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At 1-5, the Denver Broncos don’t get many passing grades

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1 year ago

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At 1-5, the Denver Broncos don’t get many passing grades


At 1-5 through six games, in possession of the worst record at this point in any Denver Broncos season in 29 years and with an average of 33 points allowed per game, the Broncos don’t merit many high marks so far.

OFFENSE

OVERALL GRADE: C

The Broncos started off strongly in most metrics, but faded in recent weeks. Their scoring percentage of 35.0 percent — 21 scores in 60 non-kneeldown drives — ranks 20th heading into Monday night’s play, although their touchdown percentage ranks 12th.

For a team that needs to possess the ball to keep its struggling defense off the field, its efficiency numbers there are disappointing. Denver averages just 2 minutes, 40 seconds of possession time per series; that ranks 24th. Its average of 32.2 net yards per series is 13th.

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Turnovers are a growing problem; 10 of 60 drives ended in giveaways, a 16.7-percent rate that is fifth-worst in the NFL.

PASSING: C-minus

The trend lines are concerning. Russell Wilson has two of his four lowest ESPN QBR marks in the Broncos’ most recent two losses.

The Broncos’ pass blocking ranks 13th in the league, according to the data compiled by Pro Football Focus. The season has been rough for right tackle Mike McGlinchey, who conceded another sack last Thursday night. As a whole, the Broncos are conceding pressure on 26.0 percent of dropbacks according to SportRadar.com; that ranks 24th-best in the league.

RUSHING: B

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Jaleel McLaughlin has been a revelation, but as a whole, the Broncos are maximizing what they have on the ground. Only two teams — Tennessee and Miami — average more yardage after contact than the Broncos. And Denver ranks 10th in yardage before contact, as well.

The run blocking of the Denver Broncos also remains solid.

DEFENSE

OVERALL GRADE: D-minus

When your grade is the same as the typical mark for Peppermint Patty of “Peanuts” fame, you’re in a lousy place indeed.

A whopping 56.7 percent of non-kneeldown drives ended in scores, the worst figure in the NFL by over four percentage points. Twenty-two possessions ended in touchdowns; that’s also a league high. And the average of 41.6 net yards per series allowed is also the league’s worst figure.

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And here’s the thing: If you took the Dolphins game out of the equation, the Broncos defense would still rank 25th in the league in touchdown rate — 25.5 percent — and 31st in percentage of drives to end in any kind of score, at 51.6 percent. It wouldn’t change where the Broncos rank in net yardage allowed per possession; they’d still be dead last.

So, even if you assume the Miami game is an outlier, this defense would still be near the foot of the league on a per-possession basis. A D-minus grade is probably generous, but the team’s red-zone performance since the fourth quarter against Chicago helps it avoid a mark of total failure.

PASSING DEFENSE: F

You are what the results say you are:

Passer rating allowed: 117.8, 32nd
Yards per pass play allowed: 7.69, 32nd
Completion percentage allowed: 76.4, 32nd
Touchdown passes allowed/game: 2.33, 32nd
First-down rate: One first down allowed every 2.65 pass plays, 32nd

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RUSHING DEFENSE: D

It hasn’t been quite as bad as the woes on pass defense — although the Broncos are allowing a catastrophic 5.6 yards per carry, the worst in the league. Denver’s run defense held up well last Thursday, and the Broncos weren’t blown off the line of scrimmage as they had been in the previous three games.

SPECIAL TEAMS

OVERALL GRADE: B-plus

Wil Lutz has been perfect since missing an extra point and a long field-goal attempt in Week 1. Punter Riley Dixon has been solid, although his hang times were disappointing last Thursday on a windy night in Kansas City. His net average of 41.1 yards ranks 18th.

The Denver Broncos rank first in kickoff-return average, buoyed by Marvin Mims Jr.’s 99-yard return for a touchdown in Week 3. Mims’ work also has the Broncos leading the league in average per punt return — a robust 20.0-yards-per-return pace. The Broncos also rank in the NFL’s top-10 in kickoff coverage, as well. Muffs are a concern, but on the whole, the explosiveness is a bright spot.

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For the first time since Super Bowl 50, we’re not talking about the Broncos’ special teams being among the league’s worst. That represents progress.

***





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Denver, CO

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

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3 hours ago

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November 25, 2024

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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.

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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.

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“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

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

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12 hours ago

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November 24, 2024

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




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

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20 hours ago

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November 24, 2024

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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.

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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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