What to Watch For: Rams vs. Broncos/ Wagoner

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W2W4: St. Louis Rams
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/13682/w2w4-st-louis-rams-14

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The St. Louis Rams and the Denver Broncos kick off Week 11 on Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on CBS regional coverage.

Here are three things to watch from the Rams' perspective:

1. The best defense: For as much as we'll talk about how great Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is and how difficult of a challenge it is for the defense to slow him and the Denver offense down, the easiest way to stop Manning is to keep him on the sideline. That means establishing an offense capable of consistently moving the chains, extending drives and not turning the ball over. Sounds good, right?

Well, the Rams haven't exactly been doing any of those things well in recent weeks. The Broncos are first in the league in run defense and not just because teams are throwing a lot by trying to catch up. They're holding opponents to just 3.19 yards per carry, which is also first in the NFL. The Rams, meanwhile have yet to establish the running game many thought they would. They've finally settled on Tre Mason as the primary ballcarrier and he's flashed promise at times but hasn't consistently been able to generate yards.

One major key for the Rams is getting better on third down. They were 1-of-10 last week against Arizona and if they can't keep the chains moving, that means too many chances for Manning.

2. Getting after Manning: Pressuring Manning is easier said than done because he's one of the best ever at getting rid of the ball quickly. So far this season, Manning is getting rid of the ball after just 2.29 seconds which is second quickest in the league. That means there isn't much time for the Rams to get after him or for their blitz-heavy packages (they lead the league in blitz percentage) to get home but if there's going to be a way to get to Manning, it will likely have to be up the middle.

Denver's offensive line has been in flux the past few weeks, particularly on the interior. That could mean some opportunities for the Rams defensive tackles, especially rookie Aaron Donald. Donald has consistently terrorized quarterbacks in his first nine games and would seem to have an advantage against the musical chairs in the middle.

To slow Manning and the Broncos offense, the Rams will have to do enough in coverage to force him to go to his second or third read and hope that buys them enough time to get in the backfield.

3. Turning to Hill: With veteran Shaun Hill back in the saddle at quarterback, the Rams are hoping that they can cut down on the costly turnovers and mistakes that have plagued them over the past few weeks. Removing Austin Davis from the starting lineup was done mostly because of his propensity for turnovers (six that turned into defensive touchdowns, including five in the fourth quarter).

Hill is in his 14th NFL season and has plenty of experience which should allow him to manage the game. The Rams won't put the game in Hill's hands but his primary job will be not to lose it. As always, it's worth watching the turnover battle but if Hill does give it up, when and where it happens is also something to keep an eye on.