The Denver Broncos’ Week 7 matchup against the New York Jets ended in a 16-9 loss at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday afternoon. Broncos Wire chronicles the studs and duds from the loss.
Stud: Broncos defense
After holding the Los Angeles Chargers to 19 points just six days ago, the Broncos defense kept the Jets to only 16. In a matchup of two of the NFL’s best units, Denver held their own for most of the game.
Alex Singleton added 11 tackles, and the Broncos as a whole kept second-year quarterback Zach Wilson on the run for most of the game, limiting him to 121 yards through the air.
In the end, another defensive gem could not save Denver from itself.
Dud: Brandon McManus
After having made this list as a “stud” for several weeks, McManus is the latest to debut as a dud. McManus missed an extra point and a 54-yard field goal attempt in swirling wind conditions. In the end, McManus’ misses spelled disaster for the Broncos late. Special teams in Sunday’s game was anything but special.
Stud: Red zone offense
In Denver’s lone trip to the red zone, they capitalized with a Latavius Murray touchdown. Unfortunately, that marked the last time they ventured inside New York’s 20-yard line. While the offense did a decent job of sustaining drives in the first half, in the second half, the Broncos sputtered to a grinding halt. At least they bunched it in in the red zone, though.
Dud: Broncos rushing attack
Since Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, the Broncos rushing attack has been MIA. Between running backs Melvin Gordon, Latavius Murray and Mike Boone, Denver totaled 80 rushing yards on 23 carries and a touchdown. That is only 3.5 yards per carry. Opposing defenses know that if they can stop the Broncos’ run game, the play-action game suffers along with it. If Denver is going to have any chance of winning the rest of the season, they need to completely overhaul their rushing attack.
Stud: Nathaniel Hackett
Despite their fourth-straight loss, Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett made tremendous strides. For one, he narrowly lost a challenge that would have resulted in a Jets turnover. For another, Hackett wisely saved all of his second-half timeouts until the fourth quarter to give the offense one more chance with 1:30 seconds remaining to try and tie the game. Denver only committed four penalties for 34 yards, which was a vast improvement from their atrocious play against the Chargers in Week 6. While the Broncos are staring at four straight losses and the thoughts of a season filled with so much early promise, Hackett is making strides to show that he may just be the right coach for this Denver team.
That being said, at 2-5, fans are calling for Hackett’s firing. The Broncos seem lethargic on offense, no matter who is under center. Hackett was brought in to fix a broken offense; at points, it seems like the only thing that isn’t broken is the defense. Overall, the offense needs to show a vast improvement in all areas.
Overall losers: Broncos fans
Seven games into the 2022 campaign, Broncos fans are seemingly staring down the barrel of another losing season. The offseason brought visions of a high-scoring offense led by a Pro Bowl quarterback, a talented defense (which, granted, has panned out), a new ownership group and an exciting new head coach. In the fourth quarter of their loss against the Jets, fans began streaming out of the stands after the Denver offense failed to convert on 4th and 3 with 1:55 left in the game. During any other era of Broncos football (including the Tim Tebow era!), this act alone would be tantamount to fandom treason.
Unfortunately, during this 2022 season, it has become a regular occurrence. Frustration is setting in after every punt, every defensive stand that gives the offense great field position, only for the offense to squander their opportunity. How much patience is left?
