Denver, CO
Week 5: Where do the Denver Broncos stack up in NFL power rankings?
The Denver Broncos are coming off back-to-back road wins over teams who had winning records heading into those games. The New York Jets were coming off a 24-3 dominating win before being stonewalled by Denver’s defense, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers bounced back from their 26-7 beatdown by Denver last week to dominate the Philadelphia Eagles. Maybe the Broncos are good?
In this week’s power rankings, the consensus has begun to rank the Broncos all over the place. Some are still not believers, while others may be believing a little too much. Given the two extremes, it probably makes sense to peg them somewhere around 19th or 20th this week. Another win next week and we might start to see that shift into the top half. Besides, beating the Las Vegas Raiders is always a good thing and its something the Broncos haven’t done since 2019.
Here is where the Broncos are ranking around the NFL.
ESPN – 22nd
Week 4 ranking: 27
Biggest issue on offense: Consistency against the runThis is a bit of a nitpick, as the run defense has improved since allowing more than 140 rushing yards in each of Denver’s first two games. But compared to where the Broncos rank in other categories (they lead the NFL in sacks per pass attempt and are top four in red zone defense, total defense, passing defense and third-down defense), their No. 12 ranking in rush defense is something to work on. Vance Joseph’s unit has gotten better, surrendering only 155 rushing yards the past two weeks, but further improvement will make the Broncos even more stifling than they already are. — Jeff Legwold
NY Times – 25th
Last week: 28
Surprise: Beat New York Jets 10-9First-round quarterback Bo Nix had seven completions for minus-7 yards in the first half Sunday. And the Broncos won! Nix finished with 60 passing yards, becoming the first quarterback (with at least 20 pass attempts) to win with so few yards since Eli Manning in 2007, according to ESPN Sports & Info. The only player this season with fewer yards per pass attempt than Nix (4.8) is Bryce Young, who got benched. He’s 32nd in the league in EPA per dropback (minus-.30). Speedy fourth-round wide receiver Troy Franklin also is struggling (four catches, 9 yards).
CBS Sports – 17th
Sean Payton has this team 2-2 with a rookie quarterback. Why? The defense is playing outstanding right now and carrying this group.
ProFootballTalk – 15th
Broncos (No. 21; 2-2): If the offense ever catches up to the defense, they’ll be dangerous.
NFL.com – 20th
Style points are one thing, but at least in the case of Sunday’s game, the Broncos will take a second straight road win. The defense has now allowed 29 points over the past 12 quarters and held each of its past three opponents to 251 yards or fewer. The weather on Sunday might have helped keep the score down, as did the Jets’ rash of penalties, but there’s no denying this Denver defense has come out with hardhats on this season. The Broncos took Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson out of the game and sacked Aaron Rodgers five times with an aggressive, blitz-heavy approach. You’d like to see more from Bo Nix and his wide receivers, but they did just enough with two second-half scoring drives to (barely) finish it off. Is the AFC West open with the Chiefs and Chargers banged up? The chance to make a run is now, with three of the next four at home against a softer part of the schedule.
Yahoo Sports – 23rd
It’s hard for cornerbacks to win Defensive Player of the Year, but Pat Surtain II is playing at a special level. He’s shadowing No. 1 receivers and erasing them from games. The Broncos’ defense is playing very well and Surtain is the biggest reason.
Sporting News – 19th
The Broncos have gone from compressed, uninspiring offense with Bo Nix to getting more than enough with their defense overachieving for Sean Payton. They can make some division noise over the next two games before seeing Payton’s old team, the Saints.
USA Today – 18th
An offense struggling mightily with rookie QB Bo Nix seems to be garnering most of the attention. A second-ranked defense that’s been nearly airtight in the red zone deserves just as much.
Where do you think the Broncos should be ranked after tough back-to-back road wins? Share in the comments section below.
Denver, CO
Denver area events for Nov. 28
Denver, CO
Three people injured in Denver in shooting on Broadway
The Denver Police Department is investigating after three people were injured in a shooting late Wednesday night.
According to DPD, officers were called to the scene in the 1100 block of N. Broadway around 10:30 p.m. When they arrived, the officers found two people who had been injured. Both were taken to the hospital for treatment, but officials did not know the extent of their injuries.
A third victim was later found with what authorities said were minor injuries. That person was not taken to the hospital.
Investigators said they are working to develop suspect information.
Denver, CO
Pueblo man sentenced to 15 years for threatening Denver judge
A Pueblo man was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Wednesday for threatening a Denver judge who was overseeing several of the man’s criminal cases.
Thomas Wornick, 43, was convicted of three counts of retaliation against a judge, a class 4 felony. He was already serving a deferred sentence for threatening former Sen. Cory Gardner when he was charged with the new offenses, according to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
“When someone attempts to intimidate or harm those who serve the public, we will respond with every tool the law provides,” Deputy District Attorney Joseph Henriksen said in a statement on Wednesday. “This sentence makes clear that violent threats, no matter who makes them, will be met with serious consequences.”
Judge Judith Labuda told the Denver Police Department last year that Wornick, a combat veteran, sent him nine emails between March 5 and March 15, 2024.
“On March 15, 2024, Mr. Wornick sent three emails to the (judicial) division, threatening to murder or kill me,” Labuda told investigators at the time. “His emails left me feeling unsettled, and in fear.”
Since Labuda is a judge in Denver, the case was handled by a special prosecutor from the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
In 2020, Wornick was arrested at Fort Carson, the U.S. Army installation in Colorado Springs, after the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office said he had threatened to kill several local attorneys, business owners, government officials, and “every Pueblo County Sheriff’s deputy.” The sheriff’s office said deputies served a search warrant on his Pueblo home at the time and found two guns, including a semi-automatic rifle, several knives, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
When Wornick threatened Gardner, the Republican U.S. senator who represented Colorado from 2015 to 2021, he detailed his combat service in an email to the senator, writing, “In 2003 I deployed to Iraq, I was blown up by an ied in my hmmwv and blown up again by a rocket weeks later. I suffer everyday of my life. I am going to kill senator cory gardner for refusing to help me get medical care,” the Pueblo Chieftan reported.
“No public servant should ever fear for their life simply for doing their job,” Assistant District Attorney Ryan Brackley said. “Mr. Wornick’s pattern of escalating threats demanded a strong, decisive response. Our office is committed to ensuring that intimidation has no place in our courts, and to protecting those involved in upholding the rule of law.”
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