Complete Bye Week Viewing Guide for Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos earned a much-needed bye in the first week of the playoffs. They’ll have a break this week, but what happens in the Wild Card Round will impact what the Broncos need to prepare for next week.
Their potential opponents for the Divisional Round include the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Broncos have already faced two of these teams this year (Bengals, Colts) with one win and one loss. We have yet to see a Steelers vs. Broncos game this year, but that would change if Pittsburgh can win on Saturday.
The Bengals and the Colts play each other on Sunday. It’s a home game for the Colts, who need every advantage they can possibly get. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton is looking for his first win in four tries at the postseason, and the Colts defense is looking to play better than it did during the regular season.
The Steelers play at home against their division rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. This will be one of the most—if not the most—physical contests of the weekend. The Steelers enter this game already banged up, and if they make it through, expect them to be feeling the effects all next week.
Here is a complete viewing guide for Broncos fans during Wild Card Weekend.
Ravens vs. Steelers: Le'Veon Bell's Health Status
1 of 5
You could argue that Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is the best in the game. He rushed for 1,361 yards this year in addition to catching 83 catches for 854 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns. He accounts for almost half of their offense, but the Steelers may be without Bell against the Ravens.
In Week 17 against the Bengals, he suffered a knee injury after a hit by safety Reggie Nelson. According to Dale Lolley of the Observer-Reporter, Bell was barely able to walk after the game.
Bell did not suffer any structural damage on the hit as he hyperextended his knee. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin says the team will not rule Bell out, but they also won’t rush him back and risk his long-term health, according to Scott Brown of ESPN.com.
Expect the Steelers to lean heavily on their passing game—even if Bell plays. They’ll limit him if he does make it to the field, and we could see undrafted rookie Josh Harris start for the Steelers if Bell is inactive.
The Steelers will be a much more dangerous team if Bell is able to play if and when they face the Broncos in the playoffs.
Bengals vs. Colts: Can Andy Dalton Win a Playoff Game?
2 of 5
Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has taken his team to the playoffs in every year of his four-year career, but he has yet to win a game in the postseason. The Bengals want to change that this year, and they’ve made the changes in the offense to help him.
In 2014, Dalton saw the lowest total of passing yards he’s had in the pros. He matched his rookie season with 3,398 yards passing. He also had the fewest touchdown passes (19) in a single season during his pro career.
In three playoff games, he has attempted 123 passes and has 70 completions for 718 yards with one passing touchdown and six interceptions. Dalton must take better care of the football if he wants his team to advance this year in the postseason.
With Dalton’s numbers down, the Bengals are leaning more on their rushing attack, which features rookie running back Jeremy Hill.
Broncos fans know all too well how Hill can break off big plays. In Week 16 against the Broncos, Hill had an 85-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and finished the game with 147 yards on 22 carries. He is coming into this game against the Colts with a three-game streak of rushing for 100 yards or more in each game.
The Colts defense may not be able to put up much of a fight against Hill. Currently, the Colts rushing defense ranks 18th in the league, allowing an average of 113.4 yards per game.
In addition to Hill, the Bengals can also use Giovani Bernard as a change-of-pace back. His speed is a welcome asset for the Bengals offense, and he can make big plays as a runner or receiver out of the backfield.
This talented duo at the running back position could help Dalton get his first playoff win.
Bengals vs. Colts: A.J. Green Is Working Through Concussion Protocol
3 of 5
The Bengals have one of the best receivers in the game in A.J. Green. In Week 16 against the Broncos, Green was knocked out of the contest by a big hit from strong safety T.J. Ward.
He was limited leading up to the team’s Week 17 game against the Steelers, and then he was knocked out of that game with a concussion.
Green is now going through the league’s protocol for dealing with concussions. He did not practice Monday through Thursday, and Green needs to be cleared by an independent physician before he can practice or play.
The Bengals are going to lean more on their ground game with Hill and Bernard in the postseason, if they can. However, it would be a crushing blow for their passing attack if they have to play without a superstar like Green.
If the Bengals make it to the Mile High City for the Divisional Round, they’ll need Green in order to put up the best fight against the Broncos.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Bengals vs. Colts: Does Andrew Luck Have to Do It All?
4 of 5
The Colts have a one-dimensional offense and a struggling defense. This puts a ton of pressure on quarterback Andrew Luck to carry the team in the postseason.
The Colts haven't gotten much out of their rushing attack. They traded for Trent Richardson last year, but the former third overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft has not impressed during his time with Indianapolis.
Dan “Boom” Herron is heavily involved in the offense, since Richardson struggles to produce. Even with a larger role, Herron has only 98 yards rushing over the last three games. Neither back presents much of a threat for the opposing defense.
This means the Colts have to look to Luck for most of the offensive production. He’s had the best year of his pro career this season. Luck passed for more than 4,700 yards and tossed 40 touchdown passes with 16 interceptions.
However, with a one-dimensional offense, opponents have begun slowing down Luck and the passing game. He hasn’t had a 300-yard game passing the ball since Week 13, and over the last two weeks of the season he has only 269 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
The defense doesn’t do the team any favors either. The Colts have struggled to stop opposing offenses when facing quality teams. In Week 15, the Colts were destroyed 42-7 by the Dallas Cowboys. This is not the defense that can slow down opponents in the postseason.
Does Luck have to do it all? Yes, he does.
Bengals vs. Colts: Is T.Y. Hilton Near Full Strength?
5 of 5
The Colts have a big-time playmaker in wide receiver T.Y. Hilton. The third-year receiver from Florida International posted a career high in receiving yards (1,345) and receiving touchdowns (seven) in 2014.
His speed can get him down the field in the blink of an eye. This makes Hilton one of the best deep targets in the entire league. He has enough speed to blow by defenders, and he can even outrun safeties who think they have the angle on him.
Hilton is a favorite target of Andrew Luck. The Colts aren't getting much production from their ground game, so more pressure is on the shoulders of the passing attack. This means Luck and Hilton will have to be at their best if the team wants to advance in the playoffs.
Over the last two weeks of the season, Hilton was slowed down by a hamstring injury. He actually missed the Week 16 debacle against the Dallas Cowboys, but he did play in Week 17. Looking at the box score, it would be difficult to tell that he suited up, as Hilton was targeted three times but failed to catch any of the passes thrown his way.
Hilton has been fully participating in practice this week, as the Colts prepare for their Sunday tilt against the Bengals. All signs point to Hilton being good to go on Wild Card Weekend. This is great news for the Colts because they need him as close to full strength as possible if they want their best chance to continue on in the playoffs.
All quotes and injury/practice observations obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information provided via email from the Denver Broncos unless otherwise noted. Contract and salary-cap information provided by Spotrac.com. Transaction history provided by ProSportsTransactions.com.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
