Why it’s not time to worry about Teddy Bridgewater and the Broncos’ passing game

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Since returning from their Bye Week in Week 11, the Denver Broncos have averaged 25 points per game—well above their season average of 21.2 points per game.

Despite that, there’s been significant concern in the Mile High City surrounding Teddy Bridgewater and Denver’s passing attack.

In the past three games, since their Bye, Bridgewater is averaging 188 passing yards per game to go along with four total passing touchdowns, two interceptions and an underwhelming 87.7 passer rating.

However, it’s not time to panic that Denver’s passing attack has completely lost their wings. On Monday—after Bridgewater had two touchdowns, but only 179 passing yards against the Lions—Vic Fangio stated he “for sure” has confidence in Denver’s passing game if they need to turn to the air to win games down the stretch.

“When you hand it off 39 times or 40 times like we did yesterday, you’re not going to have passing game numbers that makes everybody happy,” the head coach stated. “And likewise, earlier in the year, when we had those games where we threw it in the 40s and 50s, and you’re asking me about the run game.”

“Just win, baby,” Fangio added with a smirk, quoting the late Raiders owner Al Davis.

To the head coach’s point, in those past three games, the Broncos have only thrown the ball 27 times per game, while they’ve ran it over 34 times per game.

“Our offense throughout the season has been based off the run game,” Albert Okwuegbunam, a pass-catching tight end, admitted. “When we’re running the ball good, we’re winning football games. That’s what we did yesterday. It was really good.”

In fact, Okwuegbunam added the team has recently found their identity as a run-first team.

“We’ve just got to be consistent with it,” Albert O. said. “We’ve shown that we’re capable of running the ball really well. We have the guys to do it in the backfield and in the trenches. We just got to be consistent with it. Just got to execute week in and week out. We definitely have an identity as an offense. We just got to be consistent with it.”

The success of the team has thrived off their ability to run the ball too.

When the Broncos’ have run for more yards than the NFL’s per game average of 113, they’re 5-1, with their only loss coming against the Chiefs.

However, when they’ve run for fewer yards than the league average, they are only 2-5.

In their seven wins, Denver is rushing for over 140 yards per game. But in their six losses, they are only racking up 102.5 yards on the ground.

And since their Bye Week, when Denver’s passing game has really come into question, the Broncos’ rushing attack is averaging over 160 yards on the ground. Denver is 2-1 in that time.

A key to the Broncos’ improved points per game since returning from their week off has been their efficiency in the red zone.

In the past three weeks, Denver is a whopping 9-for-11 in the red zone, including a perfect 5-for-5 against the Lions.

The key? You guessed it.

“Really just running the ball well, to be honest with you,” Albert O. told the media on Monday. “When teams can’t stop us in the run game, we’re unstoppable. That’s what we saw yesterday.”

Bridgewater’s numbers, especially of late, aren’t sexy. There’s no two ways about that.

But that’s not Denver’s new-found formula to success on the offensive side of the ball. If the Broncos want to “Just win, baby,” then they’ve got to run the ball and run the heck out of it.