The Denver Broncos found the right kind of success on their opening drive in Week 18. It was one of their best offensive drives of the season, even if it only resulted in a field goal.
Now, naysayers can say that the Los Angeles Chargers weren't playing anyone and that was the reason for the Broncos' opening drive success in this game, but this is still the NFL and it's still professional football. On that drive, the Broncos went 81 yards on 15 plays. But it's how they did that the team needs to study in their film sessions leading up to the divisional round of the playoffs.
Sean Payton decided to run the ball on 11 of those plays. That included runs by Bo Nix, which is one of the offense's biggest keys to success.
RJ Harvey rushed for 22 yards on the drive while Jaleel McLaughlin had 23. Nix scrambled twice for 32 yards. This is all on the opening drive. The team has gone quite a few entire games this season without this success.
The drive was shut down and the Broncos had to settle for a field goal after a three-yard loss by Tyler Badie. So, what should the team take from this?
The Broncos need to figure out how they can get this kind of offense going in the playoffs. If they lean on Harvey and McLaughlin to churn out yardage like that, they will be very difficult to beat in the postseason. Payton needs to take the plays to Badie out of the playbook. Harvey and McLaughlin are the players to give the ball to.
Then, on plays that start as designed rollouts, Nix can use his legs if the primary receiver is not open. This is something the team needs to do much more of as Nix can be a tremendous playmaker.
To achieve success in the postseason, teams need to have a stout defense. The Broncos have that. Teams also need to be able to effectively run the football. That has been a work in progress all season, but the Broncos could find enough from what worked on this opening drive on Sunday to help them in the playoffs.
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It was quite encouraging to see the Broncos run the ball like that and for Payton to approach that opening drive in that manner. Now, we need to see much more of it.
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