The Denver Broncos are 8-2 and sit atop of the AFC West. This weekend, they host the Kansas City Chiefs for their Week 11 gridiron matchup in a pivotal game that will have significant implications on playoff seeding and how the division winds up. Here are three players I believe need to play at a high level in order for the Broncos to come away with a victory against the Chiefs.
Nik Bonitto — Edge Rusher
When the other team has a Hall of Fame bound quarterback, it’s never easy figuring out a game plan to rattle them. That’s
the big test for Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph this week who will be tasked with trying to figure out how to limit Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense.
Being without Patrick Surtain II will hurt. The Chiefs have a lot of different weapons Mahomes loves to throw to. Thankfully the Broncos have the best pass rush in the National Football League and one of the best edge rushers in Nik Bonitto.
Bonitto leads the Broncos with 9.5 sacks (third best in the NFL) and also has 32 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 20 quarterback hits to go along with it. He is on pace to easily best his efforts from last season which earned him a gargantuan multi-year extension prior to the season. After going sackless against the Giants, Cowboys, and Texans, the fourth-year pro is coming off game against the Raiders where he had 1.5 sacks, 5 tackles, two tackles for loss, and 3 quarterback hits against the Raiders.
Bonitto’s get-off at the line of scrimmage is elite and his ability to disrupt plays at times seems effortless. In order to secure a much-needed win against the Chiefs, the Broncos will need him to be at his best. Keep in mind, Mahomes gets the ball out fast, has great mobility, and magician-like ability to create outside the pocket. Bonitto’s athleticism and range should certainly help limit that on Sunday.
RJ Harvey — Running Back
With veteran running back J.K. Dobbins slated to miss Sunday’s gridiron affair due to a foot injury, the Broncos are losing one of their most productive players on offense. He has been a key cog in their running success on early downs and has helped craft Denver’s rushing attack to one of the best in the league.
That will put some added pressure on rookie running back RJ Harvey who is expected to see a significant increase in opportunities with Dobbins sidelined. To date, Harvey has 50 rushes for 214 yards and 2 touchdowns and 25 receptions for 175 yards and 4 touchdowns. His three-touchdown performance against the Dallas Cowboys several weeks ago was his highlight game of the season.
While he has had some big runs, this year’s second-round pick has carried the ball more than five times in just three games this season. How he performs with an increased workload will certainly be one of the biggest things to monitor this weekend. I expect a heavy dose of zone running concepts, especially those to the outside, that highlight Harvey’s best abilities. However, finding a way to grind things out on the interior will also be mission critical.
Bo Nix — Quarterback
I don’t like making it a habit of throwing Bo Nix into the pressure cooker in these articles. However, after his concerning performance on Thursday Night Football last week, I felt obligated to place the second-year signal caller back into the mix of players who need to perform well.
The Raiders’ defense wasn’t great, but this Chiefs defense coached by Steve Spagnuolo is no joke. The Chiefs’ defense is allowing the third-best completion percentage to opposing QBs this season at 71.5-percent, though they are Top 5 in yards and touchdowns allowed. They do a good job of keeping plays in front of them but have been somewhat susceptible to giving up big plays down the field.
One area Nix has done well this year is beating man coverage. Spanguolo likes to run a lot of those Cover 0 and Cover 1 looks, which may present Denver with some opportunities down the field. Nix’s deep ball accuracy has been erratic this season, but don’t be surprised if you see him and the Broncos try to move the ball down the field. At some point in time, they will have to get that going in order to be a more consistent and explosive offense.
Denver’s offensive line is going to have to step up and give Nix the protection he needs to succeed. Moreover, Nix is going to have to step up into the pocket and deliver throws. His footwork and mechanics have been an issue all year long. I’m not sure how quickly that can be corrected, but playing with poise, being decisive, and limiting mistakes will of the utmost importance if the Broncos want to get their ninth win of the season.
