Initial thoughts from the Broncos’ 31-13 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15 at Empower Field at Mile High:
Defensive false start: Riley Moss can’t be that important can he? The results over the first five quarters of the second-year cornerback’s absence — 35 first downs and 674 yards for 42 points from the start of the Browns game to the first seven seconds of Sunday’s second quarter — weren’t very encouraging. Neither was seeing running back Jonathan Taylor rip off first-down runs on third-and-10 and third-and-9 on the Colts’ first two drives. Or quarterback Anthony Richardson gashing the secondary in the middle of the field with a pair of third-down throws. For much of the season, Denver’s ability to generate pressure on third down has been a defining characteristic of their success. After John Franklin-Myers and Co. got back to that in the second quarter, everything flipped.
Running on empty: The other alarm bell from early on Sunday afternoon? A Broncos run game that was way too Bo Nix-dependent over the first two quarters. This was supposed to be the game that the Broncos unleashed Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime against the 31st-ranked run defense in the NFL. Instead, Denver’s running backs had eight carries for 15 yards going into the break — with Estime not getting a single touch. Even more mystifying? Head coach Sean Payton told the CBS sideline reporter at halftime that the Broncos needed to run more … and then dialed up a pass on third-and-short to begin the second half that Bo Nix sailed for a pick.
Rookie lessons: Speaking of the Broncos’ quarterback … let’s face it, Bo Nix was due. Rookie QBs are supposed to submit a few duds in their first season in the league. We just thought Nix got them out of the way in September. Alas, the happy feet returned, as did the questionable decision-making — and the picks (three, all told). If you were still withholding judgment about Nix’s qualifications as a franchise quarterback, this game was your catnip. If you were an early taker on his Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, this was your buzzkill. Of course, the rook still finished with three touchdown passes in a win. No doubt, Broncos Country will take a bad day like that every time.
Just win, baby!: Three turnovers. A run game stuck in neutral. An opposing running back streaking for a two-score lead early in the third quarter … until he suddenly wasn’t. In so many ways, this was a game the Broncos should have lost. Instead, they closed the door emphatically on Indianapolis in the fourth quarter with a suffocating defense, 61 yards of magic from second-year returner Marvin Mims Jr. on special teams and yet another Nik Bonitto touchdown return on defense. This is what good teams, playoff teams do: find a way to win when their best eludes them. Sean Payton’s crew did that Sunday. And suddenly, a seven-year run of losing football at Mile High is over at 9-5. An eight-year playoff drought is likely next.
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