Broncos’ goal in preventing multi-game losing streak: Match Pittsburgh’s urgency

Two years ago, the Broncos began to excavation retired of an 0-4 crater by defeating the Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans.

Momentum generated, the Broncos hosted Kansas City successful premier clip and were blown retired of the stadium, 30-7 — the commencement of 4 losses successful 5 games.

Last year, the Broncos started a ascent retired of a 0-3 commencement by winning 3 of their adjacent 4 games.

Hope created, the Broncos mislaid consecutive games astatine Atlanta and Las Vegas — the commencement of a 2-7 slump to decorativeness the season.

Is this year’s Broncos squad different? Can they get disconnected the canvas (coach Vic Fangio boxing analogy) aft being connected the concern extremity of a haymaker from Baltimore past week? Are they outfitted with capable leaders to debar the commencement of a losing streak Sunday astatine Pittsburgh?

“We person nary choice,” information Justin Simmons said earlier signifier Wednesday. “We person to respond. It’s not the nonaccomplishment past Sunday that defines you arsenic a shot team, it’s however you respond to the nonaccomplishment that defines you arsenic a bully shot team.”

To that end, the leaders enactment their teammates connected notice.

“Practice this week needs to beryllium much amped than it has been successful weeks anterior and it conscionable can’t halt there, it has to transportation implicit to a pugnacious situation successful Pittsburgh and uncovering a mode to win,” Simmons said.

The Broncos request that consciousness of serviceable desperation.

They cognize the opponents successful Weeks 6-7 — 3-1 Las Vegas astatine location and 3-1 Cleveland connected the roadworthy successful a abbreviated week. They cognize their roster’s wounded concern — backmost Teddy Bridgewater remains successful the concussion protocol. And they cognize the Steelers are slumping (1-3).

“Pittsburgh is ever going to play with a consciousness of urgency,” Fangio said. “That’s conscionable who they are and we person to beryllium acceptable to person our own.”

Three things volition origin successful the Broncos flying location 4-1 oregon 3-2:

1. Big plays connected offense

The Broncos are averaging 4.35 yards per rushing effort (12th) and 10.92 yards per completion (19th). The nonaccomplishment of receivers Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler was felt against Baltimore, erstwhile the Broncos were 1-of-8 passing connected attempts that traveled astatine slightest 16 “air” yards.

Only 4 of receiver Courtland Sutton’s 18 catches person been “explosive” gains (at slightest 16 yards).

The Broncos successful wide and Sutton and receiver Tim Patrick (five explosive catches retired of 15) successful peculiar request to get chances to agelong the tract vertically.

“We privation to beryllium those people,” Sutton said of accepting the unit to produce. “I usage the term, ‘Being the spoon.’ You person regular beverage and past you enactment the cocoa successful determination and you request the spoon to stir. I bash look astatine myself arsenic a feline who wants to beryllium the spoon and marque a play to get the discourtesy going and get immoderate foodstuff going.”

2. Back connected takeaway train

The Broncos are 8-3 nether Fangio erstwhile winning the turnover differential, including wins past period implicit Jacksonville and the Jets.

Against Baltimore, the defense, portion doing mostly coagulated enactment stopping the run, could not springiness a laboring discourtesy a abbreviated tract to ascent backmost into the game.

The Steelers person 5 turnovers successful 4 games.

3. Better walk protection

Left tackle Garett Bolles, according to The Denver Post’s crippled charting, was booked for a half-sack successful 15 games past year.

Through 4 games this year, helium is connected the hook for 4 sacks and besides 1 knockdown and 4 pressures.

Relayed that Bolles had been captious of himself aft the Ravens game, Fangio said: “He needs to beryllium better. He should beryllium captious of himself. He didn’t play good capable (Sunday).”

Harsh? Yes. Accurate? Yes. Bolles is paid to beryllium elite. He needs to prime it up.

The Broncos person allowed 43 “disruptions” done 4 games (12 sacks, 13 knockdowns and 20 pressures).

In Fangio’s archetypal 2 years, the Broncos had 7 multi-game losing streaks. It’s clip to debar an eighth.

“Everybody comes successful each time with the close mindset of however we’re going to get amended today,” antiaircraft extremity Shelby Harris said. “You can’t bash thing astir Baltimore — that’s over. On to Pittsburgh.”