Here’s why running when the defense expects a pass can keep the Broncos’ red-zone momentum alive

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — It’s not simply about running the football. It’s about running when it isn’t expected. The same goes for passing it, too. Catch the opponent off-guard when it’s reacting to trends, and you have the chance to steal an explosive play — or a red-zone touchdown that seals success in an area that had been a struggle.

A significant reason why the Denver Broncos were able to get back on their feet after the bye in last Sunday’s 28-13 win over the Los Angeles Chargers was their ability to catch the Chargers off-guard.

The Broncos scored twice on the ground — once on an 11-yard Teddy Bridgewater scramble and later on a 9-yard Javonte Williams draw out of the shotgun formation.

In both cases, it was about capitalizing on what was given — which was different for each.

Bridgewater’s run took advantage of the Chargers not accounting for Bridgewater’s mobility. This is understandably, given that he has run less often than in previous years.

In each of the five previous seasons when Bridgewater had at least 100 total quarterback plays — pass attempts, times sacked and rushing attempts — Bridgewater’s run rate hovered between one every 8.4 QB plays (New Orleans, 2019) and one every 12.2 QB plays (Minnesota, 2015). He came into the season with a career run rate of one every 10.1 QB plays; this year, his rate is one every 16.1 QB plays.

That led the Chargers to drop a thicket of defenders into the end zone — and opened up a path for Bridgewater.

“Each week we look at all the red-zone touchdowns and there’s a whole heck a lot of them where a pass is called, you can’t even recognize the route concept, and there’s seven guys back there covering the eligible [receivers], and then the rush kind of gets a little out of whack and then the quarterback runs for it,” offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said.

“You know, that happens frequently.”

Including last Sunday.

By the time Bridgewater escaped the pocket and ran toward the line of scrimmage near the right sideline, he had two receivers in position to block defenders, and two defenders to worry about — only one of whom (Kyzir White) was in position to make a play on Bridgewater before he ran to the Chargers 5-yard line. But Bridgewater was faster than White, and by the time he approached traffic around the goal line, he had the window to lunge at the pylon for the Broncos’ first score of the day.

Bridgewater has been a red-zone running threat in the past. As recently as the 2020 season with the Carolina Panthers, he ran for 5 touchdowns.

“Yeah, he does do a good job when a play is called or a pass is called and things open up,” Shurmur said.”In the red zone, you’re always attacking extremes, and if they think you’re going to throw the ball and you cross them up and run it, or they think you’re going to throw the ball and they’re all backed off covering all the routes, then it opens things up.”

One quarter later, the Broncos had third-and-goal from the 9-yard line with Drew Lock filling in for the injured Bridgewater. The Broncos spread out their receiving targets — three to Lock’s left and one to Lock’s right. Just one linebacker — the afore-mentioned White — lingered in the box.

With the guards and tackles handling Los Angeles’ front four in one-on-one matchups, center Lloyd Cushenberry was able to reach the second level, block White and pave Williams’ path to the south end zone.

“Where they thought we were going to pass it, and you can see how that looks really nice,” Shurmur said. “If they thought we were going to run it, it would have been a tougher fight.”

But it wasn’t, and this is something the Broncos need to take advantage of when the moment strikes. On run plays when facing third-and-8-to-14 yards — obvious passing downs — the Broncos rank 10th in both average per attempt (6.1 yards) and first-down percentage (30.0), above the league averages of 5.4 yards and 21.2 percent, respectively.

They could face plenty of stacked boxes on Sunday. The Broncos need to be prepared to capitalize when the box is relatively clear — even if it means a play call or audible that might seem counterintuitive.