The Denver Broncos make a statement against the Houston Texans

The last few weeks in Broncos Country have been less than fun. There is nothing worse than losing to teams you should beat. Fortunately, the Denver Broncos bounced back from some abysmal losses to make a statement. What was that statement? The Broncos are still a force to be reckoned with in the NFL.

Football is about the guys up front. The trenches on both sides of the ball are the key to winning games. It wasn’t pretty to start. There were holding calls on the offensive line, and the defensive line struggled to contain. However, the Broncos showed they could make the necessary adjustments to get the win.

Russell Okung struggled to start the game. It appeared as if the game was too fast for him. Whitney Mercilus was running him ragged. Penalties are drive killers, and Okung was killing drives. It took a few series, but eventually, the Broncos settled in. The run game took off behind Andy Janovich’s blocking. CJ Anderson and Devontae Booker took over the game.

While Anderson and Booker took control of the game on the offensive side of the ball, the defense was able to really step up. Brock Osweiler was running for his life, but the Texans were still able to move the ball. What stood out was the Broncos ability to keep Houston out of the end zone.

The Broncos struggles on defense in the first quarter have been well documented. In this game, they were able to force field goals. At the end of three quarters it was three scores to three scores. The Broncos had touchdowns, while the Texans could only muster field goals. They definitely were not counter punching.

And what really set things up was the special teams play. Brandon McManus was locked in, kicking the ball just far enough to force the Texans to return the ball. Cory Nelson led the charge, seemingly making every tackle around the 15 yard line on each kickoff. The Broncos easily won the field position battle.

Was the game all candy canes and rainbows? Of course not. There are some possible injuries to contend with. The slow start on offense was less than appealing. The defense still allowed some long drives. That being said, this was a good win.

Teams that go on losing streaks can struggle to stop them. The Broncos came out and slammed the door on any potential losing streak issues. They stuffed the Texans on both sides of the ball. The special teams set the tone. It was truly a win in all phases. It was exactly the type of win the Broncos needed.