The Broncos are the hottest team in the NFL with a four-game winning streak. Can they continue their run? Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Browns at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
Live updates
Pre-game updates
Game day (12:20 p.m.): It’s a beauty of an afternoon at Empower Field and a significant AFC matchup at hand between the surging Broncos and the 7-3 Browns. Keys for Denver are two-fold: Turn over Cleveland rookie quarterback Dorrian Thompson-Robinson and convert in the red zone. The Browns defense provides a stiff challenge — pick a metric and they’re at or near the top of the NFL — so it could be a slog of an afternoon.
On the injury front, Broncos safety P.J. Locke is on the field at the moment jogging around and stretching out. He practiced fully on Friday but is listed as questionable. We’ll know his status officially 90 minutes before kickoff. — Parker Gabriel
Scouting report (noon): Check out how the Broncos match up with the Browns in Ryan McFadden’s scouting report.
Game predictions
Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Browns 16, Broncos 13
The only surprise will be if this game turns into a track meet. The Broncos need to turn rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson over a couple of times, because moving the ball against the Browns is going to be a rugged task. That, combined with Denver’s porous run defense and Cleveland’s powerhouse ground game, makes it easy to question if this is a good matchup for Sean Payton’s streaking team.
Ryan McFadden, beat writer: Broncos 17, Browns 14
The Broncos are rolling right now. Even though they haven’t played extremely well over the past two weeks, they still found ways to win. Cleveland’s defense will be a problem, but Wilson will unlock his clutch gene when it matters most on Sunday. Expect the Broncos to pick off Thompson-Robinson a couple of times.
Mark Kiszla, columnist: Broncos 15, Browns 10
This team is starting to take on a very 2011 vibe. You remember Tebowmania, don’t you? OK, be chill, all you supporters of Russell Wilson. I’m not making a quarterback comparison here. Well, maybe a little … as it applies to the relentless faith that something good — even if it requires something weird, wacky and entirely unexpected — will happen for the Broncos during the course of a game.
Sean Keeler, columnist: Broncos 17, Browns 16
Can the Orange & Blue string together their first five-game win streak in eight years? Heck, yeah. In a league where momentum is swung by confidence and takeaways, the Broncos are basking in both right now, with the holiday wind finally at their backs. In a tussle of two hot defenses, watch Russell Wilson string together one more big drive than Dorian Thompson-Robinson does at a Mile High. It’ll be ugly, but when ugly wins, it’s downright beautiful.
Broncos-Browns NFL Week 12: Must-reads
Four straight victories help Broncos bring extra energy to work week: “You get to see everyone’s will to win”
Pros are tasked with having the same approach to their jobs regardless of how a day or week or season is going. There’s no use denying, however, that the energy around a winning team is different.
Broncos players this week, on a four-game winning streak, are feeling the impact of that reality.
It’ll be no easy task for Denver to get to five straight Sunday against 7-3 Cleveland at home, but a victory would put Denver above .500 for the first time since the team started 2-1 last year, Parker Gabriel reports. Read the full story.
Could Broncos’ red zone demons ruin their playoff aspirations? Only if nothing changes: “There’s no excuse to not get it done.”
Courtland Sutton didn’t need a crystal ball to know what came next as he went in motion against Green Bay. The veteran wide receiver crossed the offensive formation to the left and settled briefly in the slot, creating a bunch with tight end Adam Trautman and receiver Marvin Mims, Jr. to his outside.
On the snap, Sutton let both of them clear across his face, worked his way up the left sideline and, voila, found himself all alone thanks to the traffic they created. Tried-and-true concept. Clean execution. Easy throw from Russell Wilson for an 18-yard touchdown.
Red zone clinic. If only it was always — or even usually — that simple, Parker Gabriel reports. Read the full story.
Broncos seek to improve run defense as they prepare for matchup against Cleveland Browns
If the Minnesota Vikings ran the ball the entire game against Denver, the outcome might’ve been different.
The Vikings, who had one of the worst rushing attacks in the league, ran the ball all over Denver’s defense, totaling a season-high 175 yards on the ground. Starting running back Alexander Mattison had 81 yards, while Ty Chandler had 73 yards despite rushing for a combined 87 in 10 games prior to Week 11.
Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has coached his tail off in recent weeks. Denver has gone from allowing 70 points to the Miami Dolphins to forcing 13 turnovers in four games. However, its run defense remains an issue, which doesn’t bode well against Cleveland on Sunday, as the Browns have one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL, Ryan McFadden reports. Read the full story.
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