Just when Denver looks like they’re on their heels, they lurch forward and punch back — hard.
While the Broncos are currently boasting a 10-2 record sitting two games clear of the rest of AFC West, the team from the Mile High City’s biggest strength could end up being their demise.
When star linebacker Nik Bonitto swatted away Marcus Mariota’s two-point conversion attempt to win the game for Denver in overtime, Broncos fans rejoiced — and rightfully so. There’s no doubt Mariota will be playing that moment in his head over and over.
But he and head coach Dan Quinn should be holding their chins high after exploiting Denver’s seemingly unstoppable defense.
A Commanding Scheme
The key to success was simple, as Sunday Night Football announcers Mike Tirico and Chris Collinsworth described throughout the game — don’t let Denver’s pass rush beat you. Mariota and company did just that, confusing Denver’s defense and ultimately scoring 26 points.
According to StatMuse, the Commanders so far this season have averaged 7.1 yards per pass. That ranks them at 13th in the NFL this season, right in the middle of the pack. In comparison, against the Broncos they averaged 5.3 yards per pass.
This mark is a significant outlier compared to their season averages, and showcases how Dan Quinn and his squad created an effective gameplan. The short-pass game was how they planned to beat Denver’s daunting defense — and it worked.
Because of this strategy, Denver only managed to sack Mariota twice. Coming into the contest Denver’s average sacks made per game was 4.45. The drop off on Sunday night showcased the effectiveness of the Commanders game plan.
What Else Was Working?
It wasn’t just quick passing plays, though — the Broncos run defense allowed 143 rushing yards on 33 attempts, 10 more than Denver’s offense attempted. The Commanders quick-pass game plan threw Denver off and they weren’t able to anticipate the run as much.
Washington also took advantage of linebackers in coverage, too. There were many instances throughout the game when linebackers like Dre Greenlaw were forced into pass coverage to prevent massive gains. Though Greenlaw did have an interception, it was clear that the Broncos were on their toes and weren’t expecting such a gameplan.
The Commanders repeatedly isolated their tight ends and slot receivers on linebackers, turning routine five-yard plays into drive-sustaining gains. Washington’s tempo only amplified the issue — faster tempo prevented the Broncos from disguising coverages, and Mariota took advantage.
Broncos’ Strengths Became Weaknesses
Even on the off chance Washington went to the deep ball, they played their cards perfectly. They took advantage of cornerbacks Riley Moss and Pat Surtain II, who have had struggles of their own this season.
Moss, a penalty magnet this year, didn’t cost his team any yardage due to infractions on Sunday night. Instead, he allowed a few deep passes due to poor coverage that ultimately helped Washington find the endzone. Because of the constant quick passes, Moss was likely caught off guard with the deep balls that came his way.
Reigning Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain returned to the field after an injury and had a quiet game, mostly due to the lack of balls that came his way. Washington knew that Surtain was going to dominate them in the secondary, so they instead opted to look towards receivers covered by Moss.
Despite Washington’s great game plan Denver was able to squeak out another win. But how can defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and the rest of the Broncos prevent the Commanders gameplan from becoming their kryptonite?
Denver will have to regroup and figure it out quickly as they travel to Vegas and take on the division rival Raiders this week.
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