x
Breaking News
More () »

Klis List: How the Broncos can prevail at Baltimore in first road test

A Klis List of things for the Broncos to follow if they are to beat the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.
Credit: USA TODAY Sports

ENGLEWOOD – They are a 2-0 team. But are the Broncos a serious playoff contending team?

Because the Broncos have so far won home squeakers against opponents who are 0-2 – the Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders – there remains question as to how good Denver really is.

We’ll have a better idea after their next two games starting with their first road test Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. Beating them would set up an AFC West showdown the following Monday night against the Kansas City Chiefs at Broncos Stadium at Mile High.

First things, first. Here’s a Klis List of things for the Broncos to follow if they are to beat the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.

*Best from Case

OK, Case Keenum. You’ve had your two-game break in. And you’ve won ‘em both with terrific fourth quarter comebacks.

But this has to be your best game. By best, we mean no turnovers. You don’t have to throw for 300 yards and three touchdowns. A nice 225-yard, 1 TD, 0 pick performance will do on the road.

It’s OK to move around in the pocket – that’s when you are at your best. But given your sore knee, better start finishing off those scrambles with a slide.

*Pressure Flacco

There are two sides of the ball and the Denver D will also have to play its best game. The Ravens’ offensive line has struggled at the tackle positions. Ronnie Stanley is not off to a great start at left tackle and right tackle James Hurst is no match for Broncos’ pass rusher Von Miller.

Flacco stands tall in the pocket but he’s not mobile and because he likes to throw the ball downfield to the likes of John Brown, he’ll hang on to it a tick longer than Oakland’s Derek Carr did last week.

*Keep the Ravens’ running game grounded

Baltimore has solid backs in Alex Collins, Javorius Allen and Kenneth Dixon, but they are only averaging a combined 3.0 yards per carry. Denver’s D is only allowing 3.6 yards per rush.

*Get Demaryius going

The Broncos’ offense eventually will need better production from Demaryius Thomas, their No. 2 all-time leading receiver. Even if Emmanuel Sanders is now the team’s No. 1 receiver, Thomas must do better than his 5 catch-18 yards-2 drops stat line from last week against the Raiders.

Thomas was out working extra after practice this week, which is not unusual whether in good times or bad.

"I've been in this league 9 years,'' Thomas said. "It's what I do.''

An early screen and short hitch in the first series or two could get his confidence going.

*Keep up in the kicking game

Baltimore’s Justin Tucker has been the NFL’s best kicker for going on seven seasons. He’s 10 of 10 in kicks so far this season, including a 55-yard field goal. Brandon McManus has been nails so far this season, going 9 for 9 including field goals of 53 and 51 yards.

Placekickers are the difference in tight games and if the Broncos are to win on the road, they’ll probably have to win another close one.

Baltimore also has one of the more consistent punters in Sam Koch, who has a 53.3-yard gross average with a 45.4-yard net that ranks in the top 5 in each category.

Denver’s Marquette King is 16th with a 47.1-yard gross average and 11th with a 43.3-yard net.

*Not now John Brown

After four up-and-down seasons in Arizona, Brown signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Ravens and the speedster is off to a fine start with seven catches at 19.4 yards per with two touchdowns.

The secondary has emerged as the Broncos’ top concern.

*Feed Phillip and the playmakers

Phillip Lindsay is the early NFL Rookie of the Year leader as has 178 yards rushing to 134 for the Giants’ Saquan Barkley. Lindsay was undrafted; Barkley was the No. 2 overall pick.

Lindsay, rookie receiver Courtland Sutton and veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders could be mismatches against the Ravens’ secondary that features 32-year-old cornerback Brandon Carr and 33-year-old safety Eric Weddle.

Before You Leave, Check This Out