Denver, CO
Broncos’ True Unsung Hero so Far Revealed
The defense is dominating and the offense is struggling. Stop me if you’ve heard that before.
Such has been the general theme of the Denver Broncos over the last decade. Having only finished the season with an EPA/Play ranking on offense in the top half of the league just once since 2014 and sporting a top-16 defense in nearly every season since the No Fly Zone, the 2024 Broncos are mimicking those trends on both sides of the football.
The Broncos possess a secret weapon, though, when it comes to winning games on Sundays (or dominating on Thursdays, apparently): special teams. Through the first seven weeks of the 2024 season, the Broncos have the second-rated third-phase unit in the NFL, according to FTNFantasy‘s DVOA (formerly a Football Outsiders metric).
This is even further notable because DVOA historically weighs down Broncos home games in special teams due to the advantage the altitude provides in the distance in the kicking game. Even still, Denver is having a heck of a season in the often-forgotten third phase.
The specialists themselves in Denver are playing phenomenal football. Starting with punter Riley Dixon who has the second-most punt attempts this season at 38. He’s also doing a phenomenal job in placing punts inside the 20 this season, ranking second, and ranking top-10 in hangtime at 4.50 seconds per punt.
With only 36.8% of Dixon’s punts being returned (ranking sixth) and just 6.9 yards per return (ranking ninth), the most fair catches at 14, and five downed punts (ranking fourth), his ability as a punter has shown to be one of the top five to 10 punters in the NFL so far this season.
Broncos kicker Wil Lutz is also having one heck of a season. After only missing one singular field goal on 18 attempts so far this season, Lutz’s only miss was a 50-plus yarder in the elements at a notoriously difficult kicking stadium at Metlife Stadium versus the New York Jets.
Other than that, Lutz has not missed this season, going 12-of-12 on extra-point attempts, 1-of-1 in kicks of 20-29 yards, 7-of-7 from 30-39 yards, 7-of-7 from 40-49 yards, and 2-of-3 (with the Jets game miss) on 50-plus.
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Much was made of Denver trading for Lutz prior to the 2023 season, but he has provided consistent level play in the kicking game since arriving. It’s no wonder New Orleans Saints fans were booing him; they must miss him.
The Broncos also have a number of special teams standouts on the ‘Core Four’ kickoff/kick return coverage and punt/punt return coverages. With Tremon Smith, Michael Burton, Justin Strand, Devon Key, Nate Atkins, Jonah Elliss, and JL Skinner providing key contributions and tackles for special teams, the coaching of coordinator Ben Kotwica, as well as long-time special teams coach and assistant to the head coach in Mike Westhoff, Denver is maximizing winning in the margins.
The Broncos haven’t had many opportunities to return kicks this year, with just five returns from Marvin Mims Jr., three from Tremon Smith, and one each from Levi Wallace and P.J. Locke). However, Mims has shown a consistent ability to return the ball.
Averaging 25.8 yards per kick return is not spectacular, but his 15 punt returns rank third in the league so far this season, and, of returners with at least seven punt returns, he ranks third in yards per return at 12.4. He has yet to muff a kick or punt return opportunity, which plagued him his rookie season. Mims has not materialized into the receiver Denver had hoped but he’s still finding ways to positively impact the game.
How much is special teams helping the Broncos this season? As 9NEWS‘ Mike Klis tweeted out on Saturday (prior to Sunday and Monday’s slate of games), the Broncos ranked No. 3 on offensive starting field position at the 33.5-yard line and first in defensive starting field position at the 26.8-yard line. That’s setting up both sides of the ball for great success.
The Broncos are far from a Super Bowl-contending team and have a long way to go developing and growing into a far more consistent and competent offense. The defense is rightfully receiving a lot of attention.
However, do not forget Denver’s third phase. The long-struggling unit of years past is gone. The Broncos’ third phase has quickly become one of the better special teams in the entire NFL.
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AURORA, Colo. — A pedestrian died Thursday morning after he was hit by a car on southbound E-470, the Aurora Police Department said.
The crash happened around 6:19 a.m. Thursday, according to the E-470 Toll Authority, shutting down the highway between 48th and 56th Aves. for approximately three hours. The stretch of road reopened around 9:24 a.m. Thursday, according to the E-470 Toll Authority.
A 34-year-old man intentionally jumped in front of a white Chevrolet Silverado driving on southbound E-470, according to the initial Colorado State Patrol (CSP) investigation.
- Watch the full Denver7 traffic report in the video player below.
Deadly vehicle, pedestrian crash shuts down stretch of SB E-470: Aurora PD
The driver of the Chervolet was not injured and stayed on scene to assist law enforcement with the investigation, CSP said.
Traffic was diverted off E-470 at 48th Ave. during the closure, the E-470 Toll Authority said, advising drivers to find alternate routes. Northbound E-470 remained open during the fatal crash investigation led by CSP.
Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Jayson Luber
Denver7 traffic expert Jayson Luber knows Colorado roads like the back of his hand – but he’s always looking for stories impacting transportation in our state for his Driving You Crazy podcast and beyond. If you’d like to get in touch with Jayson, fill out the form below to send him an email.
Denver, CO
New report finds Denver metro home buyers and sellers experiencing ‘unattainability fatigue’
Higher mortgage rates are discouraging buyers and sellers, and slowing market activity along the way across the Denver metro, according to a Denver Metro Association of Realtors May market trends report.
“There’s a lot of fatigue going on, and specifically due to interest rates, Denver has seen a pretty typical 6% average price appreciation, but the last couple of years it’s been relatively flat. However, that’s just kind of made up for the fact that during the pandemic we saw huge appreciation gains,” said Heather O’Leary, a realtor and a member of the Denver Metro Association of Realtors market trends committee.
Watch more of Micah Smith’s interview with Heather O’Leary on the current housing market in the video below.
New report finds Denver metro home buyers and sellers experiencing ‘unattainability fatigue’
O’Leary said from May 2017 to May 2026, the median sale price grew from $382,000 to $615,000, a 6% average annual increase that mirrors the market’s long-run historical norm.
“A median home in the Denver metro area could cost 87% more than it did in 2020 and so buyers are exhausted. That’s where we get the term affordability or unattainability fatigue, because it’s just difficult for them to jump into something. And then sellers are honestly exhausted as well, because they don’t want to have to drop their prices,” O’Leary said.
According to the report, closed sales fell nearly 7% year-over-year, attached-home sales dropped almost 18%, and new listings declined more than 17%.
However, the report found the luxury market is outperforming the broader market.
“Luxury buyers are definitely less affected by interest rates, and we’ve seen 3.1% increase year-over-year in pending sales, and about 5% in closed sales, and that’s really because luxury buyers are less affected by interest rates, because they have more flexibility, potentially more cash and equity in a home,” O’Leary said.
The DMAR Market Trends Committee releases reports monthly, including data for Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson and Park counties.
Denver7
Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Micah Smith
Micah Smith anchors Denver7’s 4 and 5 p.m. newscasts, and reports on issues impacting all of Colorado’s communities. She specializes in telling stories centered on social equity and hearing voices that are unheard or silenced. If you’d like to get in touch with Micah, fill out the form below to send her an email.
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