Broncos’ Approach to Raiders’ Tight End Brock Bowers
Without Pat Surtain II available against the Raiders, the Broncos employed a diverse defensive strategy to limit the impact of tight end Brock Bowers. From the start, Vance Joseph planned to share Surtain’s coverage responsibilities among multiple players.
Last Sunday in Houston, Denver’s cornerbacks effectively won their man-to-man matchups even without the reigning defensive player of the year, while safeties Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones neutralized threats over the top. However, the true defensive variety appeared Thursday night against the Raiders’ top offensive weapon.
Defensive Rotation to Contain Bowers
With Surtain sidelined for a second consecutive game due to a pectoral strain, cornerback Riley Moss was not the sole cover for Bowers. Instead, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph implemented a rotation of defenders aimed at containing him, especially after Bowers' breakout performance with 12 catches and three touchdowns last Sunday against the Jaguars.
"The toughest job with him is getting him tackled," Joseph said. "You can kind of cover him with a safety or a defensive back body, but can you get him on the ground after he catches the ball?"
- Barron covered Bowers on a third down during the Raiders' opening drive.
- McMillian took several turns guarding him in the slot during the first quarter.
- Moss shadowed Bowers on a different alignment in the Raiders’ second drive.
Game Snapshot
The Broncos and Raiders were tied 7-7, each punting on their first possessions of the second half during Thursday Night Football.
Denver’s defensive rotation aimed to reduce Bowers’ effectiveness by changing matchups and leveraging multiple players rather than relying on a single cornerback.
"Denver pulled it off last Sunday in Houston as cornerbacks won their man-to-man matchups effectively enough without the reigning defensive player of the year in uniform."
Summary
The Broncos successfully adopted a flexible, multi-player defensive strategy to contain Raiders' tight end Brock Bowers in the absence of Pat Surtain II, addressing the challenge of tackling and coverage through varied matchups.
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