Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons (31) looks up at the scoreboard during the second half at Arrowhead’s GEHA Field on October 12, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Denver Broncos 19-8 in Week 6 of the NFL season in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/Denver Post)
stock up
S Justin Simmons
The Broncos safety has been a turnover-inducing machine in recent years, scoring his first point of 2023 with an early interception against Patrick Mahomes on Thursday night. He has the ability to binge, and Denver could really put that to use right now. Simmons’ name won’t come up in trade talks until he moves or the Oct. 31 deadline passes. The franchise mainstay is starting to look like he’s playing healthier.
Run the game – sort of
One of the disappointing aspects of Denver’s complete lack of a passing offense on Thursday night was that the running game looked strong. The Broncos did it early and often, but by the second half they were down 16-0 and needed some kind of escape. They gained 115 total yards and 5.0 yards per carry, but were unable to rely on their run game in the second half due to a goose egg on the scoreboard. Denver hasn’t had a player other than its quarterback score 20 points in a game since the season opener.
DL Zach Allen
Allen’s numbers have been hit-and-miss so far this season, but he now has sacks in his past two games and is slowly showing the pass-rushing ability that made him a coveted player in free agency this spring. ing. The Broncos still need to be tougher on giving up points, but Allen’s performance against Kansas City was a step in the right direction for him and the entire front seven, with Allen up to 2.5 sacks on the year. right.
red zone defense
Vance Joseph’s defense has been bad overall through six games, but his performance against the Chiefs was his best game so far this year. Part of that is because they held Mahomes and his guys to one touchdown, two field goals, one interception and one turnover on downs in five trips to the red zone. Over the past two weeks, they have allowed only one red zone touchdown out of 10 chances. That’s a pretty good job, but considering they gave up 407 yards to the Jets and 389 to Kansas City, there’s plenty of other things to improve on.
out of stock
QB Russell Wilson
I can’t say either way about this. This is Wilson’s worst game thus far in 2023, and it’s not even close. Yes, the Broncos receivers need to create more separation. Of course, protection also needs to be improved. But Wilson will have to find a way to get more than 95 passing yards. Until Courtland Sutton’s 21-yard catch midway through the fourth quarter, Denver’s two best passing plays were a 15-yard screen to Samaje Perine and a 13-yard pass from the backfield to Jerry Jeudy. . Then you can’t win the game.
WR Marvin Mims Jr.
It’s really not his fault. Mims played 12 offensive snaps but was not targeted on the night. He has been the Broncos’ most impactful deep threat so far this season, but he has just one catch for four yards in the past two games. Teams will take notice when a player goes over the top repeatedly, but now it’s up to Denver and coach Sean Payton to adjust and find other ways to get the ball in situations that favor the rookie.
TE Greg Dulcich
Well, it was a tough battle for the second-year tight end out of UCLA. Durcic missed four games with a hamstring injury, but returned on Thursday and played in 11 games before being sidelined again with a hamstring injury. Obviously, Denver is hoping it’s just a minor setback, but the continued troubles have reached a point where it’s easy to wonder what it will take for Dalcic to get over the problem once and for all. There is.
WR Jerry Jeudy
Let’s take away all the pregame drama between Jeudy and NFL Network analyst and former star receiver Steve Smith Jr. Jeudy needs more than his three catches for 14 yards in a prime-time game. The Broncos guaranteed his fifth year this spring. They thought he could be a No. 1 type receiver. So far, nothing like that. He’s shown glimpses of that throughout his career, but he’s never really put it into practice for more than a few games at a time. Now, his tenure in Denver and role in the Broncos’ future plans has likely reached a tipping point.
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