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DENVER -- **Many a forest was cleared to create paper on which was printed endless stories about teams needing an "identity."
But perhaps the best identity -- or at least the one that has the best chance of success in the postseason -- is a diverse one, particularly on offense.
It is possible that the Broncos of the 2014 postseason will be a chameleon. During a four-game winning streak, they won with power running, play-action passes and a deliberate pace that shortened games -- by an average of 10.4 total plays (for both teams) from all of 2013 through Week 11 of 2014 to Weeks 12-15 (135.7 to 125.3).
But last week, in the third quarter, the Broncos went back to the no-huddle offense, following up on a quick-snap march at the end of the first half that got the offense into scoring range for the first time. They scored three consecutive touchdowns -- first on a short field set up by Omar Bolden's 77-yard kickoff return, then on drives of 75 and 91 yards. Cincinnati couldn't get make its usual pre-snap adjustments.
It worked. But sustaining the up-tempo offense is easier said than done. You can't play 60 minutes of prestissimo football without consequences.
"It's a lot of work on the quarterback, it's everybody being on the same page," said Offensive Coordinator Adam Gase. "Peyton (Manning) makes a lot of this stuff look really easy and it's come over time and experience.
"So it's easy to say, 'Hey just go up-tempo and you'll have the same success,' but we've kind of moved in and out of that this year. One game we've been good and one game we haven't. So once again it's just trying to find what's best for that game."
And warp-speed pace affects the defense, as well as the offense. In Weeks 1-11, the Broncos' defense was on the field for 66.6 plays per 60 minutes. That dropped to 60 in Weeks 12-15. And the defense cut its points allowed down by 1.95 points (from 21.7 to 19.75), while the offense, working at a grinding pace, only lost 0.1 point from its Weeks 1-11 average (28.6 to 28.5).
Don't expect the Broncos to accelerate from start to finish in any game from this point forward. But after the third quarter last week, do expect them to pick up the pace when the opportunity arises, if only for a short to intermediate burst.
It's possible the Broncos try and go up-tempo for a time against the Raiders on Sunday. But you can also expect the Broncos to be patient and grind. As the team heads into the playoffs, it does so with an identity that is adjustable -- and that could give it the best chance to win different types of games that loom in January -- and, they hope, February.
Tempo is one of the three keys to success for the Broncos in Week 17 as they try to clinch the No. 2 seed and the first-round bye that accompanies it.
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- CONTAIN THE RAIDERS' GROUND GAME.**
The emergence of rookie Latavius Murray has revitalized the Oakland rushing attack, and helped the Raiders establish a greater ball-control presence in recent weeks. When the game flow allows Oakland to stick with the run, the Raiders have the situaton they want; all three of their victories came when at least 40 percent of their plays were on the ground.
If they have early success, they'll stick with it, and could force the Broncos into a street fight.
2. NEUTRALIZE OAKLAND'S PASS RUSH.
It starts with rookie Khalil Mack, knowing where he is and using the tight end, extra offensive tackle or running back to help block him. Last week, Mack had a virtuoso performance: two tackles for losses, a sack and three quarterback hits.
His array of hand moves has improved in the last few weeks, and helped create his sack last week when he separated himself from Buffalo tackle Seantrel Henderson with a quick move, then accelerated to corral Kyle Orton for his fourth sack in six games.
3. USE TEMPO TO KEEP THE RAIDERS OFF-BALANCE.
The Broncos were able to mount their most successful drives last Monday in Cincinnati with up-tempo offense, but given the strain that places on a defense that is without three starting linebackers (Nate Irving, Danny Trevathan and his replacement, Brandon Marshall) and a nickel safety (Quinton Carter), and could be without a Pro Bowl safety (T.J. Ward), the Broncos will have to pick their spots -- and will need to have more success when they attempt to grind out a drive than they did against the Bengals.
Do you have a question for Andrew Mason? Ask it here and you might be in this week's Mailbag!
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Check out five key matchups that could affect the result of Sunday's game against the Raiders.
![As the season has progressed, the Broncos' linebacker corps has been the most depleted of all position groups. With injuries to Nate Irving, Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall, the bulk of the burden has landed on Steven Johnson and Todd Davis. The Broncos allowed a season-high 207 rushing yards to the Bengals on Monday night, 74 more yards than their previous high. They came into the game allowing an average of 71.6 rushing yards per game and Jeremy Hill was able to surpass that on one 85-yard touchdown run. The Raiders' run game was unable to take off early on this season but rookie Latavius Murray had a break out game during the Raiders' first win of the season as he ran over the Chiefs with 112 yards and two TDs in one half. He missed the Raiders' next game with a concussion and he has since gained 76, 59 and 86 rushing yards. Head Coach John Fox said the Raiders' run game is very different with Murray as the primary back."He's got good production," Fox said. "He looks like he has good size. It's a good one-two punch with he and [Darren] McFadden, [Maurice Jones-Drew] in there. You have a group that brings a lot of different looks to you. Very similar to a week ago. I think Oakland is committed to running the ball even with some of their groups that they play in a game, a little bit like Cincinnati. We didn't exactly tear it up last week, so it's something that's got out attention and we're working very, very hard."](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album_2x/f_auto/broncos/l7wimztvbxkhuuvudyom.jpg)
As the season has progressed, the Broncos' linebacker corps has been the most depleted of all position groups. With injuries to Nate Irving, Danny Trevathan and Brandon Marshall, the bulk of the burden has landed on Steven Johnson and Todd Davis. The Broncos allowed a season-high 207 rushing yards to the Bengals on Monday night, 74 more yards than their previous high. They came into the game allowing an average of 71.6 rushing yards per game and Jeremy Hill was able to surpass that on one 85-yard touchdown run. The Raiders' run game was unable to take off early on this season but rookie Latavius Murray had a break out game during the Raiders' first win of the season as he ran over the Chiefs with 112 yards and two TDs in one half. He missed the Raiders' next game with a concussion and he has since gained 76, 59 and 86 rushing yards. Head Coach John Fox said the Raiders' run game is very different with Murray as the primary back."He's got good production," Fox said. "He looks like he has good size. It's a good one-two punch with he and [Darren] McFadden, [Maurice Jones-Drew] in there. You have a group that brings a lot of different looks to you. Very similar to a week ago. I think Oakland is committed to running the ball even with some of their groups that they play in a game, a little bit like Cincinnati. We didn't exactly tear it up last week, so it's something that's got out attention and we're working very, very hard."
When the Broncos and Raiders faced off earlier this season, rookie Khalil Mack had yet to get the first sack of his career. Since that game, he has four sacks and made an immediate impact on the Raiders' defense and is a defensive rookie of the year candidate. He has been limited this week with a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable.Before his injury, Mack was a force against the Bills and he was able to get five tackles, one sack and three QB hits. He will look to get pressure on Peyton Manning on Sunday and take advantage of the Broncos' reshuffled offensive line."He's creating a lot of pressure on the quarterback," Offensive Coordinator Adam Gase said. "That's for one. He's got four sacks now, which he didn't have any coming into our last game. His biggest thing is he's very disruptive and he's popping free a lot more now. Seems like the more games he's played, the more comfortable he's getting and he's really creating a lot of pressure."
The last time the Broncos and Raiders played, Carr was kept on his feet. But that isn't truly telling of the amount of pressure he was under. Von Miller had six quarterback hurries while four other players had two. The Broncos also had six QB hits. Carr was forced to get rid of the ball very quickly, including once when he flipped a pass to Khalif Barnes, who took off with the ball and fumbled the ball away. Carr said he's learned a lot this season – it has taken time for him to get used to all the different pressures, different coverages and the speed of the game. "I've definitely learned a lot and I'm glad that this whole season I've been playing," Carr said. "I'm glad that since day one they've trusted me to start because there's so much experience you can learn off the field but there's nothing like playing in the games, playing out there, playing against the best competition and learning that way."Carr has improved drastically since their Week 10 matchup. "I've seen a young quarterback with a lot of skills, can make all the throws, looks way more comfortable this time around than he was back in November when we faced him," Head Coach John Fox said of Carr. "So, I've seen a guy get better, and that's really what I look at more than years of service."Carr's offensive line has done an excellent job of preventing sacks this season, ranking fourth in the NFL in sacks per attempt. But with Ware and Miller, he will have a lot of pressure on him on Sunday.
![When Justin Tuck was asked if the Raiders' win over the Broncos could be motivation for next season, he reminded the media that their season isn't over. In fact, a division rivalry game stands in between them and the offseason."The season isn't over yet," Tuck said. "We have one more to play and that's where our focus is. When all that's done, then we'll turn our focus on to the offseason and looking back and what went wrong and things of that nature. We still have one left and that's where our mind is. Denver is a great football team that's obviously going to get to play in the playoffs and have a great shot at the thing and we just want to go out there and make life a little difficult, at least one more week for them."While Khalil Mack is a key part of the defense, Tuck has two sacks in the last three games and has totaled 24 tackles and 10 tackles for loss on the season. He brings a veteran presence to this team and has helped them rank No. 10 in rushing yards per play."I think that's a big strength of their defense, is their front," Head Coach John Fox said of the Raiders. "They are big, physical. You have a young guy in Khalil Mack, who is one of the better talents in the league on one end. And Justin Tuck, who has done a lot. You have good presence and good [players] inside. I thought it took us a minute to kind of get an idea of what was going on and adjust."Louis Vasquez will have a tough matchup facing off against Tuck and the Broncos will look to protect Manning as well get their run game going again after an uneven performance on Monday night.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_auto/broncos/qmnnu36mhvmnlstqss7j.jpg)
When Justin Tuck was asked if the Raiders' win over the Broncos could be motivation for next season, he reminded the media that their season isn't over. In fact, a division rivalry game stands in between them and the offseason."The season isn't over yet," Tuck said. "We have one more to play and that's where our focus is. When all that's done, then we'll turn our focus on to the offseason and looking back and what went wrong and things of that nature. We still have one left and that's where our mind is. Denver is a great football team that's obviously going to get to play in the playoffs and have a great shot at the thing and we just want to go out there and make life a little difficult, at least one more week for them."While Khalil Mack is a key part of the defense, Tuck has two sacks in the last three games and has totaled 24 tackles and 10 tackles for loss on the season. He brings a veteran presence to this team and has helped them rank No. 10 in rushing yards per play."I think that's a big strength of their defense, is their front," Head Coach John Fox said of the Raiders. "They are big, physical. You have a young guy in Khalil Mack, who is one of the better talents in the league on one end. And Justin Tuck, who has done a lot. You have good presence and good [players] inside. I thought it took us a minute to kind of get an idea of what was going on and adjust."Louis Vasquez will have a tough matchup facing off against Tuck and the Broncos will look to protect Manning as well get their run game going again after an uneven performance on Monday night.
After a slow start with 12 catches through five games for 83 yards, Mychal Rivera has broken out as a go-to target for rookie Derek Carr. During the Raiders' win over the 49ers, he had seven targets for seven catches and 109 yards and his fourth TD of the year.Early on this season, the Raiders struggled to gain significant yards in the air, but Rivera's consistent playmaking abilities and Carr garnering more experience has allowed to duo to gain some momentum.Despite the Broncos' top-five defense, top-tier tight ends have caused some trouble for them. T.J. Ward is coming off a neck strain he suffered against the Bengals and is listed as questionable. He was limited all week. But if he is to play, he is likely to be one of a variety of players who will cover the 6-3, 245-pound tight end.
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