If the Denver Broncos are going to beat the Buffalo Bills within the divisional spherical of the NFL playoffs, takeaways shall be key.
Buffalo ended the common season with a +1 turnover differential (19 giveaways and 20 takeaways) whereas Denver completed -3 (17 giveaways and solely 14 takeaways). Now coming into the postseason, Broncos coach Sean Payton is aware of these numbers want to enhance.
Advertisement
“In the final 25 years, there’s solely been one Super Bowl winner, starting at zero, there’s been just one Super Bowl winner that completed minus [in turnovers],” Payton said after Week 18. “The 2015 Broncos have been minus 4, however then completed, I feel, plus three, plus 4. You don’t get an opportunity to clear the slate typically, however 25 years and just one workforce.”
Interceptions and fumbles can flip games, and Payton knows the importance of being on the right side of it.
“I’ve informed you the story in regards to the Vikings [NFC] Championship recreation,” Payton said. “They had [475] yards. We had [257]. If you watch that recreation each time [Adrian] Peterson touched the ball, it was a achieve of eight, a achieve of 9. [475] to [257], 5 turnovers. Now stick with me. We have been plus 5, and it went into time beyond regulation. If you watch that recreation, this statistic at this stage is as a result of it’s sudden dying. It’s not a best-of-seven. You lose a recreation when you’re not being sensible with the ball, however when you take it away, [you win]. We talked about it beginning tonight, and so it has to be intentional relative to punching the ball out. That has to be intentional.”
Payton mentioned he did a two-year research on the Bills they usually’ve misplaced the turnover battle in all however one in every of their losses since 2024.
Advertisement
“I’ve this display screen in entrance of me that has two years of their opponents and what the opponents did, what’s the rating, third down, purple zone, speeding yards, per carry, passing like throughout the grid,” Payton said. “Then you’re noticing, ‘Who is it that played them well?’ In their losses, they misplaced the turnover battle in all however one in every of them. Then the identical factor applies while you’re who has defended them nicely. I ask Vance [Joseph] that on a regular basis, ‘Who’s defended them nicely?’ Jacksonville defended the run nicely. So all of that elements into your scheme.”
The Bills led the NFL with 159.6 rushing yards per game in the regular season. Jacksonville held Buffalo to just 79 rushing yards in the wild-card round, but two interceptions helped the Bills secure a narrow victory. Denver must protect the ball — and attack the ball — in order to get a win against Buffalo on Saturday.
Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you understand: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
This article initially appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL playoffs: Sean Payton reveals key element to beating Bills