As the Denver Broncos (4-2) prepare for a Monday night showdown against the Houston Texans (4-2), the two most common words in both markets are “Brock Osweiler.” While this is understandable since Osweiler bolted from the Broncos to the Texans in the offseason, the narrative of the actual game will be much different.
“Everybody wants to make it about Brock leaving, but it’s not just about Brock — it’s about the whole team,” outside linebacker Shane Ray said.
Although Ray’s statement may sound a bit cliché, the Texans, especially the offense, do not revolve around Osweiler. In fact, according to the Broncos, the two biggest threats on the Texans offense are wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and running back Lamar Miller.
“[Miller’s] an outstanding running back,” defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said. “ Seeing him run, we see why [Houston] signed him. He’s an explosive back; he can control the game and the running game. We have our hands full with him.”
Miller, the fifth leading rusher heading into week seven, has become a workhorse in the Texans backfield. Only trailing Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot in rushing attempts, Miller carries the ball nearly 21 times a game and averages almost an additional three catches.
“He’s a good running back. He’s quick; he can pop in and out of holes quickly that creates some confusion as far as where to go. He’s a good back, he just runs hard and physical. He can run outside and he can run inside, he’s just an all-around good back,” inside linebacker Todd Davis said.
As good as Miller has been for the Texans so far this year, the most talented player on the Texans offense, according to the “No Fly Zone,” is Hopkins.
“He’s one of the top receivers in the league,” cornerback Bradley Roby said. “He attracts a lot of attention. He is a great receiver.”
Fellow cornerback Chris Harris Jr. not only thinks Hopkins is one of the best receivers in the game now but wrote a piece for The Players Tribune earlier this month saying that Hopkins was one of the five toughest receivers he’s ever covered. Outside of what he detailed in the article, Harris said there were three components that made Hopkins elite.
“His catch radius, when the ball is up in the air he’s always able to make those dynamic catches. He has great routes. He’s a little bit more physical than what you would give to him. He has those three contributors that will make our job tough,” he said.
While Hopkins’ size — 6-foot-1, 215 pounds — and speed — 4.57 40-yard dash — are nothing spectacular, it’s his intangibles on the football field that make him such a threat to opposing secondaries.
“He jumps out on tape, those 50-50 balls pretty much are 70-30. I think what separates him is his ball skills, being able to high-point the ball,” safety Justin Simmons said. “Nothing really sticks out physically. But when you are a guy making plays like that all over the field your physical presence really doesn’t matter too much as long as you are making plays.”
According to Harris, Hopkins intangibles are much like A.J. Green’s intangibles. Thankfully for the Broncos secondary, they have already played and prepared for Green this year in week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“We are going to have our work cut out for us, but at the same token so is he,” Simmons said. “We are one of the better, if not the best, secondaries in the league. Every week we got an A.J. Green, DeAndre Hopkins, Julio Jones and that’s our job to shut them down and stop the run.”
In a primetime matchup on Monday night although the narrative may revolve around Brock Osweiler, the players that the Broncos defense will have their sights set on won’t be a former teammate.
