The game plan for the Broncos to beat the Panthers and secure a rare win

The Denver Broncos stink. This is the worst Broncos team I can remember since the 1980s, and things are not going to get any better in the near future.

The Broncos are 3-7 and back on the road in Week 12. This time, Denver is traveling to face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Both teams have three wins, and both teams are continuing to look for answers with just a little over a month left in the regular season.

The Panthers are the caliber of opponent the Broncos can play with. In fact, there’s a chance the Broncos can walk away with the win on Sunday. However, what are the optics like for this bad team if they lose to an equally bad team?

How will the Broncos attack the Panthers on both sides of the ball? Let’s take a look.

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When the Broncos Run the Ball

Melvin Gordon is gone, so the Broncos will turn to a backfield duo of Latavius Murray and Marlon Mack. A few years ago, this combination could be considered one of the best in the league. Now, after age and injuries for both backs, it should still be a solid yet unspectacular combination for the Broncos.

Murray and Mack are built differently, but they have a similar skill set. Both can run between the tackles and play with power if necessary. These two could handle a large workload, and the Broncos should be planning on giving them such a workload on Sunday. If the game is tight, Murray and Mack can close out a game. If the line is stacked to stop the run, Murray and Mack can push for more yards after contact.

I have always appreciated Murray’s game. He’s a tall and swift runner who can eat up yards with his large gait. Mack is a player who was once seen as a quality starter before an Achilles’ injury knocked him out of the top spot with the Indianapolis Colts. I like the way Mack sets up defenders when he has the ball as a runner or receiver out of the backfield. While Murray is a bit more no-nonsense as a runner, Mack can create space with moves and quickness.

Marlon Mack’s double spin move was incredible. Amazing TD run 😱.

(@thecheckdown) pic.twitter.com/lj1joccsQy

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 18, 2019

The Broncos need to emphasize the ground game as much as possible on Sunday. I think this is a game to go off tackle and press the edge looking for cutback lanes. With Gordon, the Broncos got away from their wide-zone concepts. Hopefully, there is a return to that system all Broncos fans know, love, and appreciate.

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When the Broncos Pass the Ball

As Russell Wilson continues to ignore the middle of the field, the Broncos are in luck this week because out-breaking routes against the Panthers should work often. I’m usually writing or talking about using in-breaking routes, especially with Courtland Sutton, as the best plan of attack. This week, after studying every game the Panthers have played this season, I believe the outside is the way to go.

Sutton is set up nicely in this game if he comes through on double-moves to the outside. Running flag/corner routes aimed at the back corner of the pylon should work well with Sutton’s big body and reach to snare the ball over his shoulder. I also believe Sutton should be running some games within his route tree. I could see him working towards the inside, which can be a staple for Sutton most weeks, only to pivot to the outside where he should be wide open near the sideline.

Pivot routes are going to be huge for Kendall Hinton if the team wants it. This is the type of route that Hinton can excel at because it’s about deception and precision. Hinton can continue to be a favorite for Wilson, and he knows where to find the soft spot in a zone when coming back to the ball. While Jerry Jeudy and K.J. Hamler are both unlikely to play due to injuries, Hinton will be asked to do more – and he will be ready.

Courtland Sutton’s route-running 😳 pic.twitter.com/48FJvZDA7U

— PFF (@PFF) August 29, 2021

Without his full complement of weapons, Wilson has his work cut out for him. In addition to Sutton and Hinton, I want to see tight end Greg Dulcich get more work. He has 14 targets over the last three games, and I’d like to see him get more than 4-5 targets per game. Throw the ball to him 7-10 times and good things will happen.

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When the Panthers Run the Ball

Ever since they traded away Christian McCaffrey, the Panthers have still been able to run the ball somewhat effectively. D’Onta Foreman wasn’t the starter in the first game without McCaffrey, but he took over for Chuba Hubbard in the Panthers’ backfield. In fact, during the five games without McCaffrey we’ve seen Foreman go over 100 yards rushing in three of those contests. Foreman is clearly a capable back, and he presents a problem for the Broncos’ rush defense on Sunday.

He’s a big back with speed. That’s a deadly combination, and Foreman is certainly a player the Broncos will be focused on stuffing in Week 12. Foreman is the type of player you don’t want to build a head of steam. When he’s running at full speed, Foreman is a scary player to tackle because of his bad intentions. He wants to make tacklers pay for attempting to bring him down, and Foreman does a good job of dispensing his brand of justice.

When Foreman needs a breather, or when the team is in a passing down, then Hubbard gets on the field for the Panthers. Hubbard, a fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma State in 2021, does not have the power that Foreman has. However, he creates space with good vision, quickness, and juke moves to freeze defenders in their tracks. He won’t get much work unless the Panthers need to play catch-up football. In that event, Hubbard does create complications for an opponent because of his ability in space.

D'Onta Foreman as the #Panthers RB1 in Week 8:

🔷 26 carries
🔷 118 yards
🔷 3 TDs pic.twitter.com/hFcqCiWzGj

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 31, 2022

Stopping Foreman is key for the Broncos. The Panthers are not built to play from behind, and they will go away from Foreman if they fall behind. If/when that happens, expect Hubbard to get a lot of work as a check-down option for his quarterback.

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When the Panthers Pass the Ball

Sam Darnold is starting for the Panthers once again. He went down with a serious ankle injury in the Panthers’ preseason finale, but that didn’t cost him his starting job. Baker Mayfield had already won the starting job by that time, so Darnold’s injury wasn’t as catastrophic as it would have been had he won the job. After missing the entire season to this point, and after Mayfield struggling to impress, the Panthers are turning back to Darnold to see if they can salvage anything in this lost season.

Darnold’s return to the lineup should be good for star wide receiver D.J. Moore. With Mayfield out there, Moore was barely used and only has nine receptions over the last three games. To build a winning game plan, the Panthers need to feature Moore even more. In fact, if he had nine receptions in this game I wouldn’t be surprised. I’m not projecting that, something more like six catches for 80 yards and a touchdown sounds about right. He’s not always going to be on Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain, and when he’s not the Panthers need to take advantage with a savvy player like Moore.

Moore is the biggest threat for the Broncos’ secondary. However, I’d watch a player like Terrace Marshall on Sunday too. He’s questionable with a shoulder injury, so his status is up in the air as of this writing. If he plays, Marshall has put together a string of four games with at least 40 yards receiving. If Moore is covered, then Darnold may put his sights on a guy like Marshall.

Hope you started D.J. Moore today 😬pic.twitter.com/8ddhdXScTj

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) October 23, 2022

Passing the ball is not the Panthers’ strength. They certainly don’t feature the tight end much, but against the Broncos that could change. Ian Thomas is a talented tight end, but he’s mostly used as a blocker as the Panthers try to stay run-heavy if they can. I’m also interested to see how involved former CU wide receiver Laviska Shenault is on Sunday. Shenault is a talented player who has yet to play up to his potential in the pros. He got a fresh start with a new team this year, and out of the slot his combination of speed and power could be used as a weapon.

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