The Las Vegas Raiders are set for round two against the Denver Broncos in Week 14. To preview the AFC West matchup, we reached out to our friemies over at Mile High Report, and Ian St. Clair was kind enough to answer a few questions about the Broncos for Raider Nation.
Q: While the Broncos are just a half-game out of the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff picture, they’ve played in a lot of one-score games against several bad teams like the Jets, Giants, Raiders and Commanders. Given that, what’s the fanbase’s confidence level heading into the playoffs? Is the feeling in Denver that this team can win a Super Bowl?
A: The discussion over the one-score games is an interesting one. When it was Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs winning an NFL record one-score games last season, they were the best team in the history of the NFL. When it’s Bo Nix and the Broncos, they’re frauds and it’s not sustainable.
Meanwhile, Denver also curb-stomped the Dallas Cowboys and beat the Houston Texans on the road. But winning these close games in the fashion that they’re doing it, regardless of the opposition, means the Broncos are battle-tested and playoff-ready.
I’d much rather have a team like Denver, as opposed to the Detroit Lions a season ago. The Lions blew everybody out in the regular season, but then they wilted in the playoffs because they had no clue how to win tight games. We can also go back 10 years to Super Bowl 50 and that Broncos team. They didn’t blow everybody out either, but Denver utilized a great defense and its battle-tested experience to win the Super Bowl.
Q: On that note, Bo Nix has made a habit of starting slow and then turning it on in the fourth quarter, allowing the Broncos to pull off several comebacks this season. What’s been the difference between his play in the first three quarters versus the final frame?
A: This is the key question for the Broncos right now, and seemingly everyone has a different answer. My tinfoil hat conspiracy theory is that Sean Payton is playing 3D chess with the opposition by presenting the most vanilla and bland offensive game plan he can imagine through the first three quarters. Then, in the fourth quarter, he opens up the offense for Nix. It’s not totally crazy, right?
I think it’s a combination of not playing at up-tempo and lack of execution by the offense. As I’ve said for multiple weeks now, I’d like to see Payton allow Nix to play up-tempo in the first three quarters and let the offense play as it does in the fourth quarter. I also think that limits the thinking involved, not just for Nix and the offense, but also for Payton.
Q: Denver’s running game hasn’t been as productive ever since JK Dobbins suffered a season-ending injury the last time these two teams met. What needs to change, or who needs to step up for the rushing attack to get back on track? Are there other issues at play beyond who is toting the rock?
A: Rookie RJ Harvey has the potential; he just needs to trust himself. The biggest thing I’m seeing is that he hesitates. He’s not decisive on his reads and ends up limiting the yardage he can get. The offensive line is doing its job in consistently creating lanes; Harvey just needs to get the ball and go.
Similar to Nix in the first three quarters, Harvey is overthinking things. The most recent example of this is when Jaleel McLaughlin had success running the ball on Sunday night, but Harvey did not. McLaughlin only had six carries, but he averaged 4.0 yards per carry for 24 yards. Harvey, meanwhile, had 13 carries for 35 yards and just an average of 2.7 yards per carry.
The other issue is that Payton abandons the run too quickly. Stick with it, but also go with the hot hand. I would have liked to see McLaughlin get more carries against the Commanders.
Q: I know Pat Surtain II returned last week, but what did the three games without him tell you about Denver’s defense this season?
A: Here’s my John Madden-esque answer: It tells me the Broncos defense is really freaking good.
To be without the best cornerback in football and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, yet still shut down the Cowboys offense in the second half that he missed and the Texans offense on the road, which couldn’t get into the end zone even when CJ Stroud was still in the game, is impressive.
To circle back to your first question, it also tells me that this defense and team can win the Super Bowl. To play like that without Surtain and not miss a beat is not an easy feat.
Q: I know the Broncos are gearing up for a playoff run, but Raider Nation is already looking at the future. So, can you give us a few key impending free agents that the organization will have to make hard decisions on this offseason? What needs do you anticipate the team having?
A: Broncos ownership, along with general manager George Paton and Payton, have already addressed the major issues with Nik Bonitto, Jonathan Cooper, Zack Allen, and Malcom Roach. I’d like to have Denver re-sign John Franklin-Meyers, but I don’t think they will. The main thing to know about the Bronos offseason is they’ll finally be free of the albatross of Russell Wilson’s disastrous contract.
So, Denver will be able to target offensive weapons, receiver, running back, and tight end, for the first time in Nix’s short career. Heck, potentially even consider making a trade for a top-flight receiver, specifically one who currently plays in Minnesota. That could be thinking big, but this ownership group has money, is willing to spend it, and wants to win. But look for the Broncos to address the offensive side of the ball.
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