The kings of the AFC West are shining in glory at Mile High. Despite their crowning achievement, this Broncos team still has a lot to improve on. If they fail to fix their mishaps, it may very well poison their cake of victory.
Offensive Routines Show Constraint, Not Comfort
Sean Payton knows how to put on a masterclass in offensive schemes. Opponents who bite too soon on consistent screens and half-back dives will lead to their safeties being burned over the middle.
However, the Broncos have consistently struggled in what feels like lackadaisical comfort. Too often, they roll out the same play calls that lead to stalled drives, a lack of fluency, and outright frustration.
Granted, they have played strong defenses that have exploited their offense with clear film study. That does not excuse the offensive droughts that seem to plague this powerhouse.
Sean Payton and his coaches need to find new ways to explore their play-calling without succumbing to the trap of predictability. No team can win the Super Bowl with three straight quarters of poor offense.
Defense Must Adapt to Better Offenses
Sure, the Broncos have decimated their opponents defensively in most games this season. In spite of this, the Broncos were outright embarrassed by a fiery Jaguars team. A middle-of-the-pack red zone team made one of the top red zone defenses in the league look silly.
Trevor Lawrence put on an MVP performance while the Broncos’ defensive line couldn’t differentiate between dandelions and tulips.
An elite force, the Broncos’ defense has still struggled against dual-threat offenses. A quarterback spy seems uncanny for this team, a solution that appears so simple that it has yet to be properly utilized.
Someone the Broncos play in the playoffs is bound to have this dual-threat option; failure to evolve will lead to an early playoff exit.
The Run Game Must Be Explored in Greater Depth
R.J. Harvey has been phenomenal filling in for J.K. Dobbins. However, Harvey has been the only go-to man in most situations. Jaleel McLaughlin was deadly in college, and Tyler Badie has proven that he is worthy of more reps. If Harvey remains a one-man show, it will exhaust him and limit their options out of the backfield.
While McLaughlin got more action against the Chiefs, it was still primarily in third-and-short situations, and Badie never entered the game. This dynamic offense must explore its fresh talent to keep Harvey and their respective run game fresh.
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The Broncos sit in a prime position this postseason as they approach their season finale against a deadly Chargers team, hungry for revenge.
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