5 Bye Week Goals Denver Broncos Must Focus on Ahead of Divisional Matchup
While the Denver Broncos are enjoying a week off this weekend thanks to earning the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs, all is not smooth sailing in Denver. Despite boasting a 12-4 record and winning three of its four games in December, it seems to many that Denver backed into the playoffs more than it ran into them.
This analysis may be overthought, however, and it may be based on the recent change in Denver's offensive strategy. Up until a few weeks ago, the Peyton Manning-quarterbacked Broncos were a pass-first team that resorted to running only to change the pace. Recently, however, we've seen running back C.J. Anderson trot for seven touchdowns in a span where Manning has only thrown for three.
Of the four teams that received first-round byes in this year's NFL playoffs, no team needs it more than the Denver Broncos. This isn't because they are the worst squad, but rather because they are slowly becoming one of the league's most enigmatic.
Here are five goals the Broncos should, and hopefully are, focusing on before their divisional playoff matchup.
Increase Passing Efficiency
1 of 5
The last time quarterback Peyton Manning had a passer rating of over 90 while throwing more than 20 passes was a Week 12 win against the Miami Dolphins. In this game, which was played in Denver, Manning went 28-for-35 with 257 yards and four passing touchdowns.
This is the type of efficient performance the Broncos need from Manning in order to beat a high-caliber squad. The figures don't have to be crazy, and the yardage total can even be modest and supplemented by the running game, yet Manning needs to be comfortable throwing more than 20 times.
Since only tossing the rock 20 times in Weeks 14 and 15, Manning threw 44 and 37 times in Weeks 16 and 17, respectively, yet only boasted completion percentages of 63.6 and 56.8 in those games. (Not to mention Week 16 also featured Manning's first four-interception game since December 5, 2010.)
For a guy who has a career completion percentage of 65.5 and a career passer rating of 95.7, it's obvious Manning did not play his best football in December of 2014. This needs to improve before next weekend if Denver wants to take down a team better than the Oakland Raiders.
Get Demaryius Thomas and Peyton Manning on the Same Page
2 of 5
Whatever it takes—a nice steak dinner together or maybe a latte meet-up at Starbucks—quarterback Peyton Manning and star wide receiver Demaryius Thomas need to get on the same page.
At first glance, it doesn't appear the two are jelling; Thomas does have more than 110 receiving yards in each of his last three games. However, in these games where Thomas caught six, seven and eight balls, he was targeted 11, 14 and 17 times, respectively.
The problem here is two-fold. On one hand, the incompletions are troublesome and lead to missed opportunities and turnovers on downs. On the other hand, it lets defenses know where Manning is looking to throw and allows them to think with the right coverage, Thomas could be rendered inefficient.
No quarterback/wide receiver tandem is going to complete 100 percent of its attempts, yet Manning and Thomas need to link up more than 50 percent of the time.
Use Ronnie Hillman as a Change-of-Pace Running Back
3 of 5
It's very refreshing and exciting running back Ronnie Hillman is healthy again. This is not because his replacement C.J. Anderson has been doing anything wrong, but rather because Anderson is doing everything right and needs a break.
This was evident by Hillman getting 15 carries against the Oakland Raiders in Week 17, compared to Anderson's 13. It was the perfect "back to speed" game for Hillman, facing a soft Oakland run defense, and it allowed Denver to sample what it can be like with both backs healthy.
In the ideal situation, I still think Anderson receives 60 percent of the carries and certainly all the goal-line and short-yardage work, yet Hillman is a fantastic asset to have on passing downs and long-yardage situations.
If the passing game can rediscover its efficiency and operate alongside this stellar two-back run game, the Denver offense, and all of its variables, is simply overwhelming for defenses.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Don't Change a Thing on Defense
4 of 5
I will say, with conviction, the Denver Broncos defense is not only the most underrated defense in the NFL right now, but also the best. For a team that generates so much attention and analysis on offense, it has been the defense that has held this team together and assured that the Broncos secured the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs.
Statistically, and objectively, Denver ranks as the third-best defense in the NFL, behind only the Seattle Seahawks and the Detroit Lions. Both of these squads have performed amazingly well this season and have also supplemented their team's inconsistent offensive performances. (This is certainly the case in Detroit.)
The Denver defense, however, has nearly matched the efficiency of these squads while coexisting opposite the second-highest scoring offense in the league. (Denver scores an average of 30.1 points/game, while Seattle scores 24.6 and Detroit 20.1.)
This means Denver's defense is not only on the field more, (over 100 more plays from scrimmage than Seattle) but it is also facing offenses playing from behind. Teams aren't trying to burn the clock when facing the Denver defense, but rather fire on all cylinders and score quickly. Despite this high-octane competition, the Denver defense has only allowed an average of 305.2 yards/game to opposing squads.
Simply put, the Denver defense has been tremendous and should keep on doing what it has been doing all through the playoffs. It needn't change a thing leading up to the divisional matchup.
Rest Peyton Manning
5 of 5
It's obvious Peyton Manning is not 100 percent healthy and needs to rest. He needs to rest more than he needs to practice. Yes, the passing efficiency needs to improve, as is aforementioned in this piece, yet I think above all else Manning needs time to heal.
Manning has not compiled his Hall of Fame-worthy resume due to sheer luck. He's a student of the game, and at this point he's a near-expert of it. His recent decrease in productivity and efficiency are not the results of lack of preparation. Throwing a football and reading a defense are like English to Manning; it's not something he thinks about, but rather something he knows.
Obviously, I'm not suggesting Manning hunker down at home for two weeks with a bowl of popcorn and a couple good movies, but overwork in practice would be foolish at this point. With the right mix of rest, therapy and practice, I fully believe Manning and the Broncos offense will be ready to roll next weekend against whomever it is they face.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
