C.J. Anderson May Be the Key to the Denver Broncos Super Bowl Run

The Denver Broncos are one game away from the Super Bowl. In their way is the New England Patriots, a team they beat earlier this year in a Week 12 overtime thriller that ended with a 48-yard touchdown run by C.J. Anderson.

In that first contest against the Patriots, Anderson was the team’s leading rusher with 113 yards on only 15 carries. He scored two touchdowns in that game, and Anderson also chipped in with four catches for 40 yards.

Even with the win earlier this season, Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak has a healthy respect for the Patriots.

“Got a lot of respect for them," he said. "Five AFC title games in a row—[when's] that been done, once before I think? We’ve got a lot of respect for them. We know it’s a big challenge for us.”

Kubiak continued, “They are so consistent. Obviously it starts with [Patriots head coach] Bill [Belichick] and the job that he and his staff does. They do a tremendous job.”

Is Anderson the key to the Broncos’ Super Bowl run? Let’s take a look.

Surging Late

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Since Week 8, Anderson has boasted a healthy yards-per-carry average. In fact, his 6.12 yards per carry during that time is the best in the NFL. Anderson’s power game has been helpful as the season wears on, as evidenced by his 2.78 yards-after-contact-per-rush average in that same time frame. That is well above the league average of 1.83 yards after contact per rush from Week 8 until now.

Player	Rush	Yds	TDs	Routes Run	Rec	Rec Yds
C.J. Anderson	100	612	6	106	14	94
Ronnie Hillman	157	578	5	139	18	94

As you can see, Anderson has been the most productive back over the last half of the season and into the playoffs. He’s outgained starter Ronnie Hillman, even though Anderson missed the Week 14 game against the Oakland Raiders due to injury.

Earlier this season, Anderson was the starter. He suffered a turf toe injury and coupled that with an ankle injury over the first two games. Those injuries slowed him down, and Anderson ended up losing the top spot with the Broncos.

He’s been able to get healthier over the course of the season, working as a backup behind Hillman. While he may not start the AFC Championship Game against the Patriots, Anderson could continue his late-season surge as the team’s most productive back.

Be The Bully

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When the Broncos want to have a physical presence on offense, it’s Anderson who can be the most dominant. Measuring in at 5’8”, 224 pounds, Anderson is built low to the ground and has the leg drive to power through arm tackles. He’s not incredibly fast, but Anderson is quick and has good burst to—and through—the hole.

With a more physical style, Anderson can deal out big hits. He will also absorb some big hits with those between-the-tackles carries.

Anderson coughed up the ball twice over the last two games of the regular season—the first two fumbles of his pro career. He made sure to take care of the rock during the divisional round against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“During our bye week, we went back to training camp fundamentals of protecting the ball and getting out of bad habits and things of that nature. You have to give it up to our running backs coach, [running backs] coach Eric [Studesville] is always on us about holding onto the ball. That is pretty much what he told me on that last drive: ‘Hold onto it. Don’t give them a chance. Don’t give them life.’”

If the Broncos want to beat up the Patriots, then Anderson is their best option in the backfield.

Hand In Hand With The Defense

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There is no doubt the strength of the Broncos is on the defensive side of the ball. In a win-or-go-home situation like in the playoffs, the Broncos want to play to the strength of the team.

Running the ball with Anderson does that.

The Broncos can win the time-of-possession battle if they have a sustained and successful ground game. In only four games this year (including the postseason), Anderson has received 14 carries or more. In those contests (all wins), Anderson has had 101, 113, 95 and 72 yards rushing, respectively.

Week	Opponent	Carries	Rush Yards	YPC	TDs
8	Packers	14	101	7.21	1
12	Patriots	15	113	7.53	2
17	Chargers	15	95	6.33	1
DIV	Steelers	15	72	4.8	1

The recipe for a Broncos win can be simple. Get Anderson the ball at least 14 times, and let him do the heavy lifting for the offense. By beating up a defense, the Broncos give their defense time to rest. Anderson has proven that as the game goes on, he gets stronger.

Quarter	Rush	Rush Yds	YPC	TDs
1	41	181	4.41	0
2	25	90	3.6	0
3	31	145	4.68	2
4	45	228	5.07	2
OT	10	76	7.6	1

Tight end Owen Daniels believes in wearing down an opponent as the game goes on.

“That’s kind of what you want. You’ve got to trust that’s going to happen like that—stay the course, continue to do those things, and trust that they’re going to get worn down in this elevation.”

Summary

The Broncos have a back in Anderson who has been looking better over the last half of the season. With only two more games left to go in the 2015 postseason, the Broncos want to make sure they can move on after this week and play in the Super Bowl.

While the Broncos have been known as more of a finesse offense with Manning at the helm, they can have a more physical style if Anderson is on the field. Utilizing Anderson as much as possible plays to the strength of the team: the world-class Broncos defense.

The game is going to unfold differently than it did in Week 12. However, Anderson won the game for the Broncos last time, and he could once again lead the way to victory for Denver—a victory that would propel the team to Super Bowl 50.

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

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