Denver Broncos @ Carolina Panthers - A Primer

by John Bena on Dec 10, 2008 5:26 AM MST in 2008 Game Previews Comment 8 comments

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Winners of four of their last five games, the Denver Broncos (8-5) put their three-game road winning streak on the line this week when they face the NFC South-leading Carolina Panthers (10-3) on Sunday. Kickoff at Bank of America Stadium is set for 4:15 p.m. EST, and the game will be televised on CBS with Dick Enberg and Randy Cross calling the action.

With three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Broncos hold a three-game lead atop the AFC West over the Chargers (5-8). Denver, which is one of just two teams (Tennessee) in the NFL to hold sole possession of first place in their division after every game this year, can clinch its 11th all-time division title with a win/tie against the Panthers or a Chargers loss/tie in their road game against Kansas City on Sunday.

The Broncos are coming off a 24-17 win at home against the Chiefs in a game in which they allowed a season-low 260 yards of offense. Trailing 17-7 in the second quarter, the Broncos converted eight of their next 10 third-down attempts to overcome the deficit en route to posting their AFC-best sixth 400+yard game (425) this season.

Denver faces a Carolina squad that most recently earned a 38-23 home win against Tampa Bay on Monday Night Football that marked its sixth victory in the club's last seven games. The Panthers totaled a franchise-record 299 rushing yards on 37 carries (8.1 avg.) against the Buccaneers, who entered the game ninth in the NFL in run defense.

Owning a 3-0 record against the NFC South this year, the Broncos on Sunday can post only their second 4-0 interconference record in club history with a win against the Panthers. Sunday's game marks Denver's first-ever regular-season road game versus Carolina.

The Broncos visit Charlotte having not surrendered a sack in their last three games, a streak that ties for the longest in franchise annals. Rookie left tackle Ryan Clady (0.5 sacks allowed in 13 starts) and the rest of his offensive linemates have helped Denver lead the NFL in sack percentage per pass play with a 1.6 mark (8-501) that projects to be the second-best season total in NFL history.

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Carolina's Running Game Is Scary Good.

This will be the defense’s biggest test of the year. I want to be optimistic but man, this is gonna be a tough one. The Denver D is gonna have to bring everything they have and a little more this week.

by TheMastermind on Dec 10, 2008 8:00 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Don't be so sure.

Carolina fan, here, visiting from CSR.

Our running game does better against teams whose safeties make mistakes or aren’t sure tacklers. Usually what you see when you watch our running game is a sequence of 1-to-4 yard runs, then a safety who was supposed to fill a gap either mis-reads the play or whiffs on the tackle, and it’s a quick 60 yards.

Really, that’s our entire philosophy: attack the safeties. We have a good run-blocking group, including two WRs that like to block, who can take care of the front seven, but then it’s one-on-one between our backs and your safeties. You can watch the Chiefs or Lions highlights to see that clearly, but it’s the same in every game. And just as soon as they get freaked out about their run-game responsibilities, we hit ’em with Steve Smith for 45 yards.

Mostly, though, I’m concerned about your passing attack. Our defense hasn’t been able to shut down anything since the mid-season bye week, and here comes Marshall and Cutler. I am… unsettled.

by r3 on Dec 10, 2008 10:02 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Obi-wan-offense you are our only hope...

Attacking our safeties has beena recipe for success for teams all year, but two things have changed recently that give us a glimmer of hope.

1) We have taken the safety out of the box, so now the lone guy in back gets some much needed help. And while the safety revisits the box regularly, it doesn’t seem to happen as often any more. The box safety, by the way, is Marquand Manuel.

2) This one gets us all a little excited. The rookie, Josh Barrett came in last week, after we had tried nearly a half dozen replacement safeties since Marlon McCree’s injury, and he was amazing in his debut against none other than Tony Gonzalez. He harrassed Gonzalez, knocked him around, and made his life hard, getting beat twice all game. If he continues to improve, I think we stand a chance.

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Dec 10, 2008 10:10 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Looking forward to an excellent test

This game is going to be the pulse of the 08 Bronocs. How well do they play? Win or lose, if they play well it bodes well for our post-season dreams. If they get throttled like the Bucs did then hope as we might, we probably won’t go far in the playoffs.

I’m excited for this game. Probably most excited to see how well our defense and our offensive line plays. This is a big-time game people! Go Broncos!!!

by sadaraine on Dec 10, 2008 9:20 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Clady will do well against Peppers I bet

but your other tackle better be ready too. The Panthers move him around in obvious passing situations, lining him up at both ends and at DT.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Dec 10, 2008 9:32 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

DT is his best bet

as our sacks have mostly come off of the left guard and center. But I still like the matchup, if our TE stays in to help, so that the interior linemen can have eachothers backs.

What I do worry about is the two relatively new RBs picking up proper protections in overload scenarios. Hpefuly the lign is assigned to pick up Peppers no matter what. if one of our big dogs isn’t on him, I don’t think I would like the result….

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Dec 10, 2008 10:04 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Not too worried about our RT

Peppers can switch ends all he wants…he should be well handled on either side. Our Offensive Tackles are the best tandem in football right now hands-down no question (and much overlooked).

Like Styg said…Peppers may get lucky if he runs from DT…we are weaker there, but the line does usually give more help on the inside (I’m sure Weig will call for double team when Peppers moves to the interior).

by sadaraine on Dec 10, 2008 11:53 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Jake Delhomme hasn't been consistent

this year and has thrown several picks. I know we don’t have a solid pass rush, however I hope we can get some picks from him and take advantage of them.

"It doesn't dissipate" ~ Mike Shanahan

Cutler's 4th qtr/OT game winning drives: 7

by weazel on Dec 10, 2008 10:47 AM MST reply actions 0 recs