The Broncos’ offense has been running in a different gear in recent weeks. Why?
“We’ve been able to run the ball,” said left tackle Matt Lepsis. “We haven’t had that pressure of having to pass block all the time.”
Yes, they’ve run the ball better of late, even in the face of injuries to Travis Henry and Selvin Young. But it still isn’t good enough, not by the Broncos’ standards.
Fact: Opposing teams have racked up 86 rushing first downs compared to 67 for Denver. If that trend continues, it would mark the first time in the Mike Shanahan era that the Broncos had fewer rushing first downs than the other guys.
And frankly, it usually isn’t close. In their best years, the Broncos typically had 40-50 more rushing first downs, a clear reflection that they could move the chains whenever they needed to. This season, they’ve had to rely on Jay Cutler to convert third downs, putting extra pressure on a young player at the game’s most important position.
The Broncos are nowhere near an elite team these days, and their so-so running game is a big reason why. If they’re going to return to the short list of the NFL’s best teams, they’ll have to re-establish their dominance on the ground.
Follow Jim Armstrong’s daily Broncos commentaries on The Jimmy Page at 7 a.m. and noon, and read his columns on Sundays and the day after Broncos games at .
He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
