3 Keys to a Broncos Victory Over Bills on MNF
Denver, CO. — The Denver Broncos have landed on the wrong side of timing — until recently. However, the Broncos' bye week couldn’t have come at a better time or under better circumstances.
In their last contest, Denver finally bested Kansas City and snapped its miserable 16-game losing streak that dated back to 2015. Broncos head coach Sean Payton remained committed to his current group of players and let the NFL trade deadline come and go without making any blockbuster deals.
Payton’s decision to stick with this current crop of starters paired with the Broncos' current two-game winning streak has left more questions for this fan base than optimism. By winning its last two games, some folks suggest that Denver has sabotaged any chance of selecting a first-round quarterback next April in the NFL draft.
Others argue that Payton has finally found a connection and ways to win with this roster now, not later. Some people in Denver’s locker room, media, and in Broncos Country have even dared to utter the word 'postseason' amid the team’s two-game winning streak.
While the long-term goals get debated, there’s a primetime matchup to be played for the Week 10 finale. The 3-5 Broncos fly out to the East Coast for a date with the 5-4 Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, where Denver’s goal will be clear-cut and concise: win.
The Bills are coming off a 24-18 loss Cincinnati Bengals as they aim to get their playoff hopes back on track against Denver. What will it take for Denver to emerge victorious?
Here are three keys to a Broncos victory that can shock the NFL landscape and keep their winning momentum.
Cool Von Miller's Potential for Revenge
For the first time ever, Von Miller will get to face the team that drafted him with the No. 2 overall pick back in 2011. The future Hall-of-Famer, who led the Broncos to a Super Bowl 50 win back in 2015, was traded to the Los Angeles Rams back in 2021 for a 2022 second and third-round pick.
Since then, Miller went on to win another Super Bowl (LVI) ring with the Rams before signing a six-year, $120M deal with the Bills in the spring of 2022. He's coming off a torn ACL that sidelined him for the majority of last season, and the fierce pass rusher is aiming to earn his first sack of the 2023 season against his former team.
After being placed on the reserve/PUP list at the beginning of the season, Miller has played 104 snaps and is credited with one combination tackle since being activated on October 7. Miller's former teammate Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey, the highest-paid right tackle in franchise history, will undoubtedly be tested by the Bills' pass-rushing corps.
Look for players like Greg Rousseau, Leonard Floyd, and Ed Oliver to present formidable, physical matchups for Denver’s offensive line. Buffalo is currently tied for the fifth-most sacks in the NFL this season with 29 and has a top-10 defense in total touchdowns allowed (10), adding to its disruptive defensive reputation.
Most days, Broncos Country will always root for Miller, but come Monday night, Von will be wearing the wrong colors and can relish the friendly villain role for one evening.
Catch Allen ‘Joshing’ Around
Bills QB Josh Allen will never forget the snub and disrespect that the former top-10 draft pick received from the Broncos coming out of Wyoming in 2018. There were more Denver media members at Allen’s pro day than there were scouts or personnel from the Broncos.
Maybe that’s just one small reason why the All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler is 2-0 against Denver with 544 passing yards, four touchdowns, and a 66.2 completion percentage.
This season, the 6-foot-5, 237-pounder has thrown for 2,423 yards and 18 touchdowns, with a 71.3 completion percentage in addition to 233 rush yards and six additional scores. But for all of Allen’s physical gifts and nearly seven seasons of maturation, the 27-year-old’s reckless-abandon style of play has afforded opposing defenses opportunities to exploit the Bills.
The team captain has thrown nine interceptions and has fumbled three times thus far. There have only been two games this season that Allen hasn’t turned the football over, and both resulted in wins against the Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders.
Safety Justin Simmons is coming off the bye with AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against the Chiefs in Week 8. Simmons currently has two interceptions this season and leads the NFL in that category since entering the league back in 2016.
Simmons previously picked off Allen back in 2019 when the Bills beat the Broncos 20-3 in Denver. Don’t be surprised when the Bills’ gunslinger gift-wraps a turnover or two to the Broncos' defense, a unit that must strike while the iron is hot in a hostile environment on the road in Buffalo.
Grind Bills into Bison Patties
Some clichés never get old; they're cliches because they're true. Such is the case with running the football to produce winning results. In consecutive wins, Payton prioritized rushing the football to the tune of 65 plays for 298 yards for an average of 4.58 yards per rush.
Not only did Denver’s offense prove to be effective in producing 16 of the last 21 first downs, but QB Russell Wilson and company controlled the clock and kept their defense fresh.
The opponent and stage may have changed in Week 10, but the formula for the Broncos to win on MNF comes via ground and pound. Denver must utilize its three-headed monster attack on the ground with Javonte Williams, Jaleel McClaughlin, and Samaje Perine, rather than featuring just one RB.
Each man brings his own level of skill as Williams gets hotter with contact and has been a favorite target of Wilson through the air along with Perine, while McClaughlin brings lightning-quick speed and burst through the line. Denver is currently tied with two other teams for the second-most in average yards per carry (4.8).
The Bills' defense has been somewhat suspect when it comes to defending the run, surrendering six touchdowns, 1,030 rush yards, and a third-worst 4.9 yards per carry average. However, Buffalo limited Cincinnati’s offense and Pro Bowler Joe Mixon to 67 total rushing yards in its 24-18 victory.
Again, here's yet another cliché: the NFL is a league of parity, and on any given Sunday, any team has the potential to beat the other. If the Broncos plan on picking up the dub, they’ll need to do so on the ground in front of Bills Mafia.
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