The most promising and deflating takeaway from the Ravens’ rout of the Broncos centered on one player: Bo Nix. He met the moment but emerged as the Broncos’ QB1, WR2 and RB1.
That combination will leave the Broncos SOL in pursuit of a playoff berth. It is not sustainable and requires change.
Coach Sean Payton told reporters on Monday not to expect a big move at Tuesday’s trade deadline, despite the team clearly needing upgrades at receiver and tight end.
“The focus is on the guys in this building,” Payton said. “Superman’s not walking in.”
This is a missed opportunity to be a nuanced buyer — Cleveland’s David Njoku, anyone? — without mortgaging the future. Broncos Country deserves better after enduring the past eight seasons.
There are, however, upgrades in-house. All comic book characters don’t wear capes. In the absence of help from the Man of Steel, Incredible Hulk is walking the hallways. What was debated weeks ago has become obvious now: It’s time to start rookie running back Audric Estime.
The Broncos need a jolt. They view themselves as a postseason team in a weak AFC, and they must start acting like one. Mid is no longer good enough. Javonte Williams deserves respect and praise for his recovery from knee surgery, but at this point, we can no longer tailor the story to fit the comeback archetype. It is about production, pure and simple.
Williams ranks 31st in rushing with 387 yards on 102 carries. Only four players in the top 50 average fewer than his 3.8 yards per carry. He hasn’t been bad. The Broncos just need better.
And Estime represents someone capable of providing more juice. His path is no longer interrupted by an ankle injury that sidelined him for a month or concerns over ball security. Fumbles are unacceptable. And his two made him hard to trust. But he has responded well to adversity, showing he has learned and applied coaching points in his limited chances the past few weeks.
At this point, the upside is too intriguing not to expand his role. Payton agreed when I asked him about it Monday after he went into great detail about running the football and stopping the run as keys to the Broncos’ second-half improvement.
“I think that’s a good and fair question and one that I think I would answer, ‘Yes,’” Payton said.
While the sample size is small, it remains impressive: 15 carries, 95 yards, 6.3 yards per attempt.
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Forget the raw statistics for a second. Trust your eyes. Every time Estime gets the ball, there is a sense something big might happen because of his strength and force. His speed surprises defenders, and he has the power to run through contact. It helps that he is a bedroom dresser in a jersey, listed at 5-foot-11, 227 pounds.
While Williams has struggled in short yardage and goal-line situations — not stretching the ball out on fourth-and-inches against the Ravens was a critical mistake — Estime profiles as a pile mover.
There is no longer a good reason for patience. The Chiefs have won eight straight against Denver in Kansas City and entered Monday night with the league’s third-best rush defense, allowing 82.3 yards per game. Against the Chiefs last season, Williams averaged 3.7 yards per rush in 37 attempts. He can be useful as a receiver out of the backfield, given his soft hands and ability to pick up a blitz. And maybe there are a few screens or sweeps for Jaleel McLaughlin.
But the reality is staring the Broncos in the face. Nix can no longer be their best runner. It’s past time to find out what Estime can deliver.
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