Scangarello 'can't wait' to face Bears, lays out plan to slow down Khalil Mack

Last year, Khalil Mack sacked the quarterback 12.5 times on the way to his fourth Pro Bowl nod and third first-team All-Pro selection. The Chicago Bears' personal Monster of the Midway is something fierce to behold.

The Denver Broncos have to have an answer for Mack as the Bears come to town on Sunday. Last week, Mack was held without a sack by Green Bay but he still managed to notch five solo tackles and force a fumble.

Meanwhile, the Broncos relinquished three sacks on Joe Flacco in Week 1's 24-16 loss to the Oakland Raiders after losing right tackle Ja'Wuan James just 10 snaps in. James' replacement — Elijah Wilkinson — will be tasked with trying to slow down Khalil Mack and that ferocious Bears' front seven.

Broncos' offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello recognizes Mack's potential for being a game-wrecker. Suffice to say, the Broncos have a plan and will be ready for Mack.

“The problem with the Bears, which makes them one of the anomalies in the history of the league in my opinion and it's why last year they were the best defense in the league by a mile, they have All-Pro game changers in every level of their defense," Scangarello said on Thursday. "You have two dynamic interior players and you have arguably the best defensive players in the league at the edge rushing the passer. So, there is a reason why they are what they are. They are a huge challenge, but we are up for it and can't wait for it. We've got to take care of the football and we've got to stay out of third-and-long. We've got to be able to eke out some runs, be creative with some things and help the tackles when you need to—that's always part of it—and go out and get after them.”

Translation: the Broncos will slide some help to the offensive tackles, and help out with a tight end or running back chip, but it'll depend on the down-and-distance. The key to slowing down Khalil Mack, and his edge-rushing partner Leonard Floyd, will be keeping third down manageable.

One of the reasons Raiders' QB Derek Carr was so efficient last week and not only went without being sacked but also without even being hit by the Broncos, was because the Oakland offense had been so productive on first and second down. The Raiders often had 3rd-&-3 or 3rd-&-2, which opens up the playbook and not only makes possible short, quick passes (thus negating the rush) but also forces the defense to play it straight up because that distance can be converted as easily on the ground as through the air.

In other words, if the Broncos want to emulate Carr's big day last week themselves, they've got to be able to move the ball on first and second down, especially on the ground. In the first half vs. Oakland, the Broncos could get nothing going on the ground.

However, when the third quarter rolled around, we caught a glimpse of how productive the Broncos have the potential to be as a rushing offense. The key, and this is crucial, is the Broncos won't have the luxury of waiting until the second half to make it happen.

This is a game in which the Broncos have to start fast and dictate to the Bears' defense, if they want to neutralize Mack and Floyd on the edge. Chicago's interior is stacked as well, at the first and second level, with guys like Eddie Goldman, Akiem Hicks, Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan.

But that's why the Broncos drafted Dalton Risner in the second round and paid Ronald Leary all that money as a free agent. This is a game where each of the starting five have to really go out and earn their paychecks. And it won't be easy. We're talking about the best front seven in football. Just ask Vic Fangio.

“If they’re not, they’re right there without giving it some thought here and going through 31 other teams or 30 since we eliminated," Fangio said on Thursday. "I’ll get back to you in about two months, OK (laughing)? They’re very good. I mean rankings are—what are rankings? That’s just an opinion. They’re really good. That’s a fact.”

Khalil Mack's career-high in sacks came against the Broncos back in 2015. He sacked Brock Osweiler a whopping five times as an Oakland Raider. It left emotional scars on the fanbase and the Broncos absolutely can't allow that to happen again at Mile High.

The Broncos finished Week 1 with 95 rushing yards and the majority of that production came in the second half. If Denver can be more consistent in the effort and execution department, the talent and scheme are good enough to win.

As always, though, football is a contact sport and it always comes down to which team wants it more. Week 2 will be the Broncos' home-opener and that should give the players an energy boost but it'll be up to them to sustain it and be the aggressors out there on the grass.

Follow Chad on Twitter @ChadNJensen and @MileHighHuddle.

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