Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior Writer 9y

Broncos' troubles up front are now really out front

ST. LOUIS -- There is a fine line between winning and losing.

That line, in the Denver Broncos' case, seems to be finding the right combination across their offensive front. The Broncos could not do it Sunday and, as a result, left the Edward Jones Dome with a rather unsightly 22-7 loss tagging along.

There were plenty of reasons for the unexpected thrashing. A defense that allowed its first 100-yard rushing game to an opposing running back, an offense that posted its lowest point total since the 2011 regular-season finale, and a lack of confidence in a kicker that was not allowed to attempt 55- and 54-yard field goals indoors were a few.

But over the past five games -- two of those losses -- the Broncos have made four changes on the offensive line, they have worked out Richie Incognito, a player known more for what he has done off the field than on it, and allowed far too many pass-rushers to get far too close to quarterback Peyton Manning.

"I thought the guys up front fought like crazy against a good rush," Manning said. "I’ve got to find a way to complete more of them and score more than seven points. Our defense held them to field goals and fought and gave us plenty of possessions and to only score seven points is very disappointing. … When you throw 54, 50-something times, that’s probably not the ideal scenario that you want to take place coming into the game. I think that plays into their strengths a little bit, but those are passes I’ve got to complete."

But the clock has been ticking on this for a while.

The San Francisco 49ers, without three of their Pro Bowl defenders (Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman), sacked Manning twice. The New England Patriots created pressure without adding too many additional rushers for most plays and had one of the three sacks of Manning this year from three-man rushes.

The Raiders got close enough on Manning’s front porch to deflect four passes and force two interceptions in the first half alone a week ago. And Sunday, the Rams consistently won the line of scrimmage with some well-timed coverage tweaks, a blitz here and there to go with a defensive front four that includes three former first-round draft picks in Robert Quinn, Michael Brockers and Aaron Donald.

"Those guys are talented," said John Elway, the Broncos' executive vice president of football operations/general manager. "Three of the four guys in the front are first-rounders, plus we let them tee off all day."

And the Broncos are discovering it is difficult to scheme your way out of inconsistent play up front. Defenses are attacking the middle of the formation to disrupt Manning’s ability to stride -- one that is slightly longer post-neck surgery and his throwing motion has become more lower-body driven -- into his throws.

On the edges, especially rushing from the defensive right into Manning’s face, teams have made a more pronounced effort to get their hands up to try to knock down the quick throws Manning makes to receivers crossing toward the middle of the field. And rushers aren't just getting to Manning, they're coming in clean.

In all it meant the Rams sacked Manning twice, hit him four times and knocked down 12 passes, a double-take worthy 22 percent of Manning’s attempts Sunday. The Broncos also ran the ball just nine times in the game and didn’t run the ball on any of their last 27 plays from scrimmage.  The Broncos now have lost both games this season when Manning has attempted at least 50 passes.

As far as any additional changes or help being on the way on the offensive front, Elway said: "We’ll see how it goes, we’ll evaluate where we are."

"I give them a lot of credit, I thought they played really well at all three levels; their front, their linebackers, secondary," Manning said. "I thought we didn’t execute very well and just think I didn’t play very well, so you can usually kind of wrap it up into that."

Or wrap it into this: The Broncos are still a Super Bowl contender, but with a nagging question that needs an answer.

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