The Broncos game plan for beating Washington in crucial Week 8 game

The Denver Broncos are on a four-game slide and things seem bleak for the rest of their 2021 season. They are at home in Week 8 for a Halloween showdown against the Washington Football Team.

The Broncos need a win in a bad way. Washington is not a scary team on either side of the ball, but they are well coached and competitive – meaning this is no easy task for the Broncos.

How will the Broncos attack the WFT on both sides of the ball? Let’s take a look.

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When the Broncos Run the Ball

The Broncos may not run the ball much on Sunday. I’d like them to, that’s something that would help them, but offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur doesn’t believe in the ground game. They are No. 23 in the league when it comes to rushing attempts after seven games. The Broncos on average rush the ball about 23 times per game.

Washington has the No.1 4 rush defense in the league, and not many teams have had success against them on the ground. Since Shurmur wants to go shotgun formation and three-WR sets, he should be able to do that on Sunday. It means that Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams may not get much work on the ground.

I’ve written and said this all season long – Gordon is playing good football, and Williams is playing good football. If the Broncos want to settle things down on offense, more 2-TE sets and the rushing attack should lead the way. Not only would that help the offense, but this would help the Broncos defense by using up time of possession and keeping them fresh. Instead, Denver abandons the run quickly and goes into a pass-happy mode – especially over this last four-game losing streak.

Touchdown Javonte Williams para los Broncos 14-17 Browns pic.twitter.com/1LyS1Fp41p

— Fernando González (@Nando_Patriots) October 22, 2021

Perhaps the Broncos running backs can have success on Sunday as receiving threats against such a bad pass defense. Both Williams and Gordon are fine receiving threats out of the backfield, and that’s part of their game that should be utilized on Sunday.

The Broncos can use short passing to supplement the ground game they may not have. Shurmur doesn’t need any reason to go away from the ground game – he just doesn’t use it enough. On Sunday, his misguided beliefs are going to be reinforced based on the opponent they face.

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When the Broncos Pass the Ball

The return of Jerry Jeudy is the focus here – although it’s not the lone focus. Jeudy is the favorite target of QB Teddy Bridgewater, and he can get open against any coverage. Washington has the No. 32 pass defense in the league. They’re just flat out bad when it comes to defending the pass, and this is how the Broncos should excel on Sunday. Jeudy will be a big part of that – even in his first week back.

Courtland Sutton will still get his fair share of targets. With Jeudy back, it means they’re splitting the WR1 duties for the Broncos but there’s plenty of work for both. Sutton will see better coverage at times with Jeudy’s return, and his size still makes him a threat when the Broncos are in the red zone.

Tim Patrick is the wide receiver most impacted by Jeudy’s return. He can still produce, as evidenced by earlier this season when Jeudy was healthy, but his target share will be much smaller. When the Broncos are near pay dirt, Patrick should leap to the top of the pecking order. His size and ‘my ball’ mentality are second to none on this team.

.@JerryJeudy’s route-running is on another level. 😱 (via @thecheckdown)@Broncos | #BroncosCountry

📺: #WASvsDEN — Tomorrow 4:25pm ET on FOX
📱: NFL App pic.twitter.com/976lUJsiV6

— NFL (@NFL) October 30, 2021

This week may not be much different for tight end Noah Fant. Of the 25 touchdowns given up by the Washington defense, only two of those have been to tight ends. We could see the return of Albert Okwuegbunam against Washington, and that would cut into the target share for Fant as well.

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When the WFT Run the Ball

Washington’s starting running back is dealing with basically a broken leg. Antonio Gibson has a shin injury that he’s been playing with for some time, so he’s not quite himself. When at full strength, Gibson is one of the most well-rounded backs in the league.

Gibson is a former college wide receiver at Memphis who has seamlessly made the transition to running back in the pros. His receiving prowess means he doesn’t need to come off the field on passing downs. Gibson has a natural feel for running, even when space is tight. He’s not a power back but he does have good size and is quick to-and-through the hole.

If the Broncos want, they can stack the line to stuff the run as Gibson is a centerpiece of the offense. One problem the Broncos have had is stopping the run. A larger commitment to that would help against this team.

(Insert random stat that says Antonio Gibson is good at football)

pic.twitter.com/ejgjUUoxpl

— Jeff Bell (@4WhomJBellTolls) July 19, 2021

Gibson is not the only back to worry about in the Washington backfield. J.D. McKissic looks and plays like a change-of-pace back, but I think he can be more than that. McKissic has a slashing style and can cut against the grain with ease. He doesn’t lose much speed when making cuts and can break ankles in the open field.

He also works fantastically when catching passes out of the backfield. If Washington is stuffed on the ground, look for them to get both Gibson and McKissic involved as receivers.

The Broncos also cannot forget about quarterback Taylor Heinicke. He had 95 yards rushing against the Green Bay Packers last week and is a scrambling quarterback who can hurt you as a runner. Denver needs to be mindful that when he’s corralled in the pocket an escape – and a big rushing play can result.

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When the WFT Pass the Ball

The Broncos are going to have to deal with one of the best receivers in the game today when they’re tasked with covering Terry McLaurin on Sunday. He’s battled through hamstring and ankle problems this year, but McLaurin has the fifth-most targets in the NFL through seven weeks. He’s a featured target and dangerous when the ball is thrown his way.

McLaurin has speed to get open, and he’s a savvy route-runner who can set up defenders with ease. His concentration is elite, so even when the coverage is tight, he will find a way to come down with the ball. The Broncos had better plan on committing two defenders and bracket coverage to McLaurin for most of this game.

Behind McLaurin, Washington has a banged-up group of wide receivers. One of the lone weapons who is healthy is slot receiver Adam Humphries. He’s not a superstar by any means, but Humphries is savvy and has strong hands. When Washington needs to move the chains, Humphries can get open and get down to get first downs.

Tight end Ricky Seals-Jones brings a basketball skill set to the football field. He’s big, fast and physical – a tough combination for any team to match but especially for a Broncos team that historically struggles against tight ends. When they get near pay dirt, Heinicke should be looking for Seals-Jones – especially near the back of the end zone.

TERRY MCLAURIN IS A BEAST 😤 pic.twitter.com/C3i6O3wIxL

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) October 24, 2021

It all comes back to the pass rush getting to Heinicke. As aforementioned, he’s a scrambler who can buy time with his legs. He’s a quarterback running out of time to impress however, and there are rumblings that there could be a quick hook for Heinicke if he struggles. If the Broncos get to backup quarterback Kyle Allen, that’s a boost for the defense.

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