ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --It seems as though the Broncos have built toward this day for over 11 months: the beginning of a postseason that will define the legacy of the 2014 Broncos and their quest to make right what went wrong in Super Bowl XLVIII.
But some have awaited this moment for longer. Four members of their projected starting lineup Sunday were on injured reserve by the time last year's playoffs arrived: left tackle Ryan Clady, defensive lineman Derek Wolfe, linebacker Von Miller and safety Rahim Moore.
Of that quartet, perhaps none anticipates Sunday more than Moore.
Because of a bout with compartment syndrome that nearly cost him his leg, he spent last year's postseason on injured reserve, unable to atone for his misplay on a deep pass that allowed Baltimore's Jacoby Jones to score a game-tying touchdown late in regulation of what would be a 38-35 double-overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens two years ago this week.
Moore tearfully owned up to the mistake, then spent the next 10 months trying to make up for it before his 2013 season ended.
Sunday, he finally gets his second chance at a start in the playoffs, one day shy of two years since the Ravens defeat. He's done his best to atone, but that game is long ago in his mind.
"Yeah, I mean, each and every week you've got to go out there and make them forget something," Moore said.
"I'm not eager for [anything]. I'm not anxious. I just want to go out there and have fun and just play as a team."
But at any one point, the team may ride on him, or any other of the 46 players active for Sunday.
"I told Rahim, 'We're riding on you,'" said cornerback Chris Harris Jr., whose postseason 12 months ago lasted just over two quarters before he tore his anterior cruciate ligament. "If you go and make plays and be an impact player, that's going to make everything easier for everybody else on their defense."
And given the Colts' love of the deep pass, Moore will be in Andrew Luck's crosshairs.
"They're going to take shots, so Rahim is huge," said Harris. "He's got to be huge this week."
And that brings us to the three keys to Sunday's do-or-die duel near downtown Denver:
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- KEEP THE COLTS DEFENSE OFF-BALANCE.**
Colts defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said Thursday that his unit would have to "mix it up" and "disguise" its looks and pre-snap intentions in order to try and catch the Broncos off-guard. But if the Broncos offense can dictate the flow of the game, the Colts won't have the flexibility to try and mask their plans.
Whether it is through varying the tempo, using the run to set up the play-action or continuing to run out of three-wide receiver sets -- as the Broncos have done to success at times in recent weeks -- the Broncos must take control of the game away from Indianapolis' defense, and reduce their tactical possibilities.
2. WIN THE TURNOVER BATTLE.
Giveaways have been a problem for the Colts, and the one clear issue for their emerging offense. Indianapolis' 31 giveaways ranks in a tie for 29th in the league, and undermines an offense that is one of the league's most efficient in overall per-play and per-game production -- and leads the league in passing yardage per game.
The equation for success for the Broncos could involve takeaways that make up for yardage allowed. But if the Broncos can't protect the football when they possess it, any advantage the defense gains against the Colts offense will be lost.
3. LIMIT ANDREW LUCK'S OPTIONS.
The Colts quarterback thrives when he can spread the football around, as he did last week when he hit nine different targets for 31 completions, led by running back Daniel Herron's 10 receptions. If Pro Bowl cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. can take care of business, then Luck's collection of possibilities will narrow, and then it will be a matter of ensuring that inside and short targets like Herron and tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen don't rack up yardage after the catch.
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How will the Broncos' corners combat T.Y. Hilton? We answer that and more in this week's Five Key Matchups.
When these teams met in Week 1, Harris saw his first game action since tearing his ACL in the playoffs last year, and only played about half the snaps. "At that time, I wasn't fully healthy," Harris said. "I was going in and out of the game when we played them the first time. "So now this time, I'll be in … shoot, I'm not coming out," Harris added with a laugh. His 39 plays against the Colts were by far his lowest this season, and he and Talib stuck to their right and left sides, respectively, while Bradley Roby manned the slot. How the Broncos decide to cover Hilton this week could change. Denver's corners have shadowed specific receivers in recent weeks, and Harris' body type and comfort moving to the slot seems like a good match for the shifty Hilton. At the same time, Talib shadowed Hilton for the Patriots in the divisional playoffs last year. One way or another, the first-time Pro Bowl wide receiver is a dangerous threat that must be contained. Hilton's 19 100-yard games in his career are the second-most any player has posted in his first three seasons since 1960, behind only Randy Moss. If the Broncos can limit Hilton to the five catches and 41 yards he had in Week 1, the Colts' passing attack will lack some of its bite.
With reigning Deacon Jones award-winner Robert Mathis missing the entire season due to suspension and injury, the Colts have been without a top-flight pass rusher. Yet, while no player picked up more than 6.5 sacks on the season, the Colts still finished tied (with the Broncos) for ninth in the NFL with 41 sacks in 2014. Fifteen different players had a share of a sack, including seven players who had at least three. The pass-rush-by-committee approach has served Indy well, and it's been driven primarily by defensive coordinator Greg Manusky's blitz packages. Manusky's been willing to bring players from all over the field, as six different defensive backs have picked up sacks or quarterback hits this year. Montgomery, who is responsible for the line's protection calls, will have to be ready for the multitude of looks and help the line adjust on the fly. Anderson will have to be on point mentally as well. The cleaner this pair can keep Peyton Manning's jersey, the more trouble the Colts' defense will have.
The Colts didn't have an answer for Thomas in Week 1, as the tight end scored three touchdowns in the second quarter against three different defenders in man coverage. But since his ankle injury against the Rams in Week 11, Thomas has just three catches for 63 yards and no touchdowns. He said Monday that the diminished production is "maybe a combination" of the lingering injury and how defenses are playing him since his hot start. Wednesday, Chuck Pagano said, "We expect to see Julius at his best," but it will be interesting to see how the Colts' defense plays the tight end. Will they gear up to stop Thomas and avoid a repeat of Week 1, or will they treat Thomas as a less dangerous target because of his depressed production of late? Either way, expect to see Freeman, the former CFL star, matched with Thomas plenty on Sunday. In Week 1, Thomas caught a 34-yard fade when split out wide left opposite Freeman. Five plays later, he capped the drive with a touchdown despite tight coverage from Freeman on a drag route. If Thomas can exploit man coverage just as well this weekend, the Colts may struggle to stop Denver's passing attack.
Since Ahmad Bradshaw went down in Week 12 against the Patriots, Herron has stepped in as the Colts' primary back on passing downs. He played 58 snaps a week ago against the Bengals and had 85 yards on 10 catches, as Andrew Luck consistently checked down to Herron and let him run. The former sixth-round pick has proven slippery, putting the onus on the Broncos' linebackers in coverage. Brandon Marshall has been excellent at sniffing out screens and tracking down backs this year, but is listed as questionable for Sunday's game. Giovani Bernard and Latavius Murray got free for 105 combined receiving yards on 10 catches against the Broncos sans Marshall in Weeks 16 and 17. If Denver's young 'backers have to step up, how they handle Herron out of the backfield could be key. Considering Herron's tendency to fumble – two in the regular season and two more last week – and limited experience in pass protection, the Broncos' LBs will try to turn the tables and capitalize on the running back's youth.
As the Broncos' running game has picked up steam in the second half of the season, Orlando Franklin has been a primary factor. The former right tackle has settled in at left guard, with Pro Football Focusing crediting him with positively graded games in six of the final seven weeks of the year. Franklin finished as the Broncos' best offensive lineman according to PFF, primarily for his work in the run game. The Colts signed Jones to a five-year deal in March to plug holes and take up blockers, but Jones missed nine games in the middle of the season due to an ankle injury. Indianapolis allowed at least 4.5 yards per carry in seven of those games and at least 5.3 in six. Since Jones returned in Week 13, the Colts' D has allowed more than four yards per carry just twice in seven games (including playoffs). Franklin should draw Jones, who plays primarily right defensive end, frequently on Sunday. If Franklin can get the consistent push he's shown in the second half of the season, the Broncos should be able to move the ball on the ground.
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