The Broncos will be taking on the San Francisco 49ers in primetime on Sunday Night. It is going to be paramount that Hackett puts together a solid outing because people are going to putting on the microscope on primetime. Here's what needs to happen:
Discipline
The Broncos have combined for 25 penalties resulting in 206 yards in the first 2 weeks. The team has looked unprepared and flustered in critical situations throughout the game and that usually is a reflection on your head coach. The Broncos need to be more decisive in critical moments throughout the game. The delay of games theoretically should not be an issue, especially at home. Let's hope the crowd does not have to count down from 10 especially on primetime in front of millions of viewers. The Broncos are also facing their best opponent yet this season so playing a clean game is a necessity this time around if they want to come out of this game with a W.
2. Stay Healthy
The Broncos lost Jerry Jeudy and PS2 during the Texans game. Thankfully, they did not sustain major injuries as they are day-to-day throughout the week and both have a real shot of playing this weekend. It is something you cannot gameplan for but somehow someway the players need to make sure they make it to the end of the game fairly healthy. Dropping key players this early into the season would be devastating.
3. Russ Takeover
I expect Russ Wilson to come out with a vintage performance vs a familiar foe in the 49ers and put together his best all-around game this season so far. He was not very sharp last week and it was very evident not because of just the stats but also from the eye test. He was not seeing the field very clearly and displayed some "happy feet" in the pocket as many times he prematurely felt pressure and drifted away from the pocket rather than standing in there and making the tough throws. Overall, I'm not worried about Russ and I am ready to see him put on a show in front of the home crowd on SNF.
4. Repeat History
The Broncos will be breaking out the blue uniforms. This would not be the first time the Broncos wear blue on Sunday night football vs the 49ers. Last time in such circumstances, Peyton Manning threw his 509th TD to DT to break what was then the NFL record en route to a 42-17 domination of the 49ers. Peyton was 22-26 with 318 yards and 4TDs. I would not mind a similar performance from Russ as it would quiet down the loud critics that claim he is in decline.
Let's see what this team is made of under the bright lights! The game plan to me this week is more focused on playing within ourselves and limiting silly and costly mistakes.
Prediction:
27-24 Broncos
Russ: 300+ yards with 2 TDs
Melvin and Javonte: 150 total yards and TD
Defense: 3 Sacks and 1 INT
Good Analysis Arjun. Agree with you that Russ needs to take over.