Clayton: The Broncos have to stay run-heavy against the Chargers
Dec 29, 2021, 3:04 PM
The Broncos’ long-shot chance of getting a wild card berth comes down to Sunday’s game at the Los Angeles Chargers. The odds aren’t good.
Drew Lock will be the quarterback, and everyone has seen his struggles. The offense has been missing since he’s taken over for the injured Teddy Bridgewater.
But it should be evident what the Broncos need to do to win this game. They need to run the ball.
Chargers head coach Brandon Staley was considered to be the best of the seven new coaches hired this year. Last year, he coached the Los Angeles Rams to be the No. 1 defense.
Something isn’t right this year. The Chargers defense hasn’t been good. They rank 22nd in yards allowed and 31st in points allowed with 411. They can’t stop the run.
Look at the stats. The Chargers run defense is giving up 140.2 yards per game on the ground. They are giving up 4.7 yards per carry. Here’s the big one: They have given up 21 touchdown runs, third worst in the league.
That’s baffling for a coach who was so good on defense last year in Los Angles with the Rams. The means the Broncos better run the ball with Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams. That will be vital.
Last week against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Broncos stayed away from the run, which was a major mistake. Things don’t look good for the Broncos, but they should know what to do with their offensive strategy.
