The good news for the Denver Broncos is that they opened the season with a win.
That makes the areas where the Broncos must get better a little easier to stomach. After a Week 1 victory, Denver must improve on the offensive side of the ball in Week 2 at the Indianapolis Colts. If Sean Payton, Bo Nix, and the Broncos offense can start to clean things up for the road game of the season, they’ll put themselves in a situation to succeed.
The Colts, meanwhile, were the surprise of the opening week with a 33-8 flogging of the Miami Dolphins. Needless to say, Indy wants to replicate that type of showing this Sunday.
Denver enters Sunday’s game against the Colts as a slight -2.5-point road favorite at FanDuel Sportsbook. The total sits at over/under 42.5 points, with a lean toward the under at -105.
Denver: Tied for 14th in total offense (317 yards per game), seventh in rushing offense (151 YPG), 21st in passing offense (166 YPG), tied for 15th in scoring offense (20 points per game).
Indianapolis: Fourth in total offense (418 yards per game), sixth in rushing offense (156 YPG), eighth in passing offense (262 YPG), fourth in scoring offense (33 points per game).
Denver: First in total defense (133 yards per game), eighth in rushing defense (71 YPG), first in passing defense (62 YPG), fifth in scoring defense (12 points per game).
Indianapolis: Third in total offense (211 yards per game), tied for 11th in rushing defense (78 YPG), fourth in passing defense (133 YPG), second in scoring defense (8 points per game).
Here are the MHR staff’s keys to Sunday’s game.
The Broncos looked and played out of sync on Sunday. Thankfully, Payton, Nix, and Denver’s offense put enough plays together to put the game away. But another showing like the one against the Tennessee Titans will make it difficult for the Broncos to get the road victory. Everything about the offense needs to improve this Sunday, and Denver must execute. The running game, the passing game, playcalls, audibles, blocking, catching the ball, and eliminating turnovers. Even an incremental improvement against Indianapolis will help the Broncos get a road win. — Ian St. Clair
My key to the game is for the offense to run the ball more. The Broncos have talent at running back, and I have never met an offensive lineman who doesn’t love run blocking. The whole playbook opens up if your run game gets going. They got plenty of reps working pass concepts, now let’s do the same for the run game this week. — sadaraine
Make Daniel Jones’ life hell
Cam Ward has some wheels, but the Casa Bonitto Crew brought him down six times. Granted, Daniel Jones is no rookie. But he’s no Lamar Jackson either. Our coverage should be able to run with the Colts’ receiving weapons all day long, so let the pass rush off its leash and keep Jones too busy running for his life to keep any sort of rhythm. — Taylor Kothe
Having the top defense in the league gives you the flexibility to go for it at times and be aggressive on offense. Don’t let the turnovers spook you into turtling – fix the issues from last week, but keep the pedal to the metal. — Jeff Essary
I’m going to piggyback off of Jeff here. Play clean football. Limit the mistakes. Not just penalties, but clock management was an issue for Sean Payton and Bo Nix. Play selection was a problem at times, which led to offensive struggles. Tackling was good, but Cam Ward was able to make something from nothing too many times. Don’t give the opposition hope on offense. Play clean on both sides of the ball. — Adam Malnati
