Mile High Maniac
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Broncos Linebacker Von Miller Dominate as Denver beats the Colts

By Gordon Trickel

Sep 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) is sacked by Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) in the fourth quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 34-20. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) is sacked by Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) in the fourth quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 34-20. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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The former Superbowl MVP, Von Miller, played an outstanding game as the Denver Broncos beat the Indianapolis Colts in Denver.

Up until the final minutes of the game, the score was kept pretty close. The Denver Broncos were up 13-6 going into halftime. It was a battle of defense with some big plays on offense. What really got the offense going for the Broncos was a screen pass to Demaryius Thomas that picked up 44 yards.

Going late into the fourth quarter, the Broncos had a 16-13 lead on the Colts. Keeping the game close as time went on. Eventually the score got to 23-20, before the Broncos added another field goal. 26-20 with time left for one more drive from the Colts. That chance vanished before it truly began.

Von Miller came around the edge and got a strip sack on Andrew Luck. Fellow Bronco linebacker Shane Ray picked up the field goal and added another touchdown. A two point conversion followed and brought the score to the 34-20, which was the final score.

Throughout the game Miller was a force. He was consistently getting pressure, and surprisingly enough notched his first sack on Luck in his career. Before the game was over, Miller added two more sacks including the forced fumble. This game was won by Miller and the effort by the defense.

It was a great thing that Miller had such a great game, and he was joined by his outside linebacker teammates. They really put the pressure on Andrew Luck, and did what they needed to help out the rest of that Broncos defense. They were one of the players needing big games to help Denver win, and a big game they had.

Of the 34 points scored by Denver, 15 of them came from the defense and the ensuing extra point and two point conversions. They really had to step up in order to cover some below average play from the Broncos quarterback.

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Trevor Siemian tossed two awful interceptions in the season opener, he added another one against the Colts. This interception was atrocious. It was a predetermined throw from before the snap, and once the ball was snapped, Siemian could not adjust out of it.

If not for the defensive back pulling up, it would have been a pick six. The Colts took it over and the defense held them to a field goal. That took four points off of the scoreboard for the Colts and added to how the defense won this game for the Broncos.

Earlier in the game Siemian hit Thomas on the screen that was previously mentioned, but had another big play chance to Thomas after that. Thomas had the Colts corner beat with a step on him. All Siemian had to do was hit Thomas in stride and it would’ve been a touchdown.

That didn’t happen. Siemian placed the ball poorly on the sideline, and forced a pointless adjustment from Thomas which was completely unnecessary. The pass still hit Thomas in his hands and still should’ve been caught. However, Siemian made a poor throw and if Thomas caught it, it would’ve been for a smaller play than it should have been.

Hitting receivers in stride was something Siemian never did in the game today outside of two throws. Multiple slant routes where Siemian threw the ball behind or high, when quarterbacks are taught to hit them in stride. Then there was a great catch by C.J. Anderson for a first down where Anderson really had to work for it.

Anderson had plenty of room in front of him, but Siemian hit Anderson with a throw behind him. After adjusting to make the catch, the Colts defense enclosed on Anderson. A spin move and speed from Anderson did the rest to pick up the first down.

The defense was giving the Broncos all the momentum they could and the offense did their best to give it back to the Colts. Under Siemian the Broncos offense have been a putrid 10-21 on third downs. Something they clearly have to get better at.

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Back to the defense, Shane Ray wasn’t the only one who added a touchdown for the Broncos defense. Aqib Talib read a Andrew Luck pass, jumped it and picked it off. He then returned it for his fifth pick-six as a Bronco and the ninth of his career.

Injuries plagued both teams in this game. The Colts entered it really beat up and are coming out even more beat up, especially in the secondary. As for the Broncos, multiple players got banged up, like Chris Harris and Justin Simmons. Two injuries ended up resulting in the player missing the rest of the game.

DeMarcus Ware, who was playing great, ended up receiving a fracture in his arm. He didn’t return to the game and will likely miss a few weeks. Starting right tackle Donald Stephenson was the other big injury. He hurt his ankle and there hasn’t been more on it yet. When Stephenson went down, the Broncos made some movement on their line. Michael Schofield moved from right guard to right tackle while Darrion Weems entered the game at right guard.

All eyes turn to 2015 second round pick Ty Sambrailo with the Stephenson injury. Sambrailo would have started at right tackle this game had he not suffered an ankle injury during practice this week.

Next: Buffaloes Drop their First Game of the Season

It was a excellent game from the Broncos defense as they show they may be even more dangerous than they were last year. Offensively however, there is still a lot that needs to be worked on.

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