3 keys for a Broncos victory vs. Saints in the Big Easy

The Denver Broncos need to get back on the winning track. With a record of 6-3, the Broncos sit currently in third place in the AFC West. With the playoffs about a month and a half away, they need to climb their way back up the rankings and get hot before the postseason starts.

After losing on the road against the Oakland Raiders in Week 9, the Broncos are back on the road to face the New Orleans Saints in Week 10.

Like the Raiders, the Saints have a high-powered offense that is going to be difficult to slow down. In order to beat a team that averages 30.2 points per game, the Broncos are likely to have to score 30 points — something they’ve only done once this season (Week 2 versus the Indianapolis Colts).

And Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said this week being consistent is key in improving the production of the offense.

“We have to find some consistency. (That) is what we have to do,” Kubiak said. “It’s consistency, staying on the field. You look early in the game, a couple of drops, a couple of things going on that we just have to find a way to stay on the football field.”

Here are the three keys to victory over the Saints in Week 10:

Run the ball

It goes without saying, but the Broncos have to run the ball successfully and as much as possible. The entire offense plays better if the ground game is on track. If the Broncos want to make things easier for quarterback Trevor Siemian, then it should start with running back Devontae Booker.

After Denver lost C.J. Anderson to a knee injury, Booker started the past two games but only ran 76 yards on 29 carries (2.62 yards per carry) during that time. In the game against the Raiders, Booker only ran the ball 10 times for a paltry 22 yards.

Booker said this week that the coaching staff has given him the mandate to “go out there and execute.”

“We have plays called — run plays, pass plays — and we just have to go out there and execute them and start getting back into a rhythm to where we can just move the ball on any opponent we play,” Booker said.

Behind Booker, former CSU running back Kapri Bibbs mixes in as a change of pace. Bibbs turned a screen pass into a 69-yard touchdown against the Raiders in Week 9, and that play may have earned him a bit more playing time. In fact, we could see a full-fledged running back by committee (RBBC) for the Broncos if Bibbs continues to produce.

No matter the answer, the Broncos need to find a way to run the ball successfully. Not only will it help the offense but also it benefits the defense. With the ground game chewing up the time of possession, the Broncos defense will be able to get rest — and it will keep superstar quarterback Drew Brees on the sideline.

Stop the run

On the other side of the ball, the Broncos defense must stop a rejuvenated Saints rushing attack. Mark Ingram and Tim Hightower give the Saints a mighty 1-2 punch that can wear down an opponent until they break.

The past two weeks Hightower was the second-leading rusher in the NFL with 189 yards on 49 carries. Ingram ranked sixth with 163 rushing yards on 18 carries.

And after giving up 218 yards to the Raiders, Kubaik said this week the Saints are “another tough group” to defend.

“It’s been two different guys. They’re committed. They’re a very good offensive football team,” Kubiak said. “If you sit there and play two-deep, they’re going to run the ball. They make you get down in the box, and that’s why they’re so good at what they do. They’re very explosive and make a lot of big plays. It’s another tough group for our defense to deal with.”

The Broncos are going to be without defensive end Derek Wolfe for at least this week. That’s a crushing blow for the entire defense, but Wolfe is one of the team’s best run defenders.

It will be fascinating to see how the Broncos solve their problem of stuffing the run. Denver currently 29th in rush defense, as they allow an average of 128.6 rushing yards per game.

Clearly, the Saints are going to try and soften up the defense with Hightower and Ingram on Sunday.

Limit Drew Brees’ impact

A future Hall of Fame quarterback goes up against a banged up Broncos defense Sunday.]. The Saints have run the ball better in recent weeks, but Brees is always a danger no matter how run-heavy the team’s game plan.

“He’s brilliant in his progressions. Drew can throw to spots with his eyes closed. He plays the game extremely fast and with a great tempo,” Kubiak said this week. “He’s just a great leader.”

The Saints use multiple formations to jump-start their passing game. Expect them to use “11” personnel (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers) as their primary formation when dropping back to pass.

The Saints like to run “sail” concepts with the inside receivers on either side of the formation. That means the outside guys will run short curl routes against tight coverage, and the inside receivers will run shallow flag routes behind them. Watch for rookie wide receiver Michael Thomas on these routes.

They will use wide receiver Brandin Cooks on “smash” concepts when he’s singled on the outside. This means he’ll run a deep 17-25 yard route and quickly cut out or in. These routes can quickly become “go” routes depending on the coverage. Cooks has speed, and he’ll get by unsuspecting defenders quickly for field-flipping plays.

The Saints will also use a jumbo formation. This is a run-heavy formation where an extra offensive tackle comes on the field. They’ll have tight end Coby Fleener in to block on the right side with the extra tackle lining up like a tight end outside the left tackle.

Josh Hill, another tight end, will line up in the backfield in a three-point stance like a fullback. Brees will fake the hand off, Hill will fake the lead block and then run down the left side of the field. That’s an easy pitch-and-catch that can result in a chain-moving play.

As you’ll likely see on Sunday, the Saints have multiple ways to beat the Broncos with Brees. At home in the Superdome, Brees is even more deadly.

There’s no doubt about it, the Broncos have a big task ahead of them on Sunday.