The Denver Broncos are ready to kick off the Sean Payton era with a divisional matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
And while the Raiders might not exactly be a Super Bowl contender this season, they do have one of the best running backs in the game in Josh Jacobs.
Jacobs has been the Broncos’ biggest nightmare since he entered the league, going 7-0 against them, with him rushing for 721 yards (103 YPG) and nine scores.
That’s why the defense has made it a point of emphasis to put an end to that dominance and keep him in check in the season opener, with star CB Patrick Surtain II talking about their plan against him.
“You just have to rally around the ball and gang-tackle him. It’s not going to be a one-man show. He’s hard to bring down,” Surtain said, via NFL.com “He is looking for contact and those yards after contact. It’s a pretty tough task because he’s such a great back. But we’ve got a plan and the guys that can stop him.”
Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II on slowing reigning leading rusher Josh Jacobs in opener vs. Raiders: "It's a pretty tough task because he's such a great back. But we've got a plan and the guys that can stop him."https://t.co/vUhNucnDQJ pic.twitter.com/KRVtZYajyI
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) September 5, 2023
The Broncos will look to snap a six-game losing streak to this divisional rival, and a lot of that has had to do with the star running back.
Jacobs has torched the Broncos for 129, 144, and 109 rushing yards in his past three outings versus Denver’s otherwise elite defense.
This time, they might have a bit of an edge, as Jacobs missed most of the offseason due to a contract holdout.
Nonetheless, none of that matters when you’re a talented player, and it’s not like he was out of shape or anything.
The Broncos enter the season with plenty of pressure on their shoulders, as they were the most disappointing team in the league last season.
Russell Wilson will need to prove himself again after the 2022 fiasco, and they can’t afford to kick off the season with a loss.
NEXT: Sean Payton Gets Candid About Facing Josh Jacobs
