3 Keys to a Broncos Victory Over Texans
Denver, CO. — Between Halloween and Thanksgiving, the fall season has been very kind to the Denver Broncos, whose winning streak has grown to five games.
After starting the season 1-5, the Broncos have quite literally dug themselves out of a pathetic hole with a current record of 6-5, but they have more work to do to return to the postseason for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50.
This Sunday, Denver aims to open up December with a sixth straight win with a road clash with the 6-5 Houston Texans, who are also in the thick of the hunt for an AFC Wildcard spot.
The NFL announced last week that -Broncos-Texans would be flexed from the 2:05 p.m. MDT kickoff time to the early window at 11 a.m. While the league didn’t officially declare its reason for the change in schedule, it’s been speculated that national interest has been piqued on both teams and that the matchup should be a great contest.
The Broncos are the hottest team in football right now, while the Texans boast playmaking quarterback C.J. Stroud, who’s already surpassed his rookie expectations. Stroud continues to shatter NFL records and lead Houston to a winning record under first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans.
So how do the Broncos come out on top in the first of three straight road games? Here are my keys to a sixth consecutive Broncos victory against a formidable opponent.
Broncos OL Momentum Must Shine
Hidden from the headlines in Denver’s most recent run of success, which has featured a Russell Wilson resurgence, the implementation of Sean Payton’s culture, and a defense that has 15 takeaways since Week 8, is the Broncos' offensive line.
The starting five that has played nearly every snap together in the last 11 games. The unit consists of (from left to right) Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Lloyd Cushenberry III, Quinn Meinerz, and Mike McGlinchey. In the unit's first season together, it has allowed 33 total sacks, which is ranked 11th most in the NFL throughout 11 games.
Wilson has been sacked on 9.4% of his passing attempts, which is the seventh-highest rate in the league, but it's a somewhat deceptive statistic. Wilson has been known to hang onto the ball for too long, which has led to many of said sacks being his own doing — both in Seattle and in Denver.
The Broncos' high sack total makes some sense, but Russ has always lived and died by the sword of improvisation and off-script play, which makes it challenging to evaluate the team's pass protectors, who have shown improvement of late. Wilson's 17 touchdowns and zero interceptions in the red zone are direct evidence of the O-line's continuity and momentum.
While I doubt any of Denver's big men will get a Pro Bowl nod this season, the O-line is responsible for the Broncos' 4.4 yards-per-carry rushing average, tied for sixth-best in the NFL. By cultivating an effective running attack with Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, and Jaleel McLaughlin, the Broncos' offense has been able to control the time of possession in three of their last four games. This has a direct correlation with keeping the defense rested while also allowing special teams to complement Denver’s method of attack.
The Broncos' O-linemen probably don't care about accolades or getting credit. Denver’s gritty group prefers to win, and for that to happen in Houston, the unit's cohesive streak will need to continue.
Defense Must be Aggressive vs. Stroud
Coming out of Ohio State in this year's draft, Stroud wasn't one of my favorite prospects. To me, he was raw, undisciplined and a couple of seasons away from being a starting QB in the league. After all, how many Buckeyes QBs have ever made it in the NFL?
I’ll be the first to admit that my assessment of Stroud was off base, as the 22-year-old No. 2 overall pick in the draft has led Houston to a winning record with playoff aspirations. Stroud is also the first rookie with four straight 300-yard passing games in addition to breaking the record for most passing yards in his first 11 games (3,266).
The 6-foot-3, 218-pound playmaker has recorded 19 passing scores with five interceptions and a 63.7 completion percentage. He's also thrown in 132 yards rushing and three scores on the ground. Stroud’s latest performance yielded 304 passing yards and three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in the Texans' 24-21 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
But what happens when a predatory Broncos defense comes to Houston on Sunday?
Denver remains the hottest team in the league, with its pass rushers foaming at the mouth after a four-sack game against the Cleveland Browns that featured seven QB hits, including one from Baron Browning that forced Dorian Thompson-Robinson out of the game. Defensive end Zach Allen also scored a safety by sacking backup P.J. Walker, as Denver's defense notched four pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.
The Broncos' defense should remain aggressive against the Texans. In addition to throwing five picks this season, Stroud has fumbled the ball six times, which means Denver should be able to continue its penchant for hoarding turnovers against young and inexperienced QBs.
Lutz Must Continue Coming Through
Payton surprised everyone by dumping his training camp kickers and acquiring Wil Lutz in a deal with the New Orleans Saints at the end of August. It turns out that Payton reuniting with his special teams ace has bolstered Denver's special teams, as Lutz was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November.
Since losing the Broncos' last loss on October 12 to the Kansas City Chiefs, Lutz has scored at least one field goal in each game. In fact, the only blemish on Lutz’s record over that span was in Buffalo on a missed extra-point attempt, but he still managed to connect on a walk-off game-winning field goal for the Broncos.
In 11 games, Luts is 24-for-26 on field goals with a long of 52 yards, and 18-for-20 on extra points. The eighth-year veteran currently holds a 92.3% field-goal percentage, with a total of 96 points scored this year.
With Lutz averaging 8.7 points per game, it’s no wonder why Payton imported his old pal from The Big Easy. Lutz will undeniably be heavily leaned on in Houston, and the remainder of the season, if Denver hopes to make the playoffs.
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