Biggest Takeaways from Denver Broncos' Week 5 Win

The Denver Broncos continue on an undefeated streak to start the season. They have a 5-0 record after going on the road in Week 5 and beating the Oakland Raiders by a score of 16-10.

This was Denver's second-lowest-scoring regular-season contest with Peyton Manning at the helm. This low score was only bested by a seven-point effort in Week 11 of the 2014 season, when they lost to the St. Louis Rams.

The offense couldn’t get into much of a rhythm against the Raiders due to inconsistency. The offense didn’t score a touchdown for the second game this season, and Manning had an error-filled day, throwing for two interceptions. On the season, Manning has more interceptions (seven) than touchdown passes (six).

The defense once again played at a high level and helped seal the division win on Sunday. Entering the game, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr had only been sacked three times. The Broncos were able to put him under duress multiple times and sacked him four times on Sunday.

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak appreciates the play his defense has provided all season long.

“They’ve been tremendous. We won two football games without scoring an offensive touchdown—that doesn’t happen in the National Football League.

“We hung in there, got some breaks and had some really not-smart penalties in the fourth-quarter which really concerned me. I have to take accountability for it and get it taken care of, but another great job defensively and finding a way to win.”

Here are the five biggest takeaways from the Broncos’ Week 5 win against the Raiders.

They Still Can't Run the Ball

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Entering the Raiders game in Week 5, the Broncos had the 28th-ranked rushing offense with only 315 rushing yards in four games. While Manning attempted 35 passes, the team only ran the ball 18 times against the Raiders. They finished the game with 18 carries for 43 yards and zero touchdowns.

Starter C.J. Anderson was getting caught behind the line of scrimmage regularly. The offensive line was not getting much push, and he could not build a head of steam against the Raiders.

Change-of-pace back Ronnie Hillman had over 100 yards rushing last week against the Minnesota Vikings, in large part because of a 72-yard touchdown run. This week, Hillman could only muster 21 yards on seven carries, and no big plays were to be had.

Kubiak was honest when assessing the rushing attack after the game on Sunday.

“I can’t go out there and say we’ve been committed to running the ball. I think that’s one thing for sure. We were moving the ball, throwing the ball because of the way they were playing us defensively. They played us a certain way against our three wide receivers that was conducive to use running the ball, in my opinion. We just didn’t finish and do it well. If you finish and do those things well, you’re doing the right thing. We have to look at everything.”

The Broncos want to be committed to running the ball, but their backs aren’t producing, and the offensive line isn’t doing anybody any favors. We’ll see if that will change against a weak Cleveland Browns defense in Week 6.

Emmanuel Sanders Used More Often

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Last week, Mike Klis of 9 News in Denver reported that the Broncos hoped to get wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders more involved in the offense. In the game against the Raiders, Sanders finished the contest with nine catches for 111 yards.

Needless to say, he was more involved.

In fact, after an offseason in which Sanders himself said that his role would be smaller in 2015, it’s been quite the opposite. Last year in his breakout season, Sanders finished with 101 catches. This year, Sanders is on pace to best that number slightly.

Kubiak was happy with Sanders after the game but was disappointed in the offense as a whole.

“We have to play a hell of a lot better. It starts with me, the offensive coach. You know, we have to get better offensively. The sad thing is that we do some good stuff, but we don’t finish anything. I think we’re playing hard; we’re just not playing very good.”

In 2014, Sanders had double-digit targets in four games. Through the first five weeks of the 2015 season, Sanders has been targeted 10 or more times in three contests.

The Kubiak offense is much different from the system we saw in 2014. However, one thing remains the same: Sanders is a dangerous playmaker who is looked to early and often.

Injury to DeMarcus Ware Concerning

Ben Margot/Associated Press

In a sight that no Broncos fan wanted to see, future Hall of Fame outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware was carted off the field on Sunday. It was announced that Ware had a back injury, and later it was revealed that he would not be returning for the game.

Kubiak talked about Ware’s injury afterward: “His back locked up on him, so obviously we’re concerned about that. We need to get that checked out.” The Broncos should examine Ware on Monday morning, getting an MRI to determine the extent of the damage.

Previously in his career, Ware has had minor neck/back injuries. In 2009, Ware was carted off the field and spent the night in a hospital with a sprained neck sustained in a game against the San Diego Chargers.

It's a good thing the Broncos have a fantastic rotation of pass-rushers behind Ware and Von Miller. If Ware were to miss any amount of time, the team could easily rotate in rookie first-round pick Shane Ray, who snared his second sack of the season against the Raiders. He has a nonstop motor and keeps building pressure snap after snap.

We’ll know more about Ware’s injury after the testing is done.

Owen Daniels a Non-Factor

Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Every tight end who has faced the Raiders this year had a big day, so many thought Owen Daniels would continue that trend on Sunday. Instead, Daniels failed to record a catch.

The lack of production for Daniels didn’t come without trying. Daniels was targeted five times by Manning, but the two seemed to be off on Sunday. There was another pass that was batted at the line of scrimmage that looked like it was going in Daniels’ direction.

Manning explained the struggles on offense succinctly.

“We just have to execute better on offense. I have to eliminate turning the ball over. It costs us points,” he said. “I think there are plays we can correct and plays we can continue to work on. We can win games as we’re still working to find our rhythm.”

In recent weeks, Daniels has seen his snaps go down steadily. However, entering the game, he had scored a touchdown in back-to-back games.

The offense should feature more of tight ends like Daniels and Virgil Green. The team has incredible talent on the outside in wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. Using the tight ends on underneath routes more could open things up in the passing game.

Daniels was not able to snare a pass in this game, but the team should work diligently to get him more involved in the coming weeks.

Defense Bails Them Out Again

Ben Margot/Associated Press

The offense didn’t score a touchdown on Sunday, but the defense did. Cornerback Chris Harris picked off Carr in the fourth quarter and returned it for a 74-yard touchdown.

This isn’t the first time the defense has bailed out the team—and it’s unlikely to be the last.

Harris explained the play after the game: “Coach called an all-out blitz, zero coverage. My man ran across and I just broke on him. It was like three guys crossing at the same time. I was just standing and happened to be in the right spot.”

Over this entire season, a different defender seems to be making game-winning plays.

In Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens, it was free safety Darian Stewart who picked off quarterback Joe Flacco in the end zone. In Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs, nickel cornerback Bradley Roby scooped up a Jamaal Charles fumble and returned it for a touchdown. In Week 4 against the Vikings, strong safety T.J. Ward had a strip-sack of Teddy Bridgewater to end the game.

Harris knows this was just his week.

“I’m proud of my defense. These guys are playing hard. Everybody is trying to make a play,” he said. “It just happened to be my day today. Next week, it might be someone else. You never know who it’s going to be.”

It’s easy to make the argument that this defense is the best in the league. While the offense struggles to run the ball, pass efficiently and score touchdowns, this defense can carry the team to victory.

All quotes and injury/practice observations were obtained firsthand. Record/statistical information was provided via the Broncos' media department unless otherwise noted. Advanced stats were via ESPN's employees-only database.

Contract and salary-cap information was provided by Spotrac. Transaction history was provided by Pro Sports Transactions.