3 Keys to a Broncos Victory Over Browns' Top-Ranked Defense

Here's how the Denver Broncos keep conjuring that Mile High Magic.

Denver, CO. — Broncos Country has had more to be thankful for the last month than they have in what felt like an eternity of losing football. The Denver Broncos currently hold a .500 record after their 21-20 victory against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football.

The Broncos are the hottest team in football, riding a four-game winning streak that began with a win against the Green Bay Packers during the official Mile High Huddle Meet and Greet back in Week 7. After starting the season 1-5, the Broncos have been empowered to control their destiny with playoff hopes on the Orange and Blue horizon.

While the number of teams in AFC postseason contention continues to grow more competitive each week, the 5-5 Broncos will host the 7-3 Cleveland Browns in Denver on Sunday.

Cleveland is coming into the Mile High City on their own three-game winning streak and sits one game back from first place in the AFC North. The Browns' ability to steal games from what is perceived as tougher opponents listed as favorites makes them a dangerous team with aspirations of derailing Denver’s red-hot momentum.

What'll it take for Denver to emerge victorious? Here’s how the Broncos earn their sixth victory and a winning record for the first time this season.

Lock Up Browns' RBs

A healthy and consistent running game is a quarterback’s best friend in the NFL — just ask Broncos' signal-caller Russell Wilson, who’s enjoying his first winning streak since joining Denver last season.

But when Browns starting QB Deshaun Watson was lost due to a season-ending shoulder injury, the team turned to fifth-round rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson to lead head coach Keven Stefanski’s offense. In last week’s 13-10 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the UCLA product went 24-of-43 for 165 yards rushing and threw an interception. 

Appearing in four games this season, ‘DTR’ has compiled a 1-1 record as a starter, in addition to a 55.0 completion percentage, 295 yards, and four total interceptions. Where the Browns' rookie QB has struggled most has been through the air, hence Cleveland’s commitment to rushing the football. 

In Week 11, Kareem Hunt and Jerome Ford led the rushing attack to the tune of 96 total yards, including a rushing touchdown and a 3.3 yards-per-rush average. Just a week prior in their 33-31 win against the Baltimore Ravens, the Browns dominated on the ground to the tune of 178 yards and a touchdown, recording a 4.9 yards-per-carry average.

Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s defense currently yields the worst yards-per-carry average 5.5 in the NFL, in addition to ranking last in total rushing yards (1,600). Missed tackles and penalties have undoubtedly plagued Denver’s defense despite forcing three turnovers in three consecutive games. 

The Broncos are tied for the most fumble recoveries (9) and are tied for third in forced fumbles (12). If Joseph's unit continues to play a bend-don’t-break brand of football, it’ll be because it forced turnovers from the Browns' rookie QB and host of RBs.

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Fight Four Quarters or Else

None of the Broncos’ five victories have been without flaw, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not a quality football team. It’s a testament to this squad’s perseverance and grit, which the Broncos will need plenty of to beat Cleveland on Sunday.

For my entire lifetime, the Browns have been viewed as perennial losers with a fan base that most NFL franchises have pitied or poked fun at. But who are the Broncos to point fingers or laugh at any of those jokes? 

Remember, Denver is aiming to boast a winning record for the first time this season, something that the Broncos haven’t done since 2016 when they finished the season 9-7. Six consecutive losing seasons later, Denver can finally alter its franchise trajectory sitting with an even record through 11 weeks.

Meanwhile, Cleveland has finished three out of the last four seasons with a winning record, in addition to being in the playoffs in 2020 on the heels of an 11-5 season. The Browns are currently 2-2 this season in away games, with road wins against the Ravens and Indianapolis Colts. But it’s been Cleveland’s innate ability to stay alive and refuse to go away that has earned it the respect of the rest of the league.

The Browns beat the Steelers 13-10 on a last-second field goal in Week 11, which was the fourth time this season that Cleveland beat its opponent with a game-winning score on the final play. In their last two victories, the Browns won by a total of five points, while the Broncos won their last two contests by a total of three points, forecasting what should be a close game.

Payton’s Playbook: Throw Haymakers not Jabs

We’ve all been outclassed by an opponent at least once in our lives, whether that be in athletic competition, employment, or academic performance. Heck, we can all remember the early days on the playground of facing or avoiding the dreaded bully that made life difficult and less than enjoyable.

The Browns could be that bully on Denver’s playground this Sunday, as their defense is tied for the NFL’s best with just nine touchdowns allowed. The Browns are also ranked first in total yards surrendered (1,437), in completion percentage (55.3%), and are second in passing yards per attempt (5.4), proving to be a very stubborn bunch for opposing QBs. 

Not to mention pass rusher Myles Garrett, whose 87.5 career sacks are the most in Cleveland history. He’s raised hell this season to the tune of 13 sacks, 30 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, four forced fumbles, two pass deflections, 23 QB hits, and a fumble recovery.

So how do Sean Payton and Wilson get past a Browns defense that has its sights on ruining their hunt for the playoffs? The Broncos do so by going right through them with a toe-to-toe fight against the bully.

In addition to staying committed to running the football, it’s time for Russ to catch the Browns' secondary slipping. Cornerbacks Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, and safety Juan Thornhill have dealt with minor injuries the last two weeks and were hardly tested last week against the Steelers’ pathetic offense that just dismissed its coordinator.

Courtland Sutton has been the most dynamic playmaker in the Broncos' offense this season, recording a touchdown in every game except two. He’s been coming down with 50/50 balls in the end zone, which has arguably led to the Broncos’ most recent wins. So, for crying out loud, scratch the dink and dunk passing attack and check-downs and chuck the ball to No. 14 already.

Sometimes, the underdog who attacks the bully head-on gets the best of the conflict, catching their opponent off-guard. The Broncos would be wise to confront the Browns early in the contest and set an offensive tone that the ball is going to be thrown down the field quickly and effectively, which will limit the impact of Garrett’s pass-rushing production. 

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