Denver, CO

‘[I’m] proud of how we fought’: Broncos close out two-week road trip with second consecutive victory

Published

2 months ago

September 30, 2024

‘[I’m] proud of how we fought’: Broncos close out two-week road trip with second consecutive victory

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Broncos are returning to Denver as a different team than when they left.

After starting the season 0-2, Denver hit the road for a two-week road trip that Head Coach Sean Payton said could provide a “better idea” of where the team stood. And as the Broncos now return to Denver back at .500, it’s safe to say the trip showed the team’s potential for the rest of the 2024 season.

“Coach Payton [kept] just kept telling us, ‘These two road games are going to define us as a team,’” safety P.J. Locke said after Sunday’s win against the Jets. “… [To] figure out what our identity is and come back home with two road wins, it’s awesome. We’re putting ourselves in the right position.”

Denver wasted no time in beginning to develop this identity during the two-week stretch. While traveling to Tampa and taking on a 2-0 team may have seemed to be a daunting task, the Broncos took control of the game with a touchdown on their opening drive and never looked back. The 26-7 victory showcased an improved run game, a stellar defensive performance and several other positive takeaways that left the team feeling confident and energized heading into Week 4.

The job, however, was far from complete. Denver then traveled to The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia to train for the week and prepare for its upcoming matchup with the Jets. And although the team entered the week with an increased sense of confidence, the commitment to continuous improvement remained unchanged. For Payton, this helped paint a picture of what his team could be moving forward.

“It had a chance to be a pivotal part of the season,” Payton said Sunday of the two-week trip. “We’re early in the season, but you find out a little bit about everyone. … You kind of [find out] a little bit about your grit and toughness.”

And Sunday’s rainy matchup with the Jets in East Rutherford provided the perfect opportunity to do just that.

“Obviously [it was] a gritty win,” Payton said of Denver’s one-point victory. “[I’m] proud of how we fought. … [It was a] good team that we played, and we fought hard.”

While Denver’s defense continued to build positive momentum, keeping quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Jets’ offense out of the end zone, the Broncos’ offense struggled to find a rhythm early and failed to put any points on the board during the first half. Trailing by six at the half, courtesy of two Jets’ field goals, the Broncos found a way to battle back in the third quarter. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix led a scoring drive that was capped off with his first career touchdown pass, and kicker Wil Lutz later added a field goal that gave the Broncos enough points to pull out the victory.

“It was huge to go on the road, get two tough wins against two really good football teams, two tough defenses, two tough offenses,” Nix said. “… You find a way to win in this league, and that’s a big day.”

But for left tackle Garett Bolles, who described his team as “young” and “gritty,” the perfect ending to the two-week trip meant a little bit more than just adding another tally in the win column.

“I’m just very grateful,” he said. “This team is just so special. From the locker room, our relationships that we have, we’re just trusting each other, trusting in the game plan, trusting in our coaches and I think just the importance of a team. … Everyone just put their pride aside, and we just focused on each other these last 10 days. We got one in Tampa, but I think this one was a special one.”

Bolles noted that the back-and-forth nature of a game that came down to the wire is what made the victory that much more special, and running back Javonte Williams, who led the team in rushing yards, echoed this sentiment.

“Resilience [and] grit,” Williams said of what he believes this game showed about the team. “We can play in any conditions, we are super focused, no matter what the factors are. [We] just come out here with our heads up.”

As the Broncos now return to Denver to prepare for their second home game, they will look to continue to carry this mindset with them. For Payton, getting back to .500 was a great step in the right direction.

“[We went] into some tough environments,” Payton said. “You get on a plane tonight and you get back home at 2-2. That’s important.”

Source link

Related Topics:Denver Broncos at New York Jets (2024-REG-4)Featured Game Day Susanna Weir Top Stories

Click to comment

Denver, CO

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

Published

8 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.”

What happens next on the Broncos beat? Don’t miss out on any news and analysis! Take a second, sign up for our free newsletter, and get breaking Broncos news delivered to your inbox daily!

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.”

Follow Denver Broncos On SI/Mile High Huddle on X and Facebook and subscribe on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!

Source link

Denver, CO

Jokic and Denver take on the Knicks in non-conference play

Published

16 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Jokic and Denver take on the Knicks in non-conference play

Associated Press

New York Knicks (9-7, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (9-6, fifth in the Western Conference)

Denver; Monday, 9 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets host the New York Knicks in a non-conference matchup.

The Nuggets have gone 5-3 at home. Denver ranks sixth in the Western Conference with 12.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Jokic averaging 4.4.

The Knicks are 4-5 in road games. New York ranks seventh in the Eastern Conference allowing only 112.4 points while holding opponents to 47.3% shooting.

The Nuggets are shooting 47.8% from the field this season, 0.5 percentage points higher than the 47.3% the Knicks allow to opponents. The Knicks average 14.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.2 more made shots on average than the 13.1 per game the Nuggets allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Nuggets.

Jalen Brunson is averaging 25.1 points and 7.4 assists for the Knicks.

LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 7-3, averaging 118.4 points, 45.5 rebounds, 31.6 assists, 8.7 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 49.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.7 points per game.

Knicks: 6-4, averaging 120.3 points, 42.9 rebounds, 29.9 assists, 6.7 steals and 4.1 blocks per game while shooting 50.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.5 points.

INJURIES: Nuggets: Aaron Gordon: out (calf), DaRon Holmes II: out for season (achilles), Vlatko Cancar: out (knee).

Knicks: Precious Achiuwa: out (hamstring), Miles McBride: day to day (knee), Mitchell Robinson: out (ankle).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Source link

Denver, CO

NBA Legend Proposes Cam Thomas-Denver Nuggets Deal

Published

1 day ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

NBA Legend Proposes Cam Thomas-Denver Nuggets Deal

Could the Brooklyn Nets’ No. 1 scoring option team up with a two-time league MVP?

According to Paul Pierce, it’s possible.

On a recent episode of “Ticket & The Truth,” the former Boston Celtics star suggested a move from Brooklyn to the Denver Nuggets for Cam Thomas to provide the 2023 NBA Champions with a depth boost.

“Alright, let me put my GM hat on,” Pierce said. “I think right now, for Cam, I’d like to see him off the bench for Denver. …Because they need that spark plug off the bench.”

He may want to take that hat off.

The Nuggets do not have an asset they’d be willing to part ways with that would entice the Nets enough to move off of a 23-year-old who’s turning in over 24 points per game. And even if Denver were to offer a king’s ransom of draft capital, as long as Nikola Jokic is healthy a Nuggets’ choice will never hold much value.

Oct 29, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets small guard Cam Thomas (24) shoots the ball against the Denver Nuggets during the second half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

When reports suggested Thomas could be available in negotiations, they didn’t mean Brooklyn was looking to give him away. The return would have to warrant the transaction, and a hypothetical package consisting of Christian Braun and two first-round picks (no offense Christian) won’t be enough to entice Sean Marks.

The Nets shouldn’t look to move Thomas until a can’t-say-no deal emerges. Until then, let him continue to drop nearly 25 a night on the opposition and revisit any potential thoughts of trading the electrifying scorer at February’s deadline.

Want to join the discussion? Like Nets on SI on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Nets news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.

Source link