch. Still, Hillman is not a very big part of the offense at this point and is a player that seems to be trying to learn on the fly.

Jacob Hester: A

Hester has been a nice free agent find for the Broncos as he has scored a rushing touchdown in back-to-back games. His two touchdowns in Denver are one more than he had in his entire career in San Diego.

Hester is a guy who could be a big contributor in the playoffs for the Broncos.

Wide Receivers

Demaryius Thomas: A

There is a definite connection between Manning and Thomas and he is becoming one of the NFL's premiere receivers because of it. On Sunday, Manning fit some balls into tight windows to Thomas, despite good coverage from Cleveland defenders.

Thomas finished the game with nine catches for 102 yards and a touchdown. It was his sixth 100-yard game of the season.

Eric Decker: A

Not since 2004 have the Broncos had two wide receivers with 1,000 yards, but if Decker can get 12 yards in the season finale, they will do just that.

Decker made six grabs for 65 yards on Sunday, but two of those went for touchdowns. He now has 11 touchdowns on the season.

Brandon Stokley: B-

Stokley made five catches for 32 yards in the game, the most impressive of which coming after a ball bounced off the hands of Decker and he snagged it out of the air. It was a good thing he did because there were a couple of Cleveland defenders in the vicinity who would have had a shot at an interception. 

Stokley did draw an offensive pass interference penalty in the second quarter that negated a 32-yard reception by Thomas.

Matthew Willis: N/A

Willis didn't make a catch in the game but had two balls thrown his way. Whether it be he or Stokley, one of the keys for the Broncos this year has been having a reliable third target for Manning.

Tight Ends

Jacob Tamme: A-

Tamme only had two catches in the game, but they went for a total of 69 yards. He was able to find openings in the Cleveland defense and provide a big target for Manning as he was pretty much wide open on both plays. After his second catch, Tamme laid a shoulder into a Browns defender, which allowed him to pick up a couple more yards.

Joel Dreessen: B

Dreessen caught three of the four balls Manning threw to him, gaining 22 yards on the day. Having good receiving options like these two tight ends is what allows Manning to complete passes to six different receivers. It keeps defenses honest and shows the many different ways this team is capable of beating you right now.

Offensive Line

Overall Grade: B+

The Denver offensive line has been solid all season and that was no different on Sunday. They were down a starter in Chris Kuper again due to injury, so Manny Ramirez drew another start. 

They gave Manning good protection throughout the game and kept him inside a good pocket to throw out of. Manning was not sacked, something that is a recipe for disaster if you are an opposing defense.

The offensive line did commit four penalties, two of which were false start calls on the same drive late in the fourth quarter. Still, it was an impressive performance for a unit that has been up to the task all season.

Defensive Line

Elvis Dumervil: A

What has been the Broncos' method of beating opponents this season? Getting a big lead and then coming after the quarterback. Up 21-6, that's exactly what they did. Dumervil had two sacks on the day, the first of which he combined with Von Miller and the result of the play ended up knocking Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden from the contest.

Derek Wolfe: A-

Wolfe is an emerging player and one who looks like he is only going to get better. He had two tackles and another sack on Sunday, giving him five for his rookie season.

Justin Bannan: B

Bannan has been a key cog in stopping the run this season and the Broncos held Browns running back Trent Richardson to just 53 yards on the ground. Bannan finished the game with two tackles, one of those for a loss.

Mitch Unrein: B

Unrein is still a role player who is used for situational downs, but he continues to make the most of them. He had three tackles in this game and in the fourth quarter, after Cleveland had scored a touchdown to make it 31-12, he came up with a nice stop of McCoy on a two-point conversion.

There isn't anything flashy about Unrein, but he has made some key plays this season.

Linebackers

Von Miller: A

Not to be outdone by J.J. Watt and the year he is having in Houston, Von Miller is keeping pace with him in the running for defensive player of the year award. He had another 1.5 sacks on Sunday to go along with five tackles and Miller is just having a terrific season.

The energy and attitude he brings to the football field has given this defense it's identity.

Wesley Woodyard: A+

Unsung hero of the Denver Broncos in 2012? Wesley Woodyard. This guy is just doing it all. He tied for the team lead on Sunday with eight tackles and also had 1.5 sacks of his own.

Woodyard has shown he can do it all this season whether it be apply pressure to the quarterback, track down a runner of play pass coverage, he is having an excellent season. His eight tackles Sunday give him 113 for the year.

Keith Brooking: B

Brooking continues to fill in where needed for this team and he stepped up with five tackles against Cleveland.

Danny Trevathan: B

Trevathan seems to be getting more snaps every game and is steadily working his way into the lineup. At one point, linebacker seemed to be one of Denver's biggest weaknesses. Now, they have a bevy of them.

Trevathan had one tackle in the game.

Secondary

Champ Bailey: A

The Browns came into the game lacking a serious receiving threat and that just won't get it done against this secondary.

Bailey was matched up against the rookie Josh Gordon for much of the game and he held him to one catch for seven yards. He also finished with three tackles.

Chris Harris: B-

Harris continues to turn in big performances this year and he was tied with Woodyard for a team high eight tackles.

He did get beat on a 6-yard touchdown from McCoy to Greg Little in the fourth quarter, but it was a meaningless score.

Mike Adams: B+

Getting a crack against his former team, Adams looked good. He had four tackles on the day while knocking down two passes and getting a hit on the quarterback. The Broncos' defense could become even more imposing if he turns into an enforcer in the backfield.

Rahim Moore: B

Along with Zane Beadles, Moore has to be one of the most improved players on this year's team. He is growing a nose for the ball and he is in much better position than he was last year.

On a pass Weeden sailed too high early in the game, Moore made a nice play to try and come up with an interception before getting up and making a very nice run to the end zone for a touchdown. It would all be for naught as the pass was ruled incomplete but it was still an excellent effort.

Tracy Porter: N/A

The injury woes continue for Porter who was finally in the lineup Sunday but had to leave due to a concussion. Porter has been one of the only blemishes on the season for Denver.

Special Teams

Matt Prater: A

Prater played a solid game on Sunday, making every kick he attempted and scoring 10 of Denver's 34 points. He made field goals of 27 and 41 yards and this had  to be encouraging for Denver fans as Prater had missed at least one field goal in five of the last six games.

Britton Colquitt: B+

It was a light day of work for Coquitt who was called on to punt just three times. He averaged 49.0 yards on those kicks. Coming into the day, he ranked fourth in the league with a 42.0 yard net average.

Return team: C

Despite Jim Leonhard and Trindon Holliday each muffing punts, Denver was fortunate to recover both. Between kickoffs and punts, the Broncos totaled just eight return yards in the game. The ball security issues, especially as it relates to Holliday, need to be addressed.

Kick Coverage: A-

Josh Cribbs was able to get something going in the return game for Cleveland, but his best return was called back by a penalty, a 62-yard punt return that he nearly took the distance.

Cribbs also averaged 30 yards on two kick returns but late in the game, he mishandled a punt and Lance Ball pounced on it for Denver, the only turnover committed by Cleveland.

Coaching

Overall Grade: B

The coaching staff continues to call a great game from both sides of the ball week in and week out. They do need to find a way to get the starters off the field earlier in the late stages of a blowout in order to prevent key injuries. There is absolutely no reason for Manning to be on the field with five minutes to play on the right side of a 22-point game.

Aside from that, Denver looks solid in basically all phases of the game right now. Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio will no doubt draw head coaching consideration for the performances they have turned in on the season.

And though he's not the coach, the field general that is Manning is as important as anything to the Broncos' success during this 10-game winning streak. Manning has the entire team buying into his approach and they are a well-oiled unit right now; one that will be a very difficult matchup on the postseason.