The Broncos get a massive win on Sunday against the Chargers beating them 28-13. The Broncos, Raiders, Chargers are all tied for second in the division at 6-5 and the Chiefs are atop the AFC West at 7-4. This means the Sunday Night showdown next week against KC will be for first place in the division. I will speak more on that game on my next post. For now let's talk about how the Broncos dominated the Chargers from start to finish. Here are my takeaways from this week:
Coaching Staff Shines!
Vic Fangio easily coached his best game of the season and it really showed through his defensive expertise holding a red hot chargers team on offense to just 13 points and 6 of the points coming in garbage time. He confused Herbert all day forcing him to make plays with his legs. Herbert was sacked 3 times and was picked off twice as well, both of them from PS2. The Run defense held Ekeler in check holding him to just to 31 yards on 12 carries though he did score a receiving TD but overall it was a great job by the defense containing him. Pat Shurmur called a good game exploiting the weakness of the chargers running the ball 31 times between Javonte and Melvin racking up 137 yards between the 2 of them. He didn't try to do too much with his game plan and kept it very simple: Ground and Pound. The offense was also 8/11 on 3rd down and some of that has to be credited on the play calling from Shurmur on the money down. They also scored Touchdowns in the redzone rather than kicking field goals. Though it wasn't pretty the whole game, the offense was good in key situations throughout the game. Even special teams was good as Sam Martin had some nice punts downing them deep in their own territory and the special teams avoided giving up marginal returns and BMAC, of course, was money going 4/4 on extra points.
2. Rookie Class Stout!
The Broncos Rookie Class came to play on Sunday. Players such as Javonte Williams, Baron Browning, Caden Sterns, and Patrick Surtain all made crucial plays in this game that helped secure the W. Surtain's interception in the 4th quarter in the endzone turned the tide of the football game as the Chargers were looking to tie it at 14-14 but that interception kept it at 14-7 and the offense would score on that possession to balloon their lead to 14 making it 21-7. Baron Browning made a crucial play early on a 3rd down stopping a Herbert pass on 3rd and 2 that was intended for Jared Cook. He was also crucial in stopping the run along with Kenny Young. Sterns broke up a few passes on 3rd down as well. Javonte Williams was steady for most of the game scoring a rush TD in the second quarter and made his usual big play taking a Teddy Bridgewater dump off and turning it into a 48 yard gain setting up a TD a few plays later. George Paton looks better and better every week with his draft picks and hopefully people will stop complaining that we took PS2 over Justin Fields for the 9th overall pick.
3. Drew Lock's Time Is Up in Denver!
Drew Lock looked like a deer in headlights. I believe his confidence has been shot ever since Teddy was named the starter. In his 2 games as a relief pitcher he has thrown 2 ints and no TDs with a poor rating sub 60. I believe he needs a change of scenery as the broncos have looked to turn the page on the 25 year old this season. It was sad to watch him play as he may have thrown his last pass as a Bronco. The mini Lock era will always hold a special place for me as a Bronco fan. But for the 2022 draft, the Broncos top priority is a QB or they could acquire Russ or Rodgers via free agency.
Lets Go Broncos!!!
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