Twelve things about the Broncos entering Sunday’s game at Buffalo:
1. The Broncos set a franchise record last week, failing to score 25 or more points for the 19th consecutive game. The previous record was 18 games bridging the 1991-92 seasons. But there should be some reason for optimism, chiefly how the offense is going through receiver .
2. Under quarterback , the Broncos went 2-6 and averaged 15.6 points, 312.6 yards and 3.8 explosive pass plays (gain of at least 16 yards) per game. In two games with Brandon Allen, the averages are 23.5 points, 348.0 yards and five explosive plays.
3. So are things getting better? “I think there’s a lot of reasons,” said coach , who proceeded to list two. “One, we’re improving on offense as we go. Two, we’ve had a little bit of a different play-call mentality.”
4. Fangio did acknowledge that Allen’s athleticism has had a positive impact. “Brandon’s mobility comes unchoreographed,” Fangio said. “(The scramble) is the second play and itap always a defensive coach’s worry. You have to defend the play they call in the huddle and then the second one the quarterback creates. We have that (Sunday) playing (Buffalo’s ).”
5. Offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello said he evaluated Allen coming out of Arkansas and “always liked him.” Once Drew Lock injured his thumb, Scangarello said: “The reality of it is, when Drew got hurt, it was (general manager) John (Elway) who really said, ‘Hey, I like this (Allen) guy a lot.’ I watched him, we agreed and the rest is history. I think he’s proven he can play in the league.”
6. Allen’s functional play brings us to Lock, who completed his second post-injury week of practice on Friday. Is the clock even ticking until Lock gets a chance? Fangio said on Wednesday that itap not “vitally important,” for Lock to play this year. It would be a tough sell to the fan base if the Broncos are out of playoff contention and Lock doesn’t get a look in December.
7. The Broncos should continue their throw-it-deep strategy. Against Minnesota, Allen was 4-of-7 passing for 151 yards on attempts that traveled at least 16 yards.
8. The Broncos should give cornerback Cyrus Jones, claimed off waivers from Baltimore on Nov. 13, a look at some point over the next six games. A second-round pick in 2016 by New England, Jones said he has worked mostly over the slot receiver in practice since joining the Broncos.
9. Jones is with his third team in as many pro seasons. He played 10 games for the Patriots as a rookie, a combined 13 for New England/Baltimore last year and eight games this year for the Ravens. Of learning another new system, Jones said: “Football is football. There is always something you can relate to (in the new playbook) that you’ve had in the past.”
10. Jones, who according to Pro Football Reference has played 174 career defensive snaps (341 on special teams), said his skills “translate well,” to playing the nickel spot. “I think I cover well, I’m physical, I’ll get in there and tackle,” he said.
11. Like every former Patriots player we run into, we asked Jones for his favorite story. “Probably when I first got there and in a team meeting, he ripped (quarterback) Tom (Brady),” he said. “Seeing that happen a couple of times, you know how the culture is — he’s getting on that guy, what makes you think he won’t get on you?”
12. Something to monitor against the Bills is running back ’s playing time. He had 52 snaps against Minnesota compared to 24 for . The coaches adopted a 50-50 play-time split (usually within 2-5 snaps of each other) in the first nine games, but the shift to Lindsay may be underway. “I just think Phillip has been playing at a high level,” Scangarello said. “Itap kind of how the flow of the game went. His style of play just fit perfectly and I thought he did an excellent job.”
