Saddle up your horses….Broncos vs. Colts Game Preview

No doubt that Sunday’s game will be an emotional day filled with big plays and big thoughts as Broncos receiver Kenny McKinley, 23, took his life earlier this week sending shockwaves throughout the Broncos organization. This is not the first time that tragedy has struck the organization as Darrent Williams was gunned down in a drive by shooting a few years ago and a Broncos running back Damien Nash was playing in a charity basketball game and collapsed and died shortly there after. The Broncos have always been a strong organization and at this time they will need that strength to deal with the latest tragedy. There is no question that McKinley will be on the hearts and minds of every Denver player from the kickoff till the end of the season.

The Colts come in fresh off a Sunday night victory against the New York Giants where the story was not Peyton Manning and the passing attack but it was the ground game that got it done. Joseph Addai and Donald Brown racked up the yardage on the ground ultimately giving way to Manning and his precision passing game. For the Broncos it is all about the running game that sets up the passing of Kyle Orton. With Knowshon Moreno running the ball and the stout offensive line Denver loves to run, run, run and then hit you with the pass. Last season against the Colts the Broncos threw the ball all over the field with Brandon Marshall having a career day in receptions, but this season Marshall is in Miami and Denver has been hit with many key injuries on the defensive side of the ball. With emotions riding high this will either be a game for the ages or a one sided affair.

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Keys to the Game:

Colts running attack

Denver’s offensive line

If Indianapolis can continue to run the ball like they did on Sunday night they will have no problem getting back to the Super Bowl but can they? If other teams watch what the Giants did I am sure not many will play with 6 defensive backs and allow Indy to run the ball down the throat of the defense. We all know that it is Peyton Manning’s team and it seems as though he can pass at will but the running game is a significant part of the success of the Colts.

For the Broncos the offensive line is the key (just ask Eli Manning) in Sunday nights game Mathis and Freeney caused massive destruction in the backfield and if Denver’s line is not up to the task the same will happen on Sunday afternoon. Look for Denver to run a lot, and set up the screen pass to slow down the fast Colts defense.

Key Match-up:

Offensive line of Denver vs. Defense of the Colts

Fact is everyone knows what Denver does they enjoy smash mouth football, but Josh McDaniels is a wild card coming out of that New England Patriots style coaching ranks, at any rate he must slow down the fast moving defense of Indianapolis and in order to do that he must be able to run the ball and set up the play action pass if he can do that it may just give Kyle Orton and the Broncos enough time to be successful. For the defense you will be able to tell where the game will go by the end of the first half, if the ends are successful in touching the quarterback and putting the offense in 3 rd and long it will be a long day for the Broncos.

Prediction:

Look for Peyton to assert himself and air it out in this game, fact is in the previous 2 games he has 6 touchdown passes with no interceptions ( look for him in this game to get his first) the Colts will establish the rushing attack and set up the passing game. I look for Orton and the Broncos to be in the game for most of the time but I believe that the Indianapolis offense will outlast the defense of the Broncos.

By Sam Adams
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer