The hype surrounding the Denver Broncos’ matchup with the New York Jets was sky-high. The billed matchup between Nathaniel Hackett and Sean Payton was intense. In a disappointing result for Broncos fans, Denver ultimately fell to Hackett’s Jets, 31-21. Here are the studs and duds from the game.
Stud: First quarter offense
In the first quarter, the Denver Broncos could do no wrong. They led 7-5 in the first quarter, thanks to a Russell Wilson touchdown. The Broncos soon led 13-8 at halftime. The Broncos had over 100 yards of offense in the first quarter, holding the Jets to a field goal on offense, after wide receiver Marvin Mims muffed a punt on the first drive.
Dud: Run defense
It seems like every week, a different player has a career-high effort against the Broncos defense. First, the defense allowed Commanders QB Sam Howell to throw for a couple of touchdowns; the next week, the Miami Dolphins hung 70 points on the squad. Then, Bears quarterback Justin Fields looked like a Pro Bowl quarterback. This week, Jets running back Breece Hall ran for a career-high 177 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown. The Jets finished with a total of 234 yards on the ground. It is confounding, especially after the Broncos had one of the league’s best defenses just one year ago.
Stud: Patrick Surtain
With the Jets up three, and having driven to the Broncos’ end of the field, cornerback Patrick Surtain snatched his first interception of the year, a between-the-legs circus catch to give Denver life, and a chance at either tying the game, or win it with just over two minutes in regulation. Surtain has not had the best season to this point, so Sunday’s interception was a much needed injection of energy. Even in a down year, PS2 is a bright spot.
Dud: Turnovers. So many turnovers.
It is simple football math: If you don’t win the turnover battle, you will likely lose. The Broncos have a -2 turnover margin this year so far. Against the Jets, it was a lot of the same. An early safety by Russell Wilson may not be counted as a turnover in the books, but it led to Jets points. An uncharacteristic Marvin Mims muffed punt led to a Jets field goal. After recovering a Jets muffed punt in the third quarter, Denver took only two plays to cough the ball back to New York on an extremely ill-advised trick play that went horribly wrong. That led to another Jets field goal. Finally, a sack-fumble by Russell Wilson was returned for a touchdown, extinguishing the Broncos’ ebbing chance at winning. Three turnovers led to 15 Jet points, the deciding factor in this game.
Dud: Sean Payton
For all the talking Payton did prior to the season about the “worst coaching job in the history of the NFL” led by Nathaniel Hackett, Payton just couldn’t back it up on the field. From head-scratching play calls, such as the trick-play-turned-fumble in the third quarter to continuing to try to run the ball against the Jets’ front seven, the Broncos were outplayed and outmatched against New York. There has to be some changes in all aspects of the game: from the offense’s sputtering after building a lead, to the defensive meltdowns that have become a weekly hallmark of Denver’s play. Payton has to feel the pressure of the front office, and the fans. Where does this loss take Payton and the team?
On Thursday, the Broncos face the beginning of the toughest part of their schedule against Kansas City in Arrowhead. Despair is setting into the hearts of Broncos Country, with some calling for the team to tank for USC quarterback Caleb Williams.
