The Denver Broncos are sitting at 11-2 on the season and in first place in the AFC heading into Week 15, but they have done that despite being near the top of the league in a couple of areas where you don't want to be at the top.
The Broncos have been criticized for not having enough offense to win a Super Bowl by their detractors, but two other areas where the team is not faring well threaten to derail its season much quicker.
First, the Broncos rank near the top of the league in penalties. If you have watched every game this season, it's likely you have been quite frustrated with the number of yellow flags on the field. The Broncos have been called for 106 penalties through their first 13 games this season, second to only the Jacksonville Jaguars (112). The 966 penalty yards against are the most in the league.
This is something that will eventually hurt the Broncos at the worst possible time. The team is going to need to find a way to be much more disciplined down the stretch this season and into the playoffs.
In addition, the Broncos have had 40 three-and-out possessions this season. Those are possessions that last just three plays and end with a punt. That number is second only to the Philadelphia Eagles, who have 41.
This is the result of some poor play calls and a running game that doesn't do enough on first and second down, leading to too many third-and-long situations. That might not get you beat against the likes of the Commanders and Raiders, but tough playoff teams are going to make you pay for it.
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Many critics feel that the Broncos are a team that is both lucky and being carried by a strong defense, but one that will be exposed in the postseason. The team is defying many odds to get to an 11-2 record, but better overall execution and not committing bad penalties is going to be necessary for the team to reach its ultimate goal.
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