Broncos’ Strategy for Raiders TE Brock Bowers
Without Pat Surtain II available against the Raiders, the Broncos used a rotating group of defenders to cover tight end Brock Bowers. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s plan was to share Surtain’s coverage duties among several players.
Last Sunday in Houston, Denver managed well as cornerbacks successfully won their man-to-man matchups even without the reigning defensive player of the year. Safeties Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones helped by cutting off deep threats.
Defensive Rotation Against Bowers
Thursday night against the Raiders, the Broncos employed a defensive rotation to contain Bowers, the Raiders’ top offensive threat.
- Bowers had recently shined with 12 catches and three touchdowns against the Jaguars.
- With Surtain sidelined due to a pectoral strain for the second straight game, the Broncos did not rely solely on cornerback Riley Moss to cover Bowers.
- Instead, Joseph used multiple defenders in rotation to try different looks on Bowers.
“The toughest job with him is getting him tackled,” Joseph said of Bowers. “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?”
During the Raiders’ first drive, Barron took on Bowers at a key third down. McMillian covered him in the slot during the first quarter, and Moss shadowed him at another point on the second drive.
Game Moments
The game was tightly contested early on, with Denver and Las Vegas each punting on the opening drives of the second half during Thursday Night Football.
Summary
The Broncos effectively used a defensive rotation to limit Brock Bowers’ impact, compensating for Pat Surtain II’s absence and highlighting challenges in tackling the explosive tight end.