Buying and selling Bradley Chubb or any of the Denver Broncos’ key gamers on the deadline would ship the … [+] message of a rebuild. (Picture by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Submit by way of Getty Pictures)
Denver Submit by way of Getty Pictures
Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett has purchased himself a while — for now.
Following the Broncos’ Week 8 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars — their first since Week 3 after they defeated the San Francisco 49ers — Denver is feeling considerably higher about themselves.
Advertisement
A number of the identical points are nonetheless there. The sturdy quantity of penalties. The pinnacle-scratching turnovers. The truth that Hackett nonetheless doesn’t look like able to be main the Broncos’ sideline.
However Denver confirmed some struggle of their win over the Jaguars. In actual fact, Denver was trailed 17-14 late within the fourth quarter when Russell Wilson and the Broncos made some clutch performs. Heck, the offense — the league’s worst — one way or the other went 3-for-3 within the pink zone relating to scoring touchdowns.
And whereas the Broncos should sport a mediocre 3-5 file heading into their bye in Week 9, meaning one large factor — Denver can’t be sellers on the commerce deadline.
Heading into their Week 8 matchup versus the Jaguars, the Broncos have been presumed to be sellers on the commerce deadline — particularly in the event that they misplaced. In actual fact, if that they had misplaced, it wouldn’t have shocked anybody if Denver fired Hackett on the aircraft journey again house to Colorado.
Advertisement
Names akin to Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler and Bradley Chubb have been well-liked names thrown on the market in commerce rumors.
You may shut these rumors down— for now.
Previous to the sport, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Broncos weren’t planning on buying and selling both of their receivers.
“Though they’re fielding commerce inquiries on Chubb, the Broncos don’t plan to commerce Jerry Jeudy or KJ Hamler regardless of getting calls on the third-year extensive receivers, in accordance with sources conversant in the group’s pondering,” stated Schefter.
Schefter burdened that it might take a “sturdy provide” for Denver to commerce away their prime two younger receivers.
Advertisement
“The Broncos, who play Sunday in London towards the Jacksonville Jaguars, as an alternative need to use Jeudy and Hamler to revive their struggling offense, the sources instructed ESPN,” stated Schefter. “Denver may finally nonetheless commerce one of many receivers by Tuesday, however it solely could be for what the group believed to be a robust provide, in accordance with sources.”
The one participant who presumably may very well be moved is Chubb, Denver’s prime pass-rushing specialist. As Schefter famous, one group is keen to supply the Broncos a first-round draft choose. Chubb may additionally command extra compensation that what Denver fetched from the Los Angeles Rams — second and third-round picks — within the Von Miller commerce final season.
Moreover, Chubb is the ultimate yr of his rookie deal and is predicted to command a contract price at the very least $20 million yearly. If he’s not moved by the deadline, the Broncos are anticipated to maintain him on a long-term deal.
As engaging as a first-round choose could also be for Chubb — particularly contemplating Denver doesn’t maintain one for the 2023 NFL draft because of the Russell Wilson commerce — now isn’t the time to commerce a key determine of Denver’s No. 3-ranked protection.
If you happen to commerce Chubb now — or any of Denver’s different key gamers — for draft capital, you’re sending the sign that the win over Jacksonville means nothing. Most significantly, you’re sending the message that you just’re waving the white flag on this season.
Advertisement
As Mark Kizla of The Denver Submit notes, buying and selling Chubb — the cornerstone of the protection that’s preserving the Broncos afloat — would ship Denver right into a rebuilding mission.
The Broncos would additionally waste a useful season after signing Wilson to a $245 million contract extension.
“Buying and selling Chubb wouldn’t solely be waving the white flag it might ship a sign to Wilson that he signed a $245 million contract extension to steer a rebuilding mission,” stated Kizla.
Since successful Tremendous Bowl 50, this franchise has been on a downward spiral. They’ve gone six consecutive years with out clinching a postseason berth — a file for a group after successful a Tremendous Bowl. They will ill-afford one other rebuild of a season simply weeks after signing Wilson to such a giant contract with excessive expectations.
The Broncos could not make it to the postseason this yr. They face a troublesome slate over their 9 remaining video games, with 5 of these towards groups with successful information.
Advertisement
However it’s important to give this group an opportunity. Let this group go down swinging with its finest gamers.
Retaining Chubb ensures that the Broncos are certainly all-in on this season and never trying forward in the direction of the long run.
In the second half at Sunday’s Broncos game, a rookie running back momentarily took all of the Denver crowd’s breath away. Audric Estimé caught a pass thrown by fellow rookie Bo Nix and hurdled an Atlanta Falcons defender, but the play got called back because of a penalty.
Running back Audric Estime of the Denver Broncos hurdles Clark Phillips III of the Atlanta Falcons at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday.
Brooke Sutton / Getty Images
Cornerback Clark Phillips III came in low to try to tackle Estimé, who had the ball tucked in his left arm, and Estimé jumped high in the air and floated right over Phillips. Another Falcons defender then tackled him as he was returning to Earth.
The play got called back because of an unnecessary roughness penalty on a Broncos offensive lineman.
CBS
Advertisement
On Xfinity Monday Live, CBS Colorado host Romi Bean joked that he should be called “Air Estimé.” She asked him if he knew ahead of time that he was going to make his stunning leap.
“No I did not,” Estimé said. “It was kind of just like a reaction, honestly.”
“I saw (Phillips) kind of put his head down and close his eyes and that’s something I kind of did in college and I was like ‘This is my opportunity to do it,’” said Estimé, who played for Notre Dame in college.
“Have you always had hops?” Bean asked.
“I’d say so. I played basketball. I was grabbing rim in eighth grade,” he said. “I had pretty good vertical … like 30 and a half.”
Advertisement
Bean asked Estimé if he might flash the hurdle again in an upcoming game.
“We’ll see. I just can’t be doing it too much,” Estimé said.
Estime saw his first NFL action in Week 1 against the Seahawks, but he wound up with an ankle injury and missed several games after that while he was on IR. It’s only in recent weeks that he has started to get more work in the Broncos backfield. He had 14 carries for 53 yards against the Chiefs, and on Sunday he had 6 rushes for 16 yards plus three catches for 9 yards. And after an early fumble, he has been more cautious with the football.
“Once you change your perspective of what that ball represents, you kind of hold it differently,” he said. “Coach (Sean) Payton really told me like, this ball represents everyone’s dreams. Thinking of it, it’s like something I’ve done my whole life. And playing at the highest level is my dream, and carrying that ball my whole life is what got me there. So I just, no matter what, I just have to hold onto it.
“Ball security trumps yards, and I have to just keep improving and I believe I will.”
Advertisement
Estimé and the Broncos are now preparing for the Las Vegas Raiders. You can watch the game on Sunday afternoon on CBS Colorado.
Jesse Sarles
Jesse Sarles manages the web content and website operations for CBS Colorado. He writes articles about Colorado news and sports in and around the Denver area.
Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II and Auburn quarterback Bo Nix were opponents in the 2019 and 2020 Iron Bowls. Now they’re teammates on the Denver Broncos.
Surtain has been a first-team All-Pro selection once and a Pro Bowl pick twice, and he currently leads the NFL in interception-return yards in his fourth season since Denver selected him at No. 9 in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Nix is a rookie, but he’s begun to attract accolades 11 starts after becoming the 12th pick in the NFL Draft on April 25. And Surtain foresees more recognition ahead for the Broncos quarterback.
“He’s him,” Surtain said. “I told him, ‘Man, you’re trying to win MVP. It’s not even looking like Offensive Rookie of the Year. It looks like MVP right now.’
Advertisement
“But, man, it’s a testament to him. He puts the work in each and every week, and it shows with his preparation. He stays after hours to watch film, perfect his game. This is what you see from him. When you have games like this, it’s not a surprise because he puts the work in fundamentally each and every week.”
Surtain made the remark after the Broncos had beaten the Atlanta Falcons 38-6 on Sunday. Nix reached career highs in passing yards, touchdown passes, completion percentage and passing-efficiency rating as he completed 28-of-33 passes for 307 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He completed 84.8 percent of his passes and posted a passer rating of 145.0.
In his NFL debut, Nix completed 26-of-42 passes for 138 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. The former Pinson Valley High School star completed 61.9 percent of his passes and had a passer rating of 47.5 in a 26-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 8.
“Our league, you’re learning each week,” Denver coach Sean Payton said, “and then pretty soon, you’re like, ‘I belong here.’ And it’s clear he belongs here.”
Nix became the first rookie in NFL history with 300 passing yards, four TD passes, no interceptions and a completion percentage of more than .750 in the same game on Sunday.
Advertisement
“It’s a lot of fun to be able to be a part of, a lot of fun to watch him go out there and have fun,” Denver wide receiver Courtland Sutton said after Sunday’s game. “You can tell he’s like a kid, man. He’s just enjoying himself. And for your quarterback to be out there enjoying himself but not panic – there’s not one ounce of panic that goes upon him no matter what part of the game we’re in. It’s a lot of fun.”
Broncos safety P.J. Locke has his award projection for Nix set a little lower than Surtain, pitching the quarterback for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award after Sunday’s game.
“If it’s not, we got to go talk to somebody,” Locke said. “But, no, let me scale back. We still got a whole bunch of games, so I don’t want to mess up nothing. Keep taking it week by week. But I hope so. …
“Bo is not your average rookie, I would say. You can just tell, like, his confidence is growing. His leadership is growing. And it’s rubbing off on a lot of people. He’s going out there executing, getting that offense going, and it’s a fun sight to see. I think everybody feeds off of it.”
At 6-5, Denver is in the AFC’s final playoff spot in the current standings.
Advertisement
The Broncos play the Las Vegas Raiders at 3:05 p.m. CST Sunday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Denver defeated the Raiders 34-18 on Oct. 6 as Nix threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in the “Ferris Bueller” game. Las Vegas has a 2-8 record after its 34-19 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
The Atlanta Falcons were painfully reminded of something that has been true for nearly 20 years. Sean Payton has partial ownership in the Atlanta Falcons. Maybe they hoped things changed since Payton was no longer leading the New Orleans Saints.
However, when the Falcons visited the Denver Broncos, Payton showed the new emblem on the hat doesn’t lessen his dominance over the Falcons. Payton improved his record to 22-9 against the Falcons with a dominating 38-6 victory.
Atlanta wasn’t the only team to get this reminder. Payton swept the NFC South this year and showed them why they all felt relieved by his temporary retirement. This included Payton’s first career victory over the Saints.
The games haven’t been too close either. The Carolina Panthers kept it the closest, and they lost by 14 points. At the end of that game, Payton flat out said Carolina isn’t a good team. Maybe that was the jolt Carolina needed because they haven’t lost a game since those comments.
Advertisement
During his 16-year run with New Orleans, Payton had a winning record against every team in the division. As the coach of the Denver Broncos, he’s undefeated against his former division.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25724877/Super_Nintendo_World.png "The next Nintendo Direct is all about Super Nintendo World’s Donkey Kong Country")
