At the halfway point of the season, one key issue for the Denver Broncos is that they aren’t getting enough turnovers. The Broncos (5-4) have a turnover ratio of minus-1, with 12 takeaways and 13 giveaways.
Improving this, along with getting the running game going again and stopping the run, is crucial for Denver to finish the season strong. A successful season for the Broncos would ideally include a winning record for the first time since 2016, and possibly even a playoff spot, their first since 2015.
Before their heavy loss to Baltimore on Sunday, the Broncos had been doing well at running the ball and stopping the run. Getting back to that strong play will be important for the team, coach Sean Payton said on Monday.
“We’re minus-1 right now in the turnover battle. If we’re still talking about this toward the end of the season, it’s not going to be good,” Payton said. “So, that has to swing in our favor.”
Payton also mentioned that the Broncos can’t afford to just be even in turnovers, or worse, have a negative turnover ratio.
Stopping the run will also be key. The Broncos had been good at it before they allowed Derrick Henry to run for 106 yards and two touchdowns against them, with an average of 4.6 yards per carry on Sunday.
“If we’re struggling to stop the run or can’t play the game on our terms, I think it’s going to be difficult for us to reach our goals,” Payton said.
The Broncos’ running game struggled against the Ravens, with Javonte Williams gaining just 42 yards on 12 carries, and Jaleel McLaughlin getting only 10 yards on five carries. Late in the game, rookie Audric Estime ran for 35 yards on five carries during the blowout.
So, could Estime, who fumbled twice earlier this season, get more chances moving forward? “I think that’s a good and fair question,” Payton said. “And I think I would answer yes.”
