Schlereth: Broncos playoff bound if they give up 20 points or less
Sep 19, 2018, 10:56 AM
Through two games, the Denver Broncos defense has allowed an average of 21.5 points per game, resulting in a 2-0 start to the season.
And if the defense, specifically the much-criticized secondary, can hold teams to less than 20 points, as they did with the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, Mark Schlereth sees the Broncos winning upwards of 11 games and making the playoffs.
On Wednesday, the “Schlereth and Evans” said if the Broncos can replicate the 19-point performance against the Raiders every week, Denver will at least be a wild card team in 2018.
“Call it 20 points or less. I’ll find you 11 wins on that (schedule),” Schlereth said. “If I find you 11 wins, I’m finding you at the very least a wild card berth.”
For perspective, in 2017 nine teams in the NFL gave up 20 points or less per game. Of those, six made the playoffs and all but one had records above .500.
More specifically, Schlereth took to defending the defensive backfield of the Broncos after he witnessed criticism following Raiders quarterback Derek Carr’s 29-for-32 day against it last week. “
“Nineteen points. That’s all I’m saying, 19 points,” Schlereth said. “If your secondary stinks, points, and points of plenty, come from the passing game. And guess what? In a game like that where a quarterback goes 29 of 32 when your secondary stinks you’re giving up 35 (points) in a situation like that.
“This secondary does not stink.”
Schlereth did call the unit a “work in progress” but said he expects it to be a top-10 passing defense by the end of the season.
“It’s going to get better and better as the season goes on. I, for one, think that this secondary at the end of the year is going to be a top 10 secondary,” Schlereth said.
Since 2014, the Broncos secondary has ranked no lower than ninth in the league, twice holding the top spot in terms of passing yards given up (2015 and 2016).
Last season, the Denver defense gave up the fourth-least receiving yards in the league (3,210).
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
