Flip Aggression Into Big Plays: Broncos-Eagles Week 5 Preview

After a 4-0 start to the season, the Eagles can’t afford a letdown in Week 5 against the Broncos. Denver just rolled a decimated Bengals squad 28-3, with their disruptive defense and a young quarterback who’s not afraid to run if the pocket collapses, and head coach Sean Payton has the Broncos believing they can beat anyone, including the Eagles.

Denver’s pass rush is dangerous, arguably one of the best in the NFL. Nik Bonitto has 4.5 sacks, the Broncos’ star on the pass rush. Jonathon Cooper is a problem as well; if the Eagles’ line doesn’t contain that pressure early, Jalen Hurts’ timing with A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and the other receiver options will suffer.

In the defensive backfield, Denver has been stingy. They’ve allowed only two completions of 30+ yards all season and are giving up only 5.9 yards per attempt, largely due to the otherworldly play of reigning DPOY Patrick Surtain II. That means the Eagles can’t sit back and wait for big plays to materialize; they need to create them. Quick hitters and motion should be on the menu to get the Broncos’ pass rush guessing. Keeping Denver off balance is imperative to getting a win here.

Containing Peyton’s Offense

Bo Nix is young and plays like it at times, but he’s been pretty efficient nonetheless. He’s thrown for 861 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. In Week 4, he posted a 114.3 passer rating against Cincinnati, picking apart the zone coverage they threw at him. The Eagles’ front four has to rattle Nix with pressure up the middle, and disguised blitzes, and forcing third and long situations will make the Linc as hostile as possible for Nix and the Denver offense. This hasn’t happened enough this season, and if Nix finds his rhythm, it will be a long day for the Birds.

The running game is another area where Denver wants to control the game. Javonte Williams has 228 rushing yards through four games and sets up Payton’s play-action looks. The Eagles’ interior defenders, specifically Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, must win that matchup to keep Nix in obvious passing downs. It’s imperative to limit the extra yards early in the game and not let them establish consistency, which is what they want. Quinyon Mitchell winning against Courtland Sutton will go a long way to keeping Denver going 3-and-out all game.

For the Eagles, the opportunity lies in Denver’s offensive third-down inconsistency. The Broncos rank 26th in third-down conversion rate and have been flagged for 28 penalties already this season. If the Eagles stay disciplined, they can flip field position and make Denver play from behind.

Getting the Eagles Offense Moving

This is the week for Brown and Smith to break out, as I’ve been asking for all season. Brown has just 151 yards through four games, Smith 189 with one touchdown. Against a defense that’s likely to send extra rushers, Hurts should get quick looks to his wideouts and let them put in work. Whoever isn’t covered by Surtain II should get targets. Saquon Barkley can also be a difference maker, provided he has some space to operate. Denver has given up 4.7 yards per carry to opposing backs. This is an area where the Eagles can really make a difference on offense. Barkley is averaging less than 1 yard before contact, and it’s crucial the offensive line gives Barkley some room to operate, which is a huge reason he is tied for 21st in rushing with 237 yards, yet being 4th in carries with 77.

The key to the passing game is how well Hurts’ mobility holds up against the Broncos’ uber-aggressive pass rush. This defense was built to contain mobile quarterbacks, as they have to contend with Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes in their division. He’s completed 69% of his passes with 5 touchdowns and no picks, and he’s rushed for 112 yards and four touchdowns. With the Broncos’ edge rushers selling out for sacks, designed QB runs and scrambles can punish them. This is something that the offense can really take advantage of. This will be a tall task with a banged-up offensive line, making their play incredibly important.

Kevin Patullo has to come up with answers, as Eagles fans have run out of patience with him, especially in the passing game. The Eagles are dead last in passing offense, which is unacceptable with the talent in the passing game.

Winning in the Trenches

On the defense side of the ball, the Eagles can’t let Nix get comfortable. The pass rush needs to collapse the pocket and keep Nix from getting comfortable, and keep him from working into his second and third reads like he did in Cincinnati. The secondary has to tackle well and limit yards after catch; this is what Peyton’s offenses are built on. One or two takeaways could change the game as well, and Nix has turned the ball over a bit, so that’s something to keep in mind in this game. That all starts with the defense getting pressure, though.

If the Eagles win in the trenches, finish drives with touchdowns, and keep mistakes to a minimum, they should have more than enough to stay perfect. This isn’t a game to coast, though. Denver is physical, opportunistic, and better coached than their record suggests. But if the Eagles counter the Broncos’ pressure and play like they have recently, 5-0 is realistic and within reach.

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