Game Overview ::
By mike johnson >>
- Russell Wilson vs. Baker Mayfield is not the exciting matchup we would have expected a couple of years ago.
- Each team’s defense is elite in one category and matches up well with the opposing offense.
- This game is more likely to be decided by who loses it than who wins it.
- These are two of the bottom-six offenses in the NFL through 15 weeks.
How Denver Will Try To Win ::
The Broncos welcome Russell Wilson back to the lineup after a one game absence due to a concussion. Prior to the concussion, Wilson was having (by far) his best game of the season to date against the Chiefs. This week Wilson will likely be called upon often to lead the offense as well against the top-5 run defense of the Rams. The Broncos are down to old timers Latavius Murray and Marlon Mack in their backfield, and while both have played reasonably well recently, this difficult matchup will likely keep them from having sustained success on the ground.
The Broncos play at the 13th fastest pace in the league and should have their usual tempo for this game with no huge offensive threats on the other side and no weather concerns in Los Angeles. The Rams run defense is stout and their pass defense plays primarily zone coverage that focuses on keeping things underneath against them. This actually matches up relatively well with Wilson’s current playing style, and I’d expect him to pepper the short areas of the field and take what the defense gives him while slowly moving the ball down the field. The Broncos offensive issues have been more about scoring and sustaining long drives this season, rather than just the complete dysfunction that most people think of from them. They often have drives where they get one or two first downs and then stall out around midfield, due to a lack of explosive plays and leaving themselves with a lot of third downs that they eventually fail to convert. Along with that, Wilson’s propensity to take sacks and Nathaniel Hackett’s love for early down runs for short gains often leave Denver in long 3rd down situations that are tough to convert. This matchup with the Rams is good from a “they should be able to move the ball through the air” standpoint, but poor from a “can we actually score points” standpoint.
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