Initial thoughts from the Broncos’ embarrassing 41-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9:
Bo knows, grows, but..: The Broncos wanted desperately to show they belonged in the AFC’s upper crust. Instead, they proved unequivocally that they were not ready for the move up in weight class. Bo Nix was the Broncos’ best player as a passing, running and receiving threat (he had 261 total yards) and it was not close to good enough. He needs better weapons around him beyond Courtland Sutton. Denver learned the humbling lesson that beating a contender on the road requires clean execution. Yes, the Broncos ran six plays for minus-2 yards in the third quarter, but this game was lost in the first half. That’s when Nix threw an interception on his first pass — Lil’ Jordan Humphrey deserves equal blame – Javonte Williams somehow ended up on a sweep on fourth-and-inches and failed to reach the ball out for the conversion and Nix misfired on fourth-and-4 on a sure-fire touchdown to rookie Troy Franklin.
Broncos’ D outclassed: The Broncos’ third-ranked defense embraced the opportunity to face the league’s top offensive attack. About that. The Ravens spent three quarters spraying graffiti on Denver’s previous Picasso. They could not keep Lamar Jackson in the pocket, and his ability to extend plays mocked a lacking pass rush and leaky coverage. Jackson completed 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns. He finished with the fourth perfect passer rating of his career. Not bad for a guy who practiced one day last week.
Flowers in bloom: Central to the Broncos’ game plan was making Jackson beat them through the air. They controlled the ground attack in the first half, but Zay Flowers bloomed. Flowers caught four passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns in 30 minutes. For context, he had never had two receiving touchdowns in a game before Sunday, and his career-high was 132 yards. Flowers’ 53-yard score with 16 seconds remaining in the second quarter was the finisher. Flowers caught the ball in space, and safety Devon Key missed the tackle — the Broncos need P.J. Locke back from injury ASAP — as the second-year receiver raced in for the score.
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Oh Henry: The challenge of playing the Ravens revealed itself in the third quarter. The Broncos limited Derrick Henry in the first half to 32 yards rushing. Then he put on his mud flaps and ran over, through and around them. On the first drive after halftime, the Ravens provided the Broncos with a heavy dose of the Mack truck. Henry carried seven times for 43 yards on a 70-yard march that widened the Ravens’ lead to 31-10, vanquishing any hope for the Broncos. He became the first player to eclipse 100 yards rushing against the Broncos since Kenneth Walker in the season opener. In the victory, Henry also reached 10 touchdowns in seven straight seasons, tied for the second-longest streak with Adrian Peterson.
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