Broncos’ Plan Against Raiders’ Tight End Brock Bowers
Without top cornerback Pat Surtain II, the Denver Broncos mixed defensive looks against Raiders tight end Brock Bowers. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph organized a group effort to fill the gap left by Surtain’s absence.
Last Sunday in Houston, Denver’s cornerbacks performed solidly in man-to-man coverage, while safeties Talanoa Hufanga and Brandon Jones cut off deep routes, limiting explosive plays.
Strategic Rotation on Defense
In Thursday night’s matchup with Las Vegas, the Broncos relied on constant rotation to contain Bowers, who had dominated the Jaguars the previous week with 12 receptions and three touchdowns. Surtain missed his second straight game due to a pectoral injury, so Joseph’s approach was to deploy multiple defenders instead of a single primary matchup like cornerback Riley Moss.
“The toughest job with him is getting him tackled,” Joseph said of Bowers. “You can kind of cover him with a safety or a defensive back body, but can you get him on the ground after he catches the ball?”
Defensive Matchups and Adjustments
- Linebacker Barron marked Bowers on a third-down play during the Raiders' first drive.
- Cornerback McMillian took several snaps covering him from the slot in the first quarter.
- Moss shadowed Bowers on different alignments during the Raiders’ second drive.
Game Summary
At halftime, the score remained even at 7–7, with both teams punting on their opening possessions of the second half. Denver’s unified defensive effort held firm against one of Vegas’s most dangerous offensive weapons.
Author’s Summary: Denver countered Brock Bowers’ threat through coordinated coverage rotations, proving depth and adaptability can offset the loss of a star defender.