NFL Picks Week 2: How Denver Broncos Can Rebound from Week 1 Loss

Denver started it's season on a sour note, losing 23-20 to the Oakland Raiders.

It was a brutal game to watch. Not just because the Broncos lost but because of the way the game was played.

Due to the Raiders continuing their reputation of being the dirtiest team in the NFL, the Broncos' sloppy play was a bit overshadowed.

Lost in the inconsistent run defense, the atrocious running game and the Kyle Orton gaffes were the 10 penalties the Broncos committed.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that if you're a below average team, you can't afford to win games when you commit 10 penalties in a single contest.

Denver had a problem with penalties in 2010, ranking 13th for most penalties committed per game.

The Broncos have a lot of problems to fix. In order to defeat an inexperienced squad such as the Bengals, the Broncos need to take advantage of this opportunity to gain some momentum.

Here are four problems the Broncos need to address in Week 2 in order to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals.

Establish the Run Game Early

Broncos fans say this all of the time. Seriously though, it needs to happen if the Broncos are to win. Even if it's a team such as the Bengals.

The Bengals held their own against the Browns and Peyton Hillis. Cincy held the Browns to 75 yards rushing on 22 carries and made Hillis a non-factor.

Time will tell if Cincy's D is for real.

Time will also tell us if the Broncos run game is any better than last year.

Knowshon Moreno appears to be hampered by a hamstring injury. Don't expect Moreno to start on Sunday.

If Moreno can't go, Willis McGahee will take the nod. Lance Ball will back him up and will surely get a good amount of reps.

It is of the utmost importance that Denver at least run the ball consistently. They need to set up the pass, so Kyle Orton doesn't throw the ball 46 times a game. That is not a recipe for success.

Denver had two first downs from rushing the football on Monday night. That cannot happen again if Denver wants to end Sunday with a 1-1 record.

Force Andy Dalton to Throw

It is a simple technique.

Stop the Bengals rushing attack, and force Andy Dalton to throw.

Dalton had an up and down pre-season. He started very slowly, leading media pundits to wonder whether he would ever actually become a legit starting QB in the NFL. He finished strongly. Now people are talking about him and Cam Newton as the future star QBs of this league?

Funny how things work out.

Regardless of what the media thinks, Dalton is still a very unpolished rookie QB.

Dalton has a hard time making reads and making quick decisions. Dalton is similar to a lot of rookie QB's. He tends to check down for the safe play.

If the Broncos can force Dalton to win the game for the Bengals, Denver might actually win a game.

Denver Needs More Playmakers

Denver needs more playmakers. This isn't an offensive or defensive thing.

It's an offensive and defensive thing.

Denver has one playmaker on offense in Brandon Lloyd. Look at what happened on Monday night. Lloyd had a quiet night without a legit second option stepping up in the receiving game.

The same applies defensively.

Denver recovered a fumble early on in the game. They didn't force another turnover after that.

Denver is terrible at forcing turnovers. This has been a problem of theirs for years. They ranked 30th in turnovers forced in 2010.

With Bailey and Dumervil potentially out, somebody needs to step up and give the Broncos an advantage that they desperately need in order to win.

Fix the Red Zone Woes

Denver was one of three in the red zone on Monday night.

This cannot continue if the Broncos want to play winning football.

I don't care what it takes in order to put the ball in the end zone. Whether it's putting Tim Tebow in goal-line packages or bringing back the Wild Horses package that the Broncos ran last season with Moreno, Denver cannot score by passing the football in the red zone. Something's gotta give.

The only option is to run it in.

McGahee was given a four-year contract to pound it in the end zone. McGahee needs to that very thing.

If the Broncos can't score touchdowns in the red zone, the Bengals will take advantage of the Broncos' biggest enemy. Themselves.