Polumbus: Denver Broncos keys to victory in Week 1

On Thursday, the Denver Broncos will kick off the regular season as three-point underdogs in a Super Bowl 50 rematch with the Carolina Panthers.

Opening the season at home, against the team they just beat in the Super Bowl six months ago, fuels the fire of the Broncos, a team that seems to thrive off of every unbeliever’s negative comment.

Members of both teams have said they do not view this as Round 2 but rather as a new game with new teams and new leaders. Most players have done their best to downplay any bad blood and generally discounted the thought of either team replaying the same game plan, although Panthers quarterback Cam Newton did not attempt to hide his frustrations and disappointment from the Super Bowl in his conference call this week with reporters.

It will be a new game, with different bounces of the ball, and certainly some new wrinkles in the game plan, but do not think for a second that these teams will not try to replicate the schemes that were successful against each other again.

The Broncos will have studied the Super Bowl game inside and out by Thursday, and here are my keys to victory for Denver to pull off another upset against Carolina:

1. Von Miller needs to immediately set the tone against Carolina right tackle Mike Remmers.

Speaking from experience, there is absolutely no worse feeling in the world than having a bad game in your last game of the season and having to think about it for six months until you get to play again.

Remmers has probably been having nightmares from that game against Miller and will be eager to prove himself.

If Von can get a few quick quarterback hurries in the first few drives, I have a hard time believing that Remmers will not feel like he is having deja vu.

Get ready to see a tackle lose confidence quickly if Miller can get to Newton early in the game.

2. C.J. Anderson needs to gain 100-plus yards for a Broncos victory.

As will be the key every week this year, the Broncos absolutely have to have a solid running attack against Carolina to take the pressure off quarterback Trevor Siemian in his first NFL start.

Anderson gaining 100-plus yards will go a long ways towards giving Siemian easy passing yards off play action and make the young quarterback’s debut much easier.

3. Take care of the ball.

Siemian does not need to come out and put up “Star Wars” numbers in the passing game, but he does need to take care of the ball.

Smart coaches play to the strength of their team. Gary Kubiak is a smart coach, and I expect him to play the field position battle well in the first few games of the year until he feels more comfortable taking chances offensively as his group matures.

Siemian needs to focus on not giving the Panther’s any momentum swingers with poorly timed turnovers and let the defense do its thing.

4. Riley Dixon needs to punt well.

Dixon needs to calm the fears of fans hitting the panic button after the Broncos let go of its longtime punter Britton Colquitt, after which the rookie promptly had a poor game in preseason game No. 4.

This key to victory plays off key No. 3 in playing to the strength of the team, and we need to play the field position battle well through good punting.

To come out with a victory in this game will be a big challenge for the Broncos, as Carolina has had a long time to get amped up and prepared.

However, if the Broncos can successfully manage these four keys, look for a Broncos victor –– a confidence builder in a run at a repeat.

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