The Denver Broncos head on the road to battle the Houston Texans this weekend for their Week 9 gridiron matchup. The Texans are 3-4 and struggling to hit their stride on offense. However, their defense
is one of the best in the National Football League. This will be a tough road challenge, but one Denver is capable of winning if they execute. Here are three players I believe need to play at a high level in order for the Broncos to come away with a victory on Sunday.
Garett Bolles — Offensive Tackle
Left tackle Garett Bolles is the longest tenured member of the Broncos. In his ninth season in the National Football League, the franchise’s longtime blindside protector continues to perform at a high level. In fact, he might just be having the best season of his career.
So far in 2025, Bolles hasn’t allowed a single sack and has just four penalties. Even better? He has given up the least amount of pressure of any starting tackle in the NFL. Though his impact doesn’t stop there. Bolles’ play is a big reason for their uptick in production running the ball. J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey have had some of their best and most explosive runs of the season with #73 paving the way with his downfield blocking.
This weekend Bolles and teammate Mike McGlinchey have their biggest test of the season thus far. We all know the Broncos have a great edge rusher duo in Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper. Though the Texans boast a duo that is arguably just as formidable. Going up against Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter will be a big test for Denver’s offensive line. If they can protect Bo Nix and give him time to make plays down the field, that would go a long way toward achieving their seventh win of the season.
Kris Abrams-Draine — Cornerback
The Broncos’ secondary has continued to be a bright spot this season. Unfortunately, reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II will be sidelined for the next several games due to a pectoral strain. That will present some challenges for the unit but also more opportunities for some of their younger players.
It’s next man up in the Broncos’ secondary. Second-year pro Kris Abrams-Draine figures to see extensive playing time on Sunday opposite of Riley Moss. While the Texans’ offense is certainly missing Tank Dell, quarterback C.J. Stroud is known for distributing the football to a lot of different players. Even so, there is no doubt the Texans will be looking for ways to go after Abrams-Draine.
I’m interested to see how Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph approaches this game. Will he opt for more blitzes with zone coverages? Or will he still be calling man coverage at the highest rate in the NFL? With respect to Kris, I think we will see him in lot of off-man and zone coverages through the game. That should help him make some plays on the ball like we were accustomed to seeing during his collegiate days at Mizzou. Hopefully he can be consistent, keep the ball in front of him, and not allow big plays down the field.
J.K Dobbins — Running Back
As we’ve outlined at Mile High Report all week, the Texans’ defense is formidable. They do a really good job of shutting down opposing quarterbacks through the air and force a lot of turnovers. I wouldn’t call it a weakness of theirs, but trying to establish the running game against them is going to be crucial for Denver to secure a road win.
There is no doubt the Broncos’ rushing attack has revitalized in ‘25 with veteran J.K. Dobbins leading the way. In eight games, the veteran is third in the NFL with 634 rushing yards. He has been a productive player, especially on first and second downs, and has toppled the 100-yard mark twice over the past several games. And even second-round pick RJ Harvey has flashed—including three touchdowns—in last week’s blowout victory over the Cowboys.
Dobbins clearly has a hot hand right now. So why stop giving him the ball? Pound the rock. Playing on the road, controlling the clock and dictating the pace of the game is important. If Dobbins can get rolling and generate consistent yardage early on, that should help sustain drives and alleviate some pressure off the shoulders of quarterback Bo Nix. If the Broncos’ rushing attack can thrive on the road, I believe Denver’s odds of winning improve immensely.
