This post is sponsored by Comcast and their NFL RedZone channel. Want to see every touchdown from every NFL game as it happens as well as live look-ins to all of Sunday's games in key situations? Then you need Comcast's NFL RedZone.
If we are going to have a sponsorship deal, we might as well find a way to incorporate said sponsorship into something that is near and dear to Broncos fans - the team's performance in the Red Zone. This has been a key point of contention for a long time with Denver - take last year into account - 2nd in Yards, 16th in points.
Each week we'll take a look at the Broncos' trips into the Red Zone and how they fared. Good teams, playoffs teams, score in the Red Zone. If the Broncos want to be a playoff team, they'll need to as well.
There are two sides to the Red Zone - the offensive side, of course, and the defensive side. Few people look at how a defense performs when backed up in their own Red Zone but it is vital to the success of the team, no doubt. We'll look at both.
The Broncos are in a slump, having lost 3 in a row. None of that matters much as the Chargers come to town. This game will likely be won by the team that can take advantage of each and every opportunity to score 7 points. Anything over 50% as an offense is acceptable - neither team has been this season.
Overall in 2009, the Broncos look like this -
'09 OFFENSE TOTALS
WEEK | OPPONENT | RZ EFFICIENCY |
1 | @ CIN | 0/0 |
2 | vs. CLE | 2/4 |
3 | @ OAK | 2/6 |
4 | vs. DAL | 1/2 |
5 | vs. NEP | 2/3 |
6 | @ SD | 2/4 |
8 | @ BAL | 1/1 |
9 |
vs. PIT | 0/0 |
10 |
@ WAS | 0/1 |
TOTALS | 10/21 (47.6%) |
DEFENSE
For the season, the Broncos' Defense is one of the best in football inside its own Red Zone -
'09 DEFENSE TOTALS
WEEK | OPPONENT | RZ EFFICIENCY |
1 | @ CIN | 1/2 |
2 | Vs. CLE | 0/1 |
3 | @ OAK | 0/1 |
4 | Vs. DAL | 1/3 |
5 | Vs. NEP | 2/2 |
6 | @ SD | 1/2 |
8 | @ BAL | 1/3 |
9 |
vs. PIT | 3/4 |
10 |
@ WAS | 2/4 |
TOTALS | 11/22(50.0%) |
The offense has gone down, while the defense has allowed 5 of the last 8 trips inside the Red Zone to score TDs. Both trends need to stop on Sunday.
As for the Chargers?.
Offensively, San Diego has converted 48.1% of their Red Zone chances, a number that is good for 21st in the NFL.
On defense, San Diego has held opponents to 56.3%. The Chargers rank 23rd in the NFL and the Broncos need to take advantage - 7 instead of 3 when either team gets in the Red Zone will be the difference.