The Denver Broncos have hit the bye in Week 12, sitting in first place in the AFC with a 9-2 record. The team needs some time off after playing eight games in 49 days, which included a trip to London.
But it's not going to be a week of sitting around and playing video games for Sean Payton's bunch. The team knows it needs to keep its foot on the gas pedal as the stretch run this season is going to be intense. If the Broncos are going to hold onto that No.1 seed and earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, there are some key areas the team must address.
In addition to regular practices and preparing for their Week 13 game on Sunday Night Football against the Washington Commanders, the Broncos should address these four things during their bye week.
4 things for Broncos to address during bye week
Getting healthy
The bye week comes at a perfect time for the Broncos. When they take the field again in Week 13, there is a good chance that Pat Surtain II (pectoral injury) and Alex Singleton (surgery to remove cancerous tumor) will be back. That will be a huge boost for a defense that is already playing as well as any in the league.
Penalties
It's somewhat surprising that the Broncos have achieved a record of 9-2 despite having the most penalties (93) for the most yards (883) called against them in the entire league this season.
Perhaps above all else, the Broncos need to get this cleaned up. The team is going to have to become more disciplined down the stretch. Riley Moss has been a magnet for penalties as teams consistently target him in coverage, but the Broncos may have to live with a lot of that, as he is going to continue to be tested.
Consistent Offense
Very simply, the Broncos need to get off to better starts. Many fans and media personalities have remarked on how the team can play so poorly for much of the game and then explode on offense in the fourth quarter or key situations in the game. It certainly smacks of the 2011 'Tebowmania' season.
However, it seems that Sean Payton may be calling things a bit too conservatively for his quarterback, Bo Nix, in an effort to protect him from adversity. Hopefully, Nix has gained more trust in his coach following the big Week 11 win over Kansas City and the offense looks more dynamic the rest of the way.
Adding running back depth
This shouldn't just be a suggestion; it should be a certainty. The Broncos are playing great football, but the loss of J.K. Dobbins, likely for the rest of the season, is a huge concern. It leaves only RJ Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie on the roster, with Deuce Vaughn on the practice squad.
Dameon Pierce, recently released by the Houston Texans, is an option, but there are other veteran options available as well. The Broncos absolutely must make a move to help shore up the position and get a guy who can come in on short-yardage and goal-line situations.
More Broncos Content
Top rookie running back makes major prediction for the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos should pay no mind to Brandon Aiyuk, who is set for messy divorce with 49ers
Denver Broncos have two huge moves to consider after handing new deal to Wil Lutz
NFL Power Rankings: Have the Denver Broncos done enough to claim the top spot?
Denver Broncos should poach player from team they just beat during Week 12 bye