STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
NFL Team Report - Denver Broncos</h2><br>PLAYER NOTES<p></p> --CB Chris Harris Jr. was placed on injured reserve, officially ending his season. Harris was kept on the roster after fracturing a bone in his lower left leg on Dec. 2 because Denver was still alive for the postseason but that changed when the team was eliminated last weekend.<p></p> --CB Bradley Roby is ready for Monday night after having stitches to close up a cut on his face suffered against Cleveland on Dec. 15. Roby said he could put his tongue through his face before getting the stitches.<p></p> --RB Phillip Lindsay is the only NFL player through 15 weeks to rank in the top five in rushing yards (991, 5th), rushing average (5.5, 2nd) and rushing touchdowns (nine, 5th).<p></p> --WR Courtland Sutton's 17.5 yards per catch average ranks fourth in the NFL.<p></p> --LB Von Miller has recorded 10 or more sacks in seven seasons since being drafted second overall in 2011. Only Reggie White reached that total in each of his first eight seasons.<p></p> --QB Case Keenum has thrown for more than 300 yards just three times this season and none in his last eight games. He has thrown 90 passes in the last two games but is averaging just 4.92 yards per attempt.<p></p> PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: RB Phillip Lindsay had a tough time finding room to run against Cleveland, but he has been more of a focus from defenses since wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders tore his Achilles tendon two weeks ago. After running for 157 yards and two touchdowns against Cincinnati on Dec. 2, Lindsay has been held to 54 yards rushing and 95 total yards in the last two games. Lindsay is nine yards short of rushing for 1,000 for the season despite being undrafted last spring, and is second in rookie rushing to Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants. Lindsay was named to the Pro Bowl earlier this week, the first undrafted offensive rookie to earn that honor. He could celebrate making the Pro Bowl by racking up some big numbers against Oakland's 32nd-ranked rushing defense.<p></p> GAME PLAN: If Denver wants to get a win and sweep the season series with Oakland, getting back to basics might be the key. Expect a heavy dose of running backs Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay to take pressure off quarterback Case Keenum. Oakland's defense gives up an average of 146.4 yards rushing per game while its pass defense is ranked 16th at 238.8 yards per game. If Lindsay and Freeman can find running room, that should open up things for Keenum and his young receiving corps.<p></p> Oakland's offense is keyed by quarterback Derek Carr, but it has struggled since the trade of dynamic wideout Amari Cooper. Carr has thrown for 3,697 yards and 19 touchdowns, and his favorite target is tight end Jared Cook, who leads the team in catches (63) and receiving yards (848). The Raiders have had trouble running the ball, ranking 26th in the NFL at 99.1 yards per game. Carr could be in store for a big night against Denver's injury-riddled secondary. With both teams out of the playoff race the biggest challenge might be motivation to play on Christmas Eve.<p></p>MATCHUPS TO WATCH<p></p> --Oakland has allowed 48 sacks this season, which is the third most in the NFL, and it is going against two of the best pass rushers in the game in linebackers Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. Teams have focused on double teaming Miller, and at times Chubb, or chipping them with running backs to slow down the rush. Even with that attention Miller is second in the NFL in sacks with 14.5 and Chubb leads all rookies with 12. Both players could have big nights against a porous Raiders offensive line that has struggled to protect quarterback Derek Carr.<p></p> --Oakland can slow down the pass rush by attacking Denver's secondary with quick passes. Bradley Roby is the only healthy cornerback from opening week, and he's playing hurt after suffering a laceration to the face against Cleveland last week. The Broncos are going to roll out a young group that could include Jamar Taylor, just signed Craig Mager and a banged-up Tramaine Brock. Carr is very capable of a big night against a compromised unit.
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