Game Thread: Round 1 Playoffs! Denver Broncos @ Buffalo Bills

[Draft Crazy]

Playoffs!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!

 

[iknowftbll]

It's crazy that this is only the second time the Broncos and Bills will play each other in the playoffs!

 

[Mountain Bronco]

Fantastic to be back in the playoffs even if the challenge is tough. As Payton said though young and hungry is dangerous. Lets Go Broncos!

 

[megalodon30]

First playoff game in 8 years and we’ll be facing off against the Super Bowl 50 MVP

 

[nflbronco]

When we beat Buff KC and Balt for SB spot look out.

 

[SpringStein]

When we beat Buff KC and Balt for SB spot look out.

Mingo, is that you?!

 

[cdumler7]

Playoffs! I thought I would fall asleep and wake up realizing it was all a dream, but I woke up and it is still true! Tough matchup obviously with the Bills, but hey all the pressure is on them. No one expected the Broncos to be where they are and no one expects them to win this game. That could be a dangerous combo where the Broncos can play free and take a few chances they otherwise wouldn't.

Also just because I didn't want to respond on that other thread. I cannot delete threads on here anymore. They took my power away a long time ago.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

When we beat Buff KC and Balt for SB spot look out.

That is a freaking gauntlet for sure. Of those three teams, it is weird to say, but KC seems like the weakest team to me. Their offense has been average at best this year, Mahomes has been pedestrian, and while that defense has been really good, I can see opportunities.

Go Broncos! and if you fail for some reason, Go Bills!

 

[Mountain Bronco]

On Defense the key to me is coming up with a game plan to contain Josh Allen's ability to create plays with his legs while still being able to predominantly play man coverage IMO. Zone is easier to contain a mobile QB, but it really seems like this Broncos team just doesn't do as well in zone as they do in man coverage wise. I worry if the Broncos play a lot of zone Allen will eat that up especially over the middle. The DL can muddle rush, stay in lanes etc... but Allen will break out even from that at times and the Broncos have to limit the damage in those situations. Is man coverage with a spy the right thing? Do we even have the right person to spy him with? The Broncos did great in limiting him last year and that was really due to 3 turnovers but can't recall how the Broncos approached that from a defensive perspective.

 

[SpringStein]

On Defense the key to me is coming up with a game plan to contain Josh Allen's ability to create plays with his legs while still being able to predominantly play man coverage IMO. Zone is easier to contain a mobile QB, but it really seems like this Broncos team just doesn't do as well in zone as they do in man coverage wise. I worry if the Broncos play a lot of zone Allen will eat that up especially over the middle. The DL can muddle rush, stay in lanes etc... but Allen will break out even from that at times and the Broncos have to limit the damage in those situations. Is man coverage with a spy the right thing? Do we even have the right person to spy him with? The Broncos did great in limiting him last year and that was really due to 3 turnovers but can't recall how the Broncos approached that from a defensive perspective.

DEs are going to have to contain outside and not get caught up in the wash inside. Plus we have superstar Linebackers. Well, maybe not. But I agree that is a challenge.

 

[cdumler7]

Tackling is going to be key as well. Josh Allen has gotten hit a lot this year, but it seems like players just bounce off him. And once he makes someone miss then all hell breaks loose. So have to make sure to wrap up, be ready to gang tackle when given the opportunity, and hope the Broncos catch a break with a turnover or two again.

 

[MileHigh64]

Josh Allen is also not turning the ball over much this year. If the Broncos can get some takeaways, they'll have a chance.

 

[CEH]

Tackling is going to be key as well. Josh Allen has gotten hit a lot this year, but it seems like players just bounce off him. And once he makes someone miss then all hell breaks loose. So have to make sure to wrap up, be ready to gang tackle when given the opportunity, and hope the Broncos catch a break with a turnover or two again.

Also heard from someone that their safeties are not good open-field tacklers.

 

[cdumler7]

Also heard from someone that their safeties are not good open-field tacklers.

Middle of the field in the intermediate and deep areas are the best places to attack them for sure. They are weak at LB and Safety this season on the defensive side of the ball. I'm also interested to see if they have Benford follow Sutton around in this one. He has been great but beyond him the rest of the CB unit has been average at best. There is a reason to close out the season they were giving up something like 28 points per game.

 

[cdumler7]

Good news on the injury front for the Broncos. Everyone was a participant today other than Frank Crum who was sick. Will be interesting to see if the Broncos do anything with Badie this week.

 

[cdumler7]

How would you use Surtain in this game?

 

[iknowftbll]

How would you use Surtain in this game?

Depends on the overall scheme. VJ has gone into that zone a few times and we've gotten demolished. I really hope he sticks to what has worked for this unit. Even then it's tough. Buffalo doesn't have any WRs that jump out as problematic for Surtain. The problem is the Bills do such a good job of spreading the ball around and can gouge you on the ground. So Surtain can take their #1 out of the game and they can still rack up 28+ points with the weapons they have.

 

[MileHigh64]

The Broncos have had problems with tight ends historically, so I see Allen going to Kincaid over the middle a bunch. The other bigger issue is that when coverage is good on all the receiving weapons, it often leaves a gaping hole for Josh Allen to use his legs and pick up gaggles of yards. This is going to be a very tough test.

 

[cdumler7]

Depends on the overall scheme. VJ has gone into that zone a few times and we've gotten demolished. I really hope he sticks to what has worked for this unit. Even then it's tough. Buffalo doesn't have any WRs that jump out as problematic for Surtain. The problem is the Bills do such a good job of spreading the ball around and can gouge you on the ground. So Surtain can take their #1 out of the game and they can still rack up 28+ points with the weapons they have.

Crazy thing is if you look over their past 6 games of the season there was someone different who led them in receiving. 7th game is the first time we see a repeat name in Shakir. He is their leading receiver by quite a bit so I guess if Surtain is to follow anyone around that would probably be the guy.

 

[iknowftbll]

Crazy thing is if you look over their past 6 games of the season there was someone different who led them in receiving. 7th game is the first time we see a repeat name in Shakir. He is their leading receiver by quite a bit so I guess if Surtain is to follow anyone around that would probably be the guy.

Exactly. They do a really good job spreading the ball around and going with the hot hand. This is where stats can be so deceptive. You can look at their production in receiving yards and write them off very quickly until you step back and realize the offense as a whole is the total package. And the results are there: #2 scoring unit in the league this year.

Where I am most encouraged is our offense actually matches up decently against their defense. They are ranked at the very top of the bottom-third in pass defense. Nix and our air attack is firing on all cylinders right now and I think there's some real opportunity to exploit that unit. They better against the run, but the run has been less a part of our arsenal on offense anyway. It's a big ask for a rookie to go into a 13-win Super Bowl contender's house and hang with them, but I have seen enough out of Nix to believe we actually have a chance in this game.

Oh, and while much has been made of Allen's ability to scramble and make plays with his legs, we've seen Nix do the same thing to a significant extent. Allen's 12 rushing TDs is a mind-blowing number. But we've seen a similar ability from Nix and I suspect it has been kept largely in the garage for his own safety. But this is the playoffs and I won't be surprised to see Nix steal the show with his scrambling ability either.

Sorry, you asked about Surtain and I took it in an entirely different direction...