3 Critical Numbers Reveal Broncos' Path to Beating Browns
The Denver Broncos are the hottest team in the league, and they will look to keep that streak going against the Cleveland Browns. It will be a significant challenge because the Browns are a good team, having only three losses this season.
It may be fortuitous that the Broncos are facing a team with a rookie quarterback at the helm who only has two games under his belt. Sometimes luck can keep a team in the playoff hunt even when it is trying to shore up weaknesses that otherwise would have created more losses.
With the Browns in town, three numbers will weigh heavily on the Broncos if they want to make it five wins in a row.
3
The Browns’ formidable defense keeps them in the game even when their offense struggles — so much so that they can overcome a turnover deficit.
However, the Browns cannot overcome three or more turnovers. In each of Cleveland's three losses, the opposing team has three or more takeaways.
In their seven wins, the Browns have not always won the turnover battle, but as long as they don’t cough it up at least three times, the defense can make up for the offense’s mistakes. The Broncos need to be aggressive in punching out the ball and baiting the quarterback into mistakes.
5.5
The Broncos' defense has been inept against the run this season. There's no other way to put it.
Denver has given up more than 100 yards rushing in all but three games. With the missed tackles and large holes created for opposing running backs to knife through, the Broncos have relinquished 5.5 yards per carry and 160 yards per game. It's the lingering weakness of an improved defense.
The Browns will lean on their rushing attack vs. the Broncos. Cleveland possesses one of the most potent running games in the NFL (ranked No. 3), tallying over 100 yards in seven games, including a 200-yard rushing performance in Week 1. If the Broncos continue on their missed-tackle streak, it will be a long day getting gashed by the Browns.
The Broncos must stop the run and force rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson to beat them with his arm.
4
Thompson-Robinson has turned the ball over four times in two games. Combine that with the fact that the Broncos' defense has created 12 takeaways in the last three games (five interceptions), and this could be a game Denver wins because of mistakes made by the opposing quarterback.
Again, this is why the Broncos must first stop the run and then take their chances with the rookie quarterback. Forcing the quarterback into mistakes has been a big reason for the Broncos' turnaround and new positioning in the AFC playoff hunt.
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