Broncos will be looking to clean up the penalties in Week 3

Sep 24, 2022 - 10:00 AM

---

A lot of talk in Broncos Country has gone on this week around Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett and his various gaffes with play calling and game management, but the biggest issue might be on the players themselves to clean up. Penalties.

In my 15 years of covering the team, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Denver Broncos start their first two games with 25 penalties. They are on pace for over 200 on that rate and the NFL record for a single season is 158. They need to a sharp turn back towards the mean this week against the San Francisco 49ers.

Hackett was actually asked about the work his staff does to prepare the team for the type of officiating crew they’ll face and the answer was quite good.

“Yeah, we present that to them today,” Hackett said. “So, they get to see who the refs are, who’s going to be calling it and all that stuff. We let them know who the crew is, what their kind of record is in the past, on how they’re calling things. You let them know and let them understand that we have a lot of penalties up to this point, so those guys that are coming in here understanding that and those refs know that. Based off where they call penalties, they will be looking for that stuff. We just have to play with proper technique and not do some of those extracurricular activities.”

This is especially important as the crews they faces in the first two weeks aren’t usually known for calling a strict game, but the crew they face in Week 3 is one of the strictest in the NFL. Shawn Hochuli has a tendency to call the types of penalties the Broncos have also been committing the most of.

From Sharp Football Analysis this week, one of Hochuli’s biggest points of emphasis is false starts. That is an area the Broncos have errored a lot in to start the season. Hochuli also has a record of being hard on the home team with home teams being 26-39 against the spread. In short, the Broncos need to be pretty flawless in this game.

Horse Tracks

Broncos scouting report: How Denver matches up against 49ers and predictions
Denver lost the last matchup in San Francisco, and the 49ers also trounced the Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV, 55-10, on January 28, 1990. That game remains the biggest blowout in Super Bowl history.

"Sickening" net average for Waitman has Stukes and Broncos looking for more
Corliss Waitman ranks last in the NFL in net punting average through two weeks, and special-teams coordinator Dwayne Stukes isn't happy. "It’s already concerned me," Stukes said. "It’s sickening."

Broncos going all-blue in Week 3 ... which has left them blue in recent years
The Broncos will break out their blue pants on Sunday ... and that hasn't always meant good luck for the orange and blue over the years.

Broncos Now: Scouting the Opponent | Broncos vs. 49ers
On this episode of "Broncos Now," Sydney Jones recaps the top storylines of the day with soundbites from Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett, Offensive Coordinator Justin Outten, Defensive Coordinator Ejiro Evero and more. Plus, San Francisco 49ers reporter Lind

Nathaniel Hackett is struggling early in his Denver Broncos tenure
If Nathaniel Hackett isn’t already on the hot seat after two games, it might start getting a little toasty if he and the Broncos don’t improve soon.

How running the ball could be solution to Broncos' red zone problems
In their six red zone trips, quarterback Russell Wilson is 5-of-14 passing with no touchdowns. Could Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon help?

Former 9NEWS meteorologist Belen De Leon sings at Broncos game
9NEWS NBC4 Today in LA meteorologist Belen De Leon sings national anthem Empower Field at Mile High Denver Broncos San Francisco 49ers watch listen Sept 25, 2022.

Denver Broncos: 25 or Under against the San Francisco 49ers
Both coming off of wins, the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos face off on Sunday Night Football for a chance to move to 2-1.