Denver Broncos had up-and-down performance in win over Bengals
In my quick hit piece last night, I said it was a game of two halves. After rewatching the game yesterday, that still stands.
Ever play the game Rock, Paper, Scissors with a family member. After a while you know what he likes and try to outsmart him? Only he’s doing the same? Eventually, one of you breaks the tie. That was this game.
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Since the Bengals were known for being ranked at the bottom for running and top for passing, they went for the run. Good planning by Merv Lewis, since it worked. Or maybe he was trying to keep Andy Dalton from joining the list of elite quarterback’s we broke, either way, it was a success.
Wade Phillips and his defense didn’t look prepared to stop the run. One that often had an extra tackle playing on the line to help with blocking.
Sylvester Williams, Adam Gotsis, Jared Crick and Darius Kilgo were getting run over. It didn’t seem to matter who or what combo. They weren’t alone in looking off. When Dalton threw, he targeted whichever side Bradley Roby was covering and it worked.
On the flip side, since the Bengals were bottom of the barrel ranked for stopping the run, and we were fairly poor in the pass, it seemed a run game would be our best offense. Instead, either based on a rock, paper, scissors game, or knowing his offensive line would be attacked often and early, with Donald Stephenson out, Gary Kubiak went with a, pass to run, attack. Added benefit, it gave his receivers what they wanted.
For most of the game, it didn’t work because the execution was lacking. However, flags, flags and more flags saved us. Drive after drive, Siemian was able to overcome poor passes and third downs from his best friend, the yellow flag.
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CJ Anderson and Devontae Booker were having a hit or miss game due to Cincy loading the box, expecting a run game. Added to this was knowing that in previous games, Siemian had yet to have a completion over 20 yards.
The second half showed a different story. Our defense came out to stop the run and dialed up the swarming defensive heat by attacking Andy Dalton. With our big boys getting better help from the linebackers, both the run and the pass was shut down. Dalton looked scared and alone.
On the third and fourth drives of the second half, Trevor Siemian came out to play. Played like a man with nothing to lose. He hit his targets. He threw long and short. When flags were thrown, he made the most of them. He didn’t overlook open guys. Cincy had no answer for a fearless quarterback and a swarming defense. Game over.
The bad news for teams we’re going to play is that while our defense looked like it couldn’t stop the run, they in fact, did. Except for two rushing plays and Dalton scrambling, we held them between the 30’s.
More bad news for opposing teams is we now have real quarterback play and a run game. That’s a lethal combo. Teams truly won’t know from formations if we’re dinking and dunking or throwing a bomb. They’ll have to plan for everything. Screens, go routes, boots, deep fades, runs, tight end play, full back play, throw it all in the pot! Hallelujah! Praise Kubes and Go Broncos!
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