Initial observations from the Broncos 30-24 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday at Paycor Stadium:
Bodacious, finally: Bo Nix needed better than this. So did Sean Payton. Against one of the NFL’s worst defenses, the Broncos hit the throttle like they were in a Yugo. Trailing 10-3 and their defense gassed, they found their traction, if not aggression, in the second half. Nix, who finished 24 of 31 for 219 yards and three touchdowns, responded with back-to-back drives that featured his touch and growth. He high-pointed a third-quarter touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton and finally let his hair down and went to the air in the fourth. With Marvin Mims Jr. racing past defenders from the slot, Nix launched a moonball for a 51-yard touchdown, tying the score. He liked it so much, he found Mims for a 25-yard score to miraculously send the game to OT. But with a chance to ice the game — a tie would have sent Denver to the postseason — Nix misfired on third down to an open Troy Franklin, marking a second straight three-and-out. It proved the defining mistake and left the Broncos with one more opportunity against the Chiefs to reach the playoffs.
Getting Mossed: Cornerback Riley Moss returned to the lineup following a three-week absence due to a knee injury, and walked into a hornet’s nest of activity. He made tackles in the run game, took a Mike Gisecki knee to his head and matched up repeatedly with Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. Halfway through the second quarter, Moss had seven tackles, the third most of his career. His return allowed the Broncos to blitz more, but they struggled to get home. Moss allowed a fourth-quarter touchdown to Higgins — hard to fault him on a perfect pass by Joe Burrow — and a 31-yard completion to set up the final score.
QBs Can’t Stand Pat: In one of the best matchups of the season — great on great — cornerback Pat Surtain II showed why he remains in the defensive player of the year conversation. With a playoff berth hanging in the balance, Surtain delivered like he has so many times this season. Draped on Tee Higgins in coverage, Surtain turned a short gain into a big play, forcing a fumble in the fourth quarter that was ruled Broncos possession after a successful replay challenge. It was an admirable performance. Trailing star receiver Ja’Marr Chase on most plays, Surtain won the one-on-ones or dissuaded Burrow from throwing in his direction. Chase finished with 102 yards receiving, but less than half of those yards came against Surtain. They created openings for the star receiver by putting him in the slot away from Denver’s all-pro.
Hanging with Mr. Cooper: Jonathon Cooper was Mr. Ohio State, such a mature captain for the Buckeyes that his teammates called him “Dad.” Maybe it is just a state of Ohio thing. He looked right at home being near home. Cooper collected 1.5 sacks, giving him a career-high 9.5 for the season. Cooper, who signed a four-year, $60-million contract in November, notched a half sack in his previous game against the Bengals his rookie season. The defense did its part with two fourth-down stops in the first half and seven sacks (Zach Allen had 3.5 himself), but allowing seven third-down conversions came back to haunt the group.
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