Broncos at Dolphins: 5 Extra-Bold Predictions

While the Denver Broncos sit at 0-2, they have a point differential of -3, which creates some optimism. The Broncos have been close in both losses and were leading at the half.

However, being close is meaningless when a team can't close out games, which is the issue with this team. When it comes to my bold predictions, the Broncos have yet to achieve any, but they've come close. If Denver can find a way over the hump, it could be reflected in the win/loss column as the team hopes to avoid an 0-3 start.

Russell Wilson has never started a season 0-3, while Sean Payton has on three different occasions. In each instance, Payton's team ended with a 7-9 record.

Both Wilson and Payton have gone 0-2 to start a season, with Wilson ending both campaigns at 10-6 with a playoff spot. As for Payton, there have been five seasons he started 0-2, ending at 7-9 in four and 11-5 in the fifth.

Dating back to 2007, only 12 of 107 teams have made it to the playoffs after a 0-2 start. As for 0-3 teams, there have only been six teams since 1979 to make the playoffs after starting off the season that way, with the 2018 Houston Texans being the most recent.

The playoffs are an unlikely achievement for the Broncos this year, but beating the Miami Dolphins is a must to keep that hope from fading completely. Unfortunately, the Dolphins look like a legit team.

Miami's most significant issues have been from shooting itself in the foot. It could be a ball game if Denver can force Miami to make mistakes. However, Denver will be without safety Justin Simmons, a critical piece on a poor defense.

This time, not all of my bold predictions are in the Broncos' favor. Hopefully, Denver can pull off the upset, and these optimistic, bold predictions come true.

Courtland Sutton Totals 100-Plus Yards & 2 TD

There are concerns about the Dolphins secondary. Miami made the trade for Jalen Ramsey, but he is sitting on injured reserve. Xavien Howard has been banged up, but he won't miss the game.

Howard has been solid so far this season but not up to his usual standard. He's allowed 11 catches on 16 targets but has held receivers to 86 yards. Missed tackles have been an issue, though.

Ideally, the Broncos can match Sutton against Eli Apple for most of the game. Vic Fangio isn't a fan of matching cornerbacks on receivers and, instead, keeps them to their respective side of the field. So far this season, Sutton has been aligning on the offensive left side more frequently, with 59 snaps compared to 35 on the right side.

That leads to a naturally favorable matchup between the receiver and the corner. The Broncos need to capitalize on this and create explosive plays for Sutton.

He's getting open, but Wilson either misses him or pressure gets to the quarterback before he can make the throw. Achieving this bold prediction means the Broncos' offensive line must also step up, and they face an arduous task against a talented pass-rushing front.

Fortunately, there are things the offense can do to help Sutton.

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Broncos Rush for 200-Plus Yards

One of the best ways they can help Sutton is to play bully ball upfront and commit to the run game. This does multiple things for the offense but also helps out the defense.

Miami can create explosive plays with ease, especially if Jaylen Waddle plays. Committing to a run game against a defense allowing 160.5 rush yards per game eats up time and keeps the Miami offense on the sideline.

Playing bully ball upfront can also help pull a safety down, creating an opening for more explosive shots through the air. That helps open the door for Sutton and the other Broncos receivers to attack vertically. The issue becomes pass protection.

Playing bully ball upfront can help hold those pass rushers for a split second. They can't tee off on the quarterback, which can buy Wilson that extra half-second he may need to attack vertically.

We know the Broncos can do it, as we saw in the first half last week. This game has the makings of a shootout, so committing to the run will help open up the deep shots.

In Miami, Denver runs the ball 30-35 times and breaks 200 yards rushing. The Broncos have to commit to the run, which they haven't done over the first two weeks, even as the offense has faltered, moving the ball with a lead.

Damarri Mathis Benched Before the Half

There isn't much to this. Even if Waddle doesn't play, this isn't a game to expect a bounce-back performance from Mathis. If Waddle does play, then it's an even worse matchup for the Broncos' young corner.

Mathis has played 83 snaps in coverage and has been targeted 17 times, allowing 15 catches for 178 yards and three touchdowns. He has been asked to play off-coverage a lot, and even when he is playing tight to the line, he isn't taking advantage of the first five yards. Receivers are getting clean break after clean break, and with whom he has played, you can't allow that.

Rookie third-rounder Riley Moss has missed time with a core muscle surgery in August, but he might be ready to go. If he is, seeing the Broncos make a switch wouldn't be surprising.

This is a better matchup for Moss, who has decent agility, speed, and recovery athleticism. Moss also had a nose for the ball in college.

Vance Joseph and the Broncos can't allow Mathis to cost them this game.

Tua Throws for 400-PlusYards & 5 TD w/ No INT

With or without Waddle, this is a feat Tua Tagovailoa has never achieved. While he has broken 400 yards and five touchdowns, he has always had one interception. This time, he plays big and doesn't have a turnover.

With Waddle, the Miami receivers have multiple favorable matchups against the Broncos' secondary. Without Waddle, Tyreek Hill should still be poised to have a big day, but wouldn't be shocked to see Mike McDaniel dial-up screens to counter Joseph's over-aggression, with or without Waddle.

Tagovailoa can take those short, high-percentage throws and sit back while his receivers pick him up extra yards. Tackling has been an issue for the Broncos, and the Dolphins' offensive weapons know how to make defenders miss.

Broncos Enter Both 2-Minute Warnings w/ All 3 Timeouts

Sometimes you have to look for small wins. While the previous two bold predictions spell bad news for the Broncos, they can get a small moral victory with this one. Time management has been questionable at best for the Broncos over the first two games.

The Broncos have had to waste timeouts because of issues getting the play in on time, especially with the time spent in the huddle. Maybe the Broncos put a wristband on Wilson, but whatever they do, some of the issues are handled this week.

There's more to the issue of Denver burning timeouts. There's been a lot of wasted time as the Broncos won't hurry things up, especially when the situation demands it later in the game. That's another issue that gets corrected in Week 3.

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