Five Key Matchups: Broncos vs. Dolphins
Can Shaquil Barrett find a way to make another game-changing play as the Denver Broncos head to Miami?
As Aqib Talib serves his one-game suspension this weekend, the Broncos will count on Chris Harris Jr. to keep the secondary strong. The All-Pro cornerback will have his hands full, though, with Dolphins receiver Jarvis Landry. Though DeVante Parker hasn't had the season most expected, Landry has again come through as a top performer in Miami. He caught eight passes last week in a loss to New England, and it will be interesting to see if the Dolphins target him as heavily in Week 13. Especially against a player like Harris, that could be asking for trouble.
In back-to-back weeks, outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett has found a way to impact the game in drastic fashion. Against the Bengals, he blocked a punt that set up a golden opportunity for the Broncos. Then, last week against the Raiders, Barrett ripped the ball away from Derek Carr to put the Broncos in position to score. Should Barrett find a way to replicate this success against Jay Cutler, who returns this week after suffering a concussion, the Broncos will again be in position to take control of a game.
Running back Devontae Booker nearly put the Broncos on the board early against Oakland with a long reception, but he was ruled just short of the goal line. From there, the Broncos failed to punch the ball in the end zone, and those missing points would prove crucial later in the game. Perhaps Booker, who will match up at times against the dependable Kiko Alonso, can find a way to make -- and convert -- a similar play on Sunday against the Dolphins.
The Broncos' struggles against the tight end position this year have been well documented, and they'll face another dangerous -- and familiar -- opponent. For the first time, the Broncos will have to match up against former tight end Julius Thomas. Last year, Thomas was injured during Denver's meeting with Jacksonville, so the Broncos avoided the player who did so much damage as an offensive weapon in Denver. Justin Simmons, the young safety who has impressed his coaches and EVP of Football Ops./GM John Elway, will now be tasked with guarding the former Bronco at times. How he fares could determine the outcome of Sunday's game in Miami.
Donald Stephenson will make his first start of the season Sunday, and he'll face a tall task in Cameron Wake. The 2016 Pro Bowler is one of the best players on the Dolphins' roster and has tallied eight sacks so far in 2017. Stephenson will aim to stop Wake from adding more to his total this weekend. If he can help keep Trevor Siemian on his feet, that should give the Broncos the chance to move the ball.
