Moments after extending a Colts’ drive because of a holding call, Talib jumped the route by wide receiver Phillip Dorsett and snagged Luck’s pass on the run, returning it 46 yards for the touchdown and a 23-13 lead. It’s not just Von Miller that will need to be stopped, but also the NFL’s current active sack leader in Demarcus Ware.
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Last year, the Broncos captured a championship by following a formula for success that seem to be cribbed from a bygone era: Keep it conservative on offense and rely on a prolific, play-making defense to make pivotal plays in the decisive moments of close games.
To wit, two tidbits: With Andrew Luck at quarterback, the Indianapolis Colts are 3-1 against the Denver Broncos. You could say Miller is a super athlete and he simply got the best of Reitz. Miller’s pressure was constant, even when he didn’t get a hit on Luck he was breaking down the right side of the Colts pocket and forcing the QB to move around.
Not so risky this time. “Really, they kept us in the game”. “We’ve been in that situation all year last year”. “So those types of things, you’re going to struggle and they’re tougher to overcome. If we keep relying on (the defense to win games), eventually itâs gonna hurt us”.
Balance is of utmost importance to Chudzinski, who wants the Indianapolis offense to be able to adapt to anything a defense might throw at it.
Talib’s return was one of two defensive scores for the Broncos in the fourth quarter. With the Colts trailing 23-13, he led a 12-play, 80-yard drive and capped it with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Frank Gore. The pick-six put Denver up by 10, but Luck and company were not going to go away quietly.
While Luck’s season was over, the Broncos went on to win Super Bowl 50 thanks to a defence that was so dominant it drew comparisons to Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain units of the 1970s, the ’85 Bears and the turn-of-the-century Ravens. A feat they have accomplished the past three times Miller has faced Luck.
“This is what I am supposed to do”.
“All I saw in front of me was the end zone”, Butler said. “That’s what I live for”. Four times, they settled for Brandon McManus field goals, and Siemian was picked off by cornerback Donald Butler on a second-quarter throw to Sanders. Nick Palladino threw for 243 yards with five touchdown passes. His afternoon was done.
Broncos’ pass rushers, especially Von Miller, will be trying to sack/strip Luck.
Indianapolis Colts tight end Dwayne Allen, left, get tackled by Denver Broncos strong safety T.J. Ward during the first half in an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Denver. Only twice before have they recovered to make the playoffs.
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“It’s a shame the only play everyone’s probably going to remember is that (strip-sack) at the end”, Luck said. The Broncos’ first-year starter is a former Big Ten quarterback from Northwestern. The team said he was questionable to return. Their offense was carried by CJ Anderson, who put up 139 total yards with two touchdowns, and the Broncos may again lean on their running back after seeing how both Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick put up over 5 yards per carry in week one. He also became the fourth Broncos QBs drafted by the team to win his opening two starts. “No matter how much time or who we’re playing against, we know we’re good”. Luck was sacked five times and hit 11 others. To see what he does, it definitely pushes me to do better and I think it pushes everyone on our defense. Stewart was fined $18,231 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Newton in the opener and can expect another fine this week. I don’t pretend to understand every aspect of strategy. Marshall has received plenty of support and criticism over his decision to join San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick and other National Football League players in a plea for social change.
