OFFENSE — D
Denver mounted an 11-play, 87-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter that featured the team’s first three third-down conversions of the day and finished with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Bo Nix to Courtland Sutton. Outside of that, though, it was tough sledding. The Broncos started slow offensively and just got worse through the first half. Nix completed 7 of 15 passes in the first 30 minutes … for minus-7 total yards. Denver generated just three first downs (all rushing) and went 0 of 7 on third down. It didn’t convert on the money down until midway through the third quarter. Nix didn’t hit positive passing yards until a 23-yard completion to Courtland Sutton early in the third quarter.
DEFENSE — A
Vance Joseph’s defense came out humming and barely slowed down. Maybe the best effort of Joseph’s tenure here. The group forced a turnover on the Jets’ first offensive series of the day, forced field goals on New York’s only three red zone trips and kept Denver in the game despite the offense struggling to get anything going until the second half. Even when New York got first-and-goal at the 1-yard line after a pass interference on Riley Moss, the group rallied and eventually forced a field goal.
SPECIAL TEAMS — B
Wil Lutz was the AFC special teams player of the week last week and followed it up by hitting from 47 yards with 8:55 to go to give Denver a 10-9 lead. He’s now 10 of 11 on field goals this year after missing from 50 yards late. And does Riley Dixon get paid overtime for this? The Broncos punter was the busiest man in the tri-state area on Sunday, punting seven times in the first half alone. He mishit two but also pinned the Jets inside the 20-yard line three times on eight attempts overall, and did so without a touchback. Marvin Mims Jr. took a crushing illegal hit before fielding a punt early in the game but was able to return to action despite a rib injury.
COACHING — C+
Sean Payton challenged twice in the first three quarters — both on catch/no-catch rulings — and lost both. Officials in both instances allowed the calls to stand rather than confirming them, so they were close. Still, each cost Denver a timeout and eventually much more. Jonah Elliss sacked Aaron Rodgers in the fourth quarter and appeared to knock the ball out for a scoop-and-score touchdown. The officials ruled Rodgers down, though, and Denver didn’t have a way to challenge the play.
After 16 dropbacks and nine run plays called in the first half, Payton got back to the run game in the second half and stuck with it, generating more success and Javonte Williams’ best day of the season so far.
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