Finally Back to Normal, Denver Will Use Their Healthy Lineup to Get on Track

The Broncos have not been playing up to their early season form in recent weeks.

Through the first three weeks, they had the league's No. 1 offense, scoring 30+ points each week.

Since then, it has been a different team statistically, but it has also been a different team on the field.

Why aren't the players who helped the Broncos start off so strong playing? Injuries.

During their debacle against the Patriots, the team sustained several injuries that attributed to their dreadful showing in that game, adding to the list of already injured players that was posted prior to that game.

Franchise quarterback Jay Cutler injured his finger on the very first play of the game, and that ultimately doomed the Broncos in week seven.

Now, coming into their week nine contest against Miami, the injury list has been diminished from sixteen players to nine. Only one, cornerback Champ Bailey is definitely not going to be on the field (his brother Boss has been placed on IR).

On offense all four key receivers should be back in, and with the addition of free agent Chad Jackson, Jay Cutler (whose right index finger is back to normal) will have more options to throw to and pick apart the Dolphin secondary.

Having Stokely, Jackson, Royal, and tight end Tony Scheffler healthy will also give Brandon Marshall more opportuinities to draw single coverage, hopefully resulting in an interception-free day.

The running game will get Selvin Young back, and see the NFL debut of rookie Ryan Torain, who has the potential to be the star out of Denver's backfield. If both backs couple with Michael Pittman to sustain the ground game (and keep Andre Hall, aka Mr. Fumble, off the field) the Broncos offense should be able to execute play-action more effectively.

Defensively, the run defense might be able to stay with Ronnie Brown due to the return of the best run stopping defensive lineman that Denver has to offer in John Engleberger, Dewayne Robertson, and Josh Shaw.

The pass rush looked just fine against New England, but Sammy Morris burned the run defense for a huge first half. Ronnie Brown will be able to run on Sunday, but he might be contained enough to stop him from scoring multiple times.

I think that if the defense is able to control the Dolphins offense, and of course be ready for the infamous "wildcat" formation, and the offense is able to use their healthy players to exploit the Miami defense, the Broncos should have a chance to pick up a much needed win at home, especially with the Chargers idle.

P.S...Also take a look at Broncos reporter Sayre Bedinger's prediction for this week's game!