Three numbers to know for Broncos-Ravens

BALTIMORE — There is one task at which the Broncos win consistently this year: the coin toss. They are 9-2 in pregame coin tosses — although they are 1-2 in tosses to lead off overtime.

Why does this matter? Because winning the coin toss leads to a decision that has not worked out as Nathaniel Hackett and the Broncos would hope.

You see, when they win the coin toss, they always defer their option. This means their foe invariably chooses to receive the opening kickoff — and that the Broncos get the ball to start the second half.

Which makes the Broncos’ league-low 12 third-quarter points all the more confounding.

The goal is to get a two-for-one — to score just before halftime and then score again after the break. But it doesn’t work when you can’t make anything of the back half of that equation.

***
0

That number represents the Broncos’ total points from 10 drives to open the second half this season. Nine times they got the ball first after halftime because they won the coin toss and deferred their option. In Week 4 at Las Vegas, they got the ball first after halftime because the Raiders won the coin toss and immediately elected to receive the opening kickoff.

Ten drives. Zero points.

***
2:26

That is the Broncos’ average time of possession on their 10 second-half opening series this year: two minutes, 26 seconds. Six of those 10 series ended without a first down.

What makes it worse is that their opening drive of the second half in Week 1 actually inflates the number. The Broncos chewed up 7 minutes, 27 seconds of the clock on that drive, which ended in Melvin Gordon’s fumble near the goal line.

So, in the nine second-half opening series since then, Denver retained the football for an average of just one minute, 53 seconds. And with fatigue for the defense becoming an increasing issue as it buckles under the strain of trying to hold out as the offense drifts, a quick departure for the offense is the last thing it needs to see.

***
1

Touchdowns scored in the third quarter of the only game that saw the Broncos not open the second half with the football.

Jacksonville won the coin toss for the teams’ Week 8 game at London’s Wembley Stadium. The Jaguars deferred their option and had the first series of the second half. When the Broncos finally got the ball, they launched their best drive of the season: a 9-play, 98-yard march that ended with the Broncos’ only third-quarter touchdown of the campaign to date.

So, that’s 7 points from 1 drive when the Broncos didn’t open the second half with the football — and zero points, seven punts and an average of 11.3 net yards on 10 second-half opening series.

***

Nothing has worked out for the Broncos deferring their option. All attempts at the coveted “two-for-one” — bracketing halftime with a pair of possessions that end in a score — have ended in frustration.

Has there been a thought to not deferring if they win the coin toss?

“That’s a great question,” Hackett said. “We will evaluate everything.”

So, perhaps it’s time for the Broncos to channel their inner George Costanza and do the opposite? It worked for George on Seinfeld. And based on things so far, they couldn’t possibly do worse coming out of halftime.

***