Broncos vs. Browns: What's the Game Plan for Denver?
The Denver Broncos will look to stay undefeated in Week 6 as the team makes its first trip to Cleveland since 2008. Awaiting them at FirstEnergy Stadium will be the Browns, a team that sits at 2-3 but could be primed to spring the upset.
Cleveland has momentum on its side, having beaten the Baltimore Ravens 33-30 in Week 5. Meanwhile, the Broncos were sluggish in defeating the Oakland Raiders 16-10. That, combined with the fact the Browns could get to .500, should be enough to get the crowd energized in Cleveland.
Can the Broncos avoid the upset and move to 6-0 on the year? How will they go about doing that? We're here to look at what could be the team's game plan for this one.
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Offensive Game Plan
Fans in Denver have been waiting for the running game to get going this season, and it just hasn't happened. C.J. Anderson continues to struggle, and Ronnie Hillman hasn't been able to produce consistently with his opportunities.
Denver has averaged a paltry 3.3 yards per carry this season. But against the Browns, that could begin to change. Cleveland ranks No. 31 in the league against the run this season, giving up 5.0 yards per carry and 149.4 yards per game.
Denver should be able to run the ball, right?
On paper, yes. But the offensive line still needs to do its job and open running lanes. That has been the biggest problem to this point. To his credit, head coach Gary Kubiak has been stubborn in trying to accomplish something in the running game, and that should be the case this week.
| Week | Opponent | Rush Attempts | Yards | Yards Per Carry | Rush TDs |
| 1 | N.Y. Jets | 36 | 154 | 4.3 | 2 |
| 2 | Tennessee | 30 | 166 | 5.5 | 0 |
| 3 | Oakland | 30 | 155 | 5.2 | 1 |
| 4 | San Diego | 21 | 91 | 4.3 | 0 |
| 5 | Baltimore | 31 | 181 | 5.8 | 3 |
In fact, Kubiak should be absolutely adamant about running the ball. Anderson and Hillman should split carries, but Kubiak should also sprinkle in Juwan Thompson. His physical style could help wear down the Browns defensive front, making it even easier to get big chunks of yards later in the game.
At the same time, Kubiak needs to work on getting Peyton Manning out of his funk. It's easy to look at Manning's stats and see he has thrown more interceptions than he has touchdowns this season and declare that Denver should bench him.
Most fans would agree that Manning's skills are declining, but he has to get some help. That starts with the offensive line. In watching the first five games this season, it doesn't appear Manning trusts the unit that is charged with protecting him. In turn, Manning is trying to do too much.
Kubiak needs to simplify the game plan and design some easy passes for Manning to complete. Manning has always been a quarterback who feeds off timing and rhythm, and that has been absent this season.
On the year, no player aside from Demaryius Thomas or Emmanuel Sanders has caught more than 12 passes. Manning has to be able to find someone else on a consistent basis in the passing game. Someone like Owen Daniels, Jordan Norwood or Andre Caldwell needs to step up and become a solid third option in the passing game.
Defensive Game Plan
It's been a long time since the Browns were considered a dangerous offensive team, but they sure looked like one against Baltimore.
Not only did they put 33 points on the scoreboard, but Josh McCown threw for 457 yards. Though the Broncos will come into the game with the No. 1-ranked pass defense in the league, they can't take McCown lightly.
Denver shouldn't have much trouble slowing down the running game, and with Chris Harris and Aqib Talib on the outside, it seems obvious McCown will try to attack the middle of the field.
If that is the case, there are two players Denver must be aware of at all times. Tight end Gary Barnidge and rookie running back Duke Johnson have both emerged in the passing game over the last few weeks. C.D. Carter of DraftDayConsultants.com expects 20-plus combined targets for the two:
"Duke Johnson/Gary Barnidge combined targets O/U this week? 20? I'd take the over.
— C.D. Carter (@CDCarter13) October 15, 2015"
Barnidge leads the team in receptions with 24, and at 6'6", he has the size to create mismatches down the field.
Over the course of the last three games, Johnson has been targeted 25 times in the passing game. He's caught 21 passes, and he's averaging 8.2 yards per reception. Look for McCown to try to dump it down to him often.
Inside linebackers Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall need to keep a close eye on Johnson whenever he is on the field, because he has great hands and is quick enough to move the chains every time he gets his hands on the ball.
Players and Matchups to Watch
Shaquil Barrett: DeMarcus Ware will not play in the game Sunday, according to Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com. Though Ware has been excellent this season, his loss doesn't immediately mean that the pass rush will suffer.
Shaquil Barrett had an outstanding preseason, and he should see more snaps than usual in this game. Many fans outside Denver probably aren't too familiar with Barrett, but they could be after this game. Look for Barrett to get after McCown and get at least one sack in this game.
Denver Tight Ends: As mentioned before, Manning needs to be able to throw the ball to someone other than Sanders or Thomas. Daniels and Virgil Green need to get involved in the passing game in this one. On the season, Cleveland has allowed 20 receptions and three touchdowns to tight ends.
Tyler Polumbus and Max Garcia: Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com reported the Broncos will be without rookie tackle Ty Sambrailo for a third consecutive game. In addition, Denver will list Evan Mathis as questionable going into the game.
As a result, Tyler Polumbus and rookie Max Garcia could be thrust into the lineup. Polumbus shared time with Ryan Harris in place of Sambrailo in Week 5, while Garcia would likely be used in place of Mathis. Denver's offensive line has already had its issues this season, but it looks like things could get even worse.
Polumbus and Garcia would both be expected to step up and play well when called upon. The Broncos would desperately need them to be ready for that challenge.
Denver Inside Linebackers vs. Duke Johnson: This was touched on, but it really could be the key matchup for Denver's defense. Though Johnson is a running back, he has been a major piece of Cleveland's passing game over the last three weeks.
McCown loves to look his way, and that shouldn't change in this game. Trevathan and Marshall need to limit what he does with the football. Denver will be content to give up three-yard receptions, so long as a quick tackle is made.
Trevathan and Marshall need to work hard to keep Johnson in front of them. He has the ability to turn a short pass into a big gain down the field.
Prediction
It's unlikely the Broncos will work out all of their kinks on offense in this game, but some improvement needs to be shown. With that said, they will be facing a hungry team playing in front of its home crowd.
If Denver can run the ball, this game won't be close. If the Browns are able to shut down the running game the way the rest of Denver's opponents have, they'll be able to keep it close.
Still, Cleveland hasn't beaten Denver since 1990. There's a reason for that, and it goes beyond the fact that the Browns left the league entirely for a few seasons. The Broncos have a great defense, and the Browns don't have the offensive weapons to do enough damage.
Final Prediction: Broncos 27, Browns 13
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