Denver, CO

9 things we learned for the Broncos dominating 24-7 win over LA

Published

12 months ago

December 10, 2023

9 things we learned for the Broncos dominating 24-7 win over LA

What a great win for the Denver Broncos.

In need of a big road win, the Broncos stepped up and got it done on Sunday. Denver not only beat the Los Angeles Chargers 24-7, it flogged them,.

The Broncos improved 7-6 on the season to remain in the AFC playoff hunt. And don’t look now, but the AFC West is in play for Denver.

Here’s what we learned from Denver’s win on Sunday.

Vance Joseph deserves a ton of credit

Even when Justin Herbert was in the game, Denver’s defense was phenomenal.

A ton of credit goes to Joseph for how well this defense has played in the last seven games. The game plan on Sunday was excellent. I especially love how Joseph blitzed linebackers and the secondary throughout the game.

The Broncos defense was dominant

It would have been nice to see Denver’s defense get the shutout, but chef’s kiss to that showing on Sunday in Los Angeles.

The Broncos held LA to a combined 1-for-18 on third and fourth down conversions. Denver got six sacks and nine QB hits. The Broncos also forced two turnovers, with another being taken away on review that would have been a touchdown.

For the game, the Broncos defense held the Chargers to 283 yards of total offense and kept Austin Ekler and Keenan Allen pretty much in check.

Ja’Quan McMillian is a Pro Bowler

What a game. And what a story McMillian is turning into.

The Broncos cornerback is seemingly all over the field and makes plays when they’re needed.

McMillian finished with five tackles, two tackles for loss, two QB hits, one sack and one pass defended. And he was a review away from a remarkable strip-sack TD.

Get McMillian into the Pro Bowl.

Sean Payton is a helluva coach

For sticking with Joseph after the Week 3 debacle, to where the Broncos currently are, Payton is responsible.

Some of the play designs, especially the game-sealing touchdown after one of the best drives Denver’s offense has had since Peyton Manning retired, Payton was on-point on Sunday.

Also, for the first time in four years, the Broncos have won back-to-back AFC games.

Courtland Sutton is him

What. A. Catch.

Sutton is proving to be one of the best wide outs in the NFL. And the catches he’s piling up this season are insane. The most recent was the 46-yard one-handed catch at the end of the third quarter. It was also a great throw and protection.

For the game, Sutton had three catches for 62 yards.

Russell Wilson leads an incredible fourth-quarter drive

The drive Denver’s offense put forth after the Chargers scored their lone touchdown was a master class by all involved.

But the plays from Wilson to keep the drive alive and the touchdown pass to seal the game were some of the best quarterbacking we’ve seen in these parts since PFM.

Wilson finished the game 21-for-33 passing for 224 yards, two touchdowns and one pick.

Mile High Salute to Javonte Williams for getting a rushing TD

The Broncos running back finally got his rushing touchdown.

And he was a running back on a mission on Sunday. Williams would not go down without a fight. He finished with 17 carries for 66 yards and a touchdown.

On top of that, Samaje Perine was huge for the offense. It’s clear Wilson trusts Perine in key moments with dump-off passes to pick up yardage to keep the drives alive.

Jerry Jeudy is a JAG

Steve Smith Sr. was right about the Denver receiver.

I don’t want to waste time on Jeudy, but his time with the Broncos can’t end soon enough.

The playoffs are still alive, as the AFC West

Not only did the Broncos keep the playoffs alive, they’re one game behind the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC West lead. And with how that game ended for the Chiefs against the Buffalo Bills, it certainly looks like they’re in meltdown mode.

While it’s unlikely based on KC’s schedule, the last four games will be incredibly interesting for the Broncos.

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Denver, CO

Denver area events for Nov. 25: Pop-up holiday lounge at Union Station and more

Published

54 mins ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Denver area events for Nov. 25: Pop-up holiday lounge at Union Station and more

If you have an event taking place in the Denver area, email information to carlotta.olson@gazette.com at least two weeks in advance. All events are listed in the calendar on space availability.

Monday

Sipping N’ Painting Hampden — “Alaska Night,” 6:30-8:30 p.m., Sipping N’ Painting Hampden, 6461 E. Hampden Ave., Denver, $35. Registration required: sippingnpaintinghampden.com.

Brazilian Zouk Classes and Social Dance — 7-11:30 p.m., Mercury Café, 2199 California St., Denver, $20 class and social, $15 social only; mercurycafe.com.

Cloud Nothings — With Armlock, Famers Wife, 8 p.m., Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, $25. Tickets: axs.com.

Mile High Holidays Drone Show — 7 p.m. through Dec. 31, Denver skies; denver.org/milehighholidays.

“American Dreams” Exhibit — Through Dec. 31, Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania St., Denver, go online for prices. Tickets: mollybrown.org.

“Shadow and Light: Patrick Marold” — Through Jan. 5, Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver, go online for prices; botanicgardens.org.

“Vanity & Vice: American Art Deco” — Through Jan. 12, Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, 1201 Bannock St., Denver. Go online for prices. Tickets: kirklandmuseum.org.

“Dawoud Bey: Street Portraits” — Through May 11, Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway, Denver, go online for prices: denverartmuseum.org.

Monday-Dec. 28

Miracle at Union Station: Buddy’s Bar — Pop-up cocktail lounge featuring holiday décor, cocktails and a designated Hanukkah table, 4-p.m.-midnight, Galley Bar on lower level, Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St., Denver. Reservations: denverunionstation.com.

Monday-Dec. 30

Free Downtown Trolley Rides — See the downtown Castle Rock decorations, 5-7 p.m. Mondays-Tuesdays, no rides Dec. 24, pickup/drop-off points Encore Garage Entrance on South Street between Wilcox and Perry Street and Douglas County School District Parking Lot Entrance on 6th Street Wilcox and Perry Street, Castle Rock; crgov.com/2622/season-of-the-star.

CARLOTTA OLSON, The Denver Gazette

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Denver, CO

PHOTOS: Denver Broncos beat Las Vegas Raiders, 29-19, in NFL Week 12

Published

9 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

PHOTOS: Denver Broncos beat Las Vegas Raiders, 29-19, in NFL Week 12

Wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) of the Denver Broncos celebrates after the fourth quarter of the Broncos’ 29-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

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Denver, CO

Raiders HC Sounds Off on Broncos QB Bo Nix’s Rapid Rise

Published

17 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Raiders HC Sounds Off on Broncos QB Bo Nix’s Rapid Rise

On Sunday, fans will be treated to a head-to-head contest between two rapidly emerging offensive powerhouses, both of whom are bonafide Rookie of the Year contenders. Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix and Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers found new homes with consecutive picks during last April’s NFL draft, and since then, they’ve performed exceptionally well in the pro ranks.

Nix is firmly on the radar of Raiders head coach Antonio Piece, but that’s even more true after yet another award-winning performance last week.

“He was a winner as a freshman. He was a winner as a six-year player,” Pierce noted of Nix. “All he does is win, come in the league. Won the quarterback battle there in Denver. Maybe they were keeping them tight on the leash early on, and now they’re not. He has full control that offense. You can see that Sean Payton gives him opportunities to audible and make some adjustments. He’s making throws, he’s running with his legs, he’s taking care of the football, and he’s winning. That’s all you can ask for from a rookie.”

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Nix presents a clear and present danger to the Raiders’ chances of squeezing out what would be only their third win of their massively disappointing season. Stopping the impressive rookie is proving to be another matter entirely for NFL defenses, especially one with a badly beaten-up roster like the Raiders.

“This is crazy,” Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo said via ESPN‘s Paul Gutierrez. “I’ve never seen this amount of injuries on any team I’ve been on.”

This week, Broncos head coach Sean Payton has pumped the brakes a little on the burgeoning hype exploding around Nix. That being said, you get the distinct feeling that Payton is more than comfortable unleashing Nix’s full array of talents at his disposal. Confidence is growing in Nix, and that’s been reflected in how Payton has opened up the playbook for his first-year signal-caller.

The juices are flowing, and Payton may have found an answer in dynamic second-year receiver Marvin Mims Jr. The mystical “joker” role within the Broncos offense seems to have been filled.

“I think we always gotta be saying, ‘Hey, are we doing everything we can to highlight his strengths?’ And so, yeah, I don’t know if he’s got the ‘joker’ tattoo, but he might be invited to the club,” Payton said via Andrew Mason.

When push comes to shove, if Nix plays lights out again, an easy win might come Denver’s way, but stopping Bowers would also ensure the victory and help in the race for Rookie of the Year honors. Payton is already on high alert, but it was also tinged with a bit of football envy when he illustrated Bowers’ “joker” abilities.

“Someone had a really good vision for him and you see all the ‘Joker’ traits, means and change of direction,” Payton said of Bowers. “It can’t be a little. It’s a high-end receiving trait and he can move, he can be outside and he can run a route tree maybe different than most tight ends.”

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