Broncos Collapse in the Clutch, When Will Everything Click?

What happened?  Defense was supposed to be the staple of the Broncos this season, but the strong Week 1 performance feels like a distant memory.  Let’s break down the recent struggles of the Denver defense and see what needs to change moving forward.

Defensive Issues

The defensive line played phenomenally. Constant pressure was put on Chargers phenom quarterback Justin Herbert, who was sacked five times. Nik Bonitto had yet another strong performance, sacking Herbert twice along with two tackles for losses.  Bonitto also contributed five of the Broncos’ 14 QB hits on Sunday.

Bonitto has been one of the NFL’s top linebackers this season, relentlessly pressuring quarterbacks and making life miserable for opposing offensive lines.  His three sacks this season are tied for eighth in the league.  

Looking past the defensive line, though, Denver has a lot of room for improvement.  The Broncos’ secondary has been underperforming severely, with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II  yet to have his first interception this season.  Surtain is meant to be the heart and soul of Denver’s defense, but so far, he hasn’t lived up to such expectations.

Safety Brandon Jones carried most of the weight in the secondary, picking Herbert off last week, along with deflecting two passes and recording six solo tackles.  In order for Denver’s defense to reach its full potential, both Surtain and Jones need to continue to step up.

The deep ball was the Broncos’ ultimate demise on Sunday. With just over three minutes left to play, Herbert hit rookie running back Omarion Hampton for a 23-yard gain, which set the table for veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen. Herbert hit Allen in the endzone for a 20-yard touchdown, tying the game at the time.

On the Chargers’ next and final drive, Herbert went four for four and ultimately set Los Angeles up for a win. It is extremely uncharacteristic for Denver to allow so many big plays in such crucial moments, and it’s clear the secondary needs to improve in order to prevent comebacks like these from happening.

Inconsistent Offense

Though the offense looked strong during the second half of Sunday’s contest, there is still a lot of room for improvement.  Denver recorded six three-and-outs, a new season high.  Quarterback Bo Nix played okay once again, throwing one touchdown for 153 yards. A mediocre performance, sure, but Nix didn’t throw a single interception against a very solid Chargers defense.

There were many instances on Sunday when Bo Nix missed open receivers downfield by the length of a finger. While it’s crucial for a quarterback to hit open receivers, especially against good teams, you can tell Nix is a few tweaks away from unlocking his full potential. 

He has shown significant growth on the decision-making front this year, and when paired with his elite athleticism,he  will be a daunting force for defenses in the future.  

All Rise, Sutton Shines

As stated previously, Nix threw for 158 yards on Sunday, and star receiver Courtland Sutton recorded 118 of them.  Sutton had an incredible bounce-back week after not making much noise last weekend, corralling six receptions and a touchdown.  His average yards per catch of 19.7 led the Denver offense and showed Broncos fans why he was extended during the summer. 

Sutton has been budding into a star, if he wasn’t one already, and now has the quarterback to unlock his full potential. Pairing receivers like Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr. with Sutton is a powerful force on offense.

There is no doubt the Broncos have the pieces to be a top team in the AFC this season. So far, they haven’t lived up to such hype.  Now, with a 2-1 Bengals team up next on Denver’s schedule, the question isn’t “Do the Broncos have the talent?” but rather, “Can everything click at once?”