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Broncos vs. Saints: Matchups

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 18, 2008 at 9:33 p.m.

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WHEN THE BRONCOS RUN THE BALL

* The skinny: Lost in the jet wash of the Broncos' passing game so far this season is the fact Denver has rushed for at least 141 yards in each of its two games. And from the Saints' perspective, with injuries at strong-side linebacker (Scott Fujita) and in the secondary with safety Roman Harper, cornerback Randall Gay and cornerback Mike McKenzie already having missed time this season, they have surrendered at least 146 yards in both their games, at 5.8 yards a carry.

* It's a fact: The Broncos have run the ball on only 39 percent of first-and-10 plays this season. Baltimore, which leads the NFL in rushing, has run the ball on 77 percent of first-and-10 plays.

Advantage: Broncos

WHEN THE BRONCOS PASS THE BALL

* The skinny: New Orleans cornerback Aaron Glenn is a question mark for Sunday because of an ankle injury he suffered in Washington last weekend, and McKenzie just now is coming back to limited duty after offseason knee surgery. So this is trouble for the Saints. The Broncos have shown they can move the ball in the passing game, protect the quarterback, and Jay Cutler can make throws into tight spots. Healthy secondaries, let alone ones dealing with the kinds of injuries the Saints have had, will have a problem.

* It's a fact: After two games this year, including a 50-attempt game Sunday, Cutler is averaging 37 pass attempts. After two games last season, he was averaging 36.

Advantage: Broncos

WHEN THE SAINTS RUN THE BALL

* The skinny: The Saints were unable to do much at the line of scrimmage against the Buccaneers and Redskins. In Washington, they rushed for only 55 yards, a big reason they couldn't hold what was a nine-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter. New Orleans is trying to mix and match three backs who all want the ball, with Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas and Deuce McAllister all looking for carries. McAllister, with only two carries against the Redskins, has been the odd man out as he comes back from a knee injury.

* It's a fact: Last season, Thomas became the first back in Saints history, and only the second rookie in NFL history, to have at least 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in the same game.

Advantage: Broncos

WHEN THE SAINTS PASS THE BALL

* The skinny: Even without receiver Marques Colston in the offense - he is expected to miss at least another month because of a thumb injury - and tight end Jeremy Shockey having been spotty so far, this still is one way the Saints could frustrate the Broncos defense. And without Colston, the troubling part for the Broncos is that the Saints' primary option in the passing game is now Bush, who leads the team in receptions with 15, seven more than the next player - Shockey. That's because Sunday the Broncos surrendered a 67-yard reception to Chargers fullback Mike Tolbert and a 66-yard touchdown reception to Chargers running back Darren Sproles.

* It's a fact: In seven previous games against the Broncos - all of them came when he was with the Chargers - quarterback Drew Brees has thrown two touchdown passes, compared with five interceptions.

Advantage: Saints

SPECIAL TEAMS

* The skinny: Two games in and the Broncos already have the kind of list going in kick coverage they don't want. Oakland's Johnnie Lee Higgins had a 58-yarder in the season opener and Sproles popped through the middle for a 103-yard touchdown return Sunday. The Saints' explosiveness comes from Bush in the return game. He has returned only two punts this season, but one was a 55-yard return for a touchdown. Thomas has yet to shake loose for the Saints on a kickoff return this year, but he had a 64-yarder last season.

* It's a fact: With opponents averaging 30.5 yards per kickoff return, the Broncos are 31st in the league. Even taking Sproles' return out of the equation, the Broncos still are surrendering 23.9 yards per return, which would be 23rd.

Advantage: Saints

INTANGIBLES

* The skinny: There is no shortage of confidence in and around the Broncos these days, especially with the heady numbers Cutler and the offense have put up this season. But the Saints have enough offense of their own to pounce if the Broncos let them, especially if the Broncos let Brees get comfortable.

Advantage: Broncos

Jeff Legwold's prediction: Broncos 38-23

Comments

  • September 19, 2008

    7:34 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    vvsignin writes:

    Broncos win this one, but Saints score in the 30's also.

  • September 19, 2008

    10:07 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Midnight127 writes:

    Only 38? Haha...that's ok. As long as we get the W.

  • September 19, 2008

    10:09 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    oc60 writes:

    Can't wait to see both the running & passing game explode with more balance maybe reaching 500 yds total offense because the Saints D is hurting due to injuries. This could be the weekend for more yardage records for the young Broncos. Our best defense is to keep the Offense on the field and control the clock. Go Broncos!

  • September 20, 2008

    3:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bobo16 writes:

    No arguement, the broncos are the best offensive team in the NFL..in fact, i would compare them to the Patriots last season..considering they are running New Englands old offense..but the question is can our D stick with the Saints and power house Regie Bush and super QB Drew Brees..well Legwold good guess..but i say 44-30 Blue and Orange