On the beat: 5 questions with Broncos writer Nicki Jhabvala

In this week's edition of "On the beat," we check in with Broncos' beat writer Nicki Jhabvala, who covers the team for The Denver Post. Check her out on Twitter here.



1. What’s the deal with the Broncos quarterbacking situation?
Well, they believed they had found their long-term starter when Trevor Siemian won the job in a second-consecutive offseason competition. But after guiding the Broncos to a pair of impressive wins over the Chargers and Cowboys to start the season, Siemian’s play -- and that of the offense as a whole -- spiraled. Turnovers ultimately proved to be Siemian’s downfall; he threw eight interceptions in four losses, one of which was the team’s first shutout in nearly 25 years. The Broncos replaced him with Brock Osweiler for last weekend’s loss at Philadelphia, and though Osweiler threw a pair of picks and completed only 50 percent of his passes, the Broncos are sticking with him for at least another week because he “earned it,” according to coach Vance Joseph. But it’s also because second-year QB Paxton Lynch isn’t ready. Lynch suffered a shoulder sprain in the preseason and has been sidelined since. He resumed throwing only two weeks ago isn’t believed to be in football shape or ready to take the reins just yet.

So Osweiler is the starter for now. For how long? Well, depends on what happens Sunday against New England.

2. Is there someone on the Denver roster who isn’t a household name who we could be talking about by the time the ballgame is over?

Is Devontae Booker a household name yet? The second-year back was deemed a steal in the fourth round of the draft in 2016, and last year ended up as the team’s leading rusher because of a knee injury to starter C.J. Anderson. The Broncos’ run game has greatly improved this season -- when they commit to running the ball. The Patriots’ defense sits at the bottom of the league in net yards allowed and passing yards allowed, and it ranks 25th against the run. If the Broncos rely more on their ground game in an effort to limit mistakes in the passing game, Booker could be the breakout star. And the Broncos’ could use a big game from him; this team plays their best when the running game is productive.

3. What is the biggest weakness on the Denver offense you expect the Patriots to try and exploit?

The offensive line. The Broncos have a rookie at left tackle (Garett Bolles) and just lost their starting right tackle (Menelik Watson) to a season-ending foot injury. The front five has been a revolving door for more than two years now, and the Broncos have yet to find a combination that is consistent in both pass protection in run blocking. They’re also realizing they no longer have Peyton Manning who, even at 40 years old and in physical decline, was able to mask many of the issues up front.

4. What’s the biggest weakness on the Denver defense you expect the Patriots to try and exploit?

The defense’s struggles with tight ends. Dallas' Jason Witten had 97 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 2. The Giants' Evan Engram recorded 82 receiving yards and a TD in Week 6. The Chargers’ Hunter Henry had 73 yards off four catches in Week 7, Travis Kelce amassed 133 yards and a score in Week 8. And even with Zach Ertz out in Week 9, the Eagles got 80 yards and a touchdown out of tight ends Brent Celek and Trey Burton. And now here comes Rob Gronkowski. In Gronkowki’s seven career games against the Broncos, he’s totaled 660 yards and seven TDs. Denver knows opposing tight ends have caused them headaches. But they haven’t been able to do much to change that.

5. The Broncos win Sunday if …

They limit their turnovers, run the ball and pressure Tom Brady. Last season they held Brady to only 188 passing yards, but the offense couldn’t get out of its own way or get much production on the ground. In the “snow game” of 2015, the Broncos got 179 yards, including the game-winning touchdown, from their running backs. And in the AFC Championship game two months later, the Broncos hit Brady 17 times and sacked him four times to punch their ticket to Super Bowl 50. Denver has seen first-hand what it takes to beat the Patriots -- and how just how easily they can lose to them.

Nicki's pick:

The Patriots are coming off a bye and are riding an 11-game winning streak on the road. The Broncos are mired in a losing streak and still have more problems than answers, on offense especially.

Patriots 31, Broncos 24