The Denver Broncos led throughout most of the game against the Indianapolis Colts, but when they needed to close the deal they came up short in a variety of ways. There will be plenty of overreaction to this defeat, but I think most fans might just be a bit shell-shocked by how poorly the defense played overall. Between the 20s, the Colts were unstoppable on offense outside a couple of fourth down stands. However, they came up big when they needed to keep the Colts out of the end zone.
At the end of the day, they were up five in the fourth quarter and ended up throwing a red zone interception and missing a field goal. Those two miscues opened the door for Daniel Jones and the offense to do what they did all game long: drive down the field for a field goal attempt. They did it, Denver flubbed it, now they are 1-1 and looking for answers. And so are we…
1. These Broncos lack a killer instinct.
Last year and into this year, the Broncos have lacked a killer instinct in close games. They can’t seem to close them out. The won last week and they beat the Jets last year. That’s it. The rest of the time, with the game close and an opportunity to put the final nail on the coffin... they often end with a three-and-out. That happened again this weekend and it cost them the game, because the Colts got the lucky breaks and the phantom calls late to kick the game-winning field goal one drive after Wil Lutz doinked his. If these Broncos are going to be a serious contender in the AFC, they need to fight harder when the game is close and capitalize when they gain an advantage to go up two scores in a close game. Until we see that, this is a wild card team at best. - Tim Lynch
2. Defense can’t cover running backs or tight ends.
I learned that TEs and RBs in space are going to be this team’s Achilles heel if Greenlaw isn’t back soon or they don’t shore things up schematically to hide it.
Vance Joseph called some well time blitzes, but he plays too straight up in coverage just expecting his guys to beat their guys, which has been a pretty good plan, but doesn’t stand up to talented TEs/RBs or a QB who is dealing.
The problem with a defense is they’re only as good as their weakest link and right now teams know they can exploit the Broncos with TE/RBs in coverage and it’s only going to get worse the more tape there is.
If this defense wants to be elite (and I think they can be) they have to shore up or scheme up a solution to covering in space on base packages. - Jeff Essary
3. Inside linebacker is a problem.
The game against the Indianapolis reinforced a lot of worries Broncos Country had at the inside linebacker position. Alex Singleton’s play at linebacker against the Colts was absolutely disastrous. He had several missed coverage assignments which resulted in 40-yard plays for Jonathan Taylor and Tyler Warren. Additionally, he was also one of the defenders that missed on Taylor’s 68-yard scamper late in the game.
With Dre Greenlaw still being sidelined due to injury, I’m not too sure how the Broncos are going to be able to mitigate Singleton’s issues and on-the-field performance in the interim. He is their green dot player on defense and a team captain. I don’t see him getting benched, though I expect opposing defenses to continue to go after him, especially in the passing game where he struggles immensely. The Broncos may just have to wait until next April to draft one of the top linebackers from college and hope they can make a difference as a rookie next season. - Chris Hart
4. Cornerback depth may not be as elite as we hoped.
Riley Moss wasn’t great. Pat Surtain struggled, but I think he was more hurt than he let on. Moss on the other hand looked beatable in every moment. What should be a strength for this defense ended up being a weakness. If Surtain is a little banged up then the other DBs will have to be better. We saw that they weren’t capable of playing up to the high standards set in the preseason. Vance Joseph will need to come up with a better plan to hide this flaw. - Adam Malnati
5. Was the defensive performance in Week 2 a fluke or a warning signal?
I’m still trying to wrap my head around Denver getting torched by Daniel Jones. Not Patrick Mahomes. Not Josh Allen. Not Lamar Jackson. Not Joe Burrow. Not Jalen Hurts. Daniel. Jones. I’m trying not to overreact and remembering that this is a week-to-week league, but the Broncos defense just got torched by Daniel Jones. WTF? - Ian St. Clair
6. Front 7 got bullied by the Colts offensive line in pass protection.
I learned that the Broncos’ front 7 on defense is not up to the task of pass-rushing Daniel Jones behind the Colts’ offensive line on any day of the week. The Broncos defense has been superb at creating pressure and this week against the Colts they were completely inept at generating wins across their front in any consistent manner outside of Vance Joseph calling blitzes. Games are won and lost in the trenches and on this day, the Broncos defensive front set up a complete flub on game day. - Sadaraine
7. Officiating was hot garbage.
Phantom calls, ticky-tack penalties and then the nail in the coffin on the field goal. I don’t like them. Dobbins spiking the ball wasn’t a delay of the game, Trautman didn’t grab the facemask and the leverage stuff had no impact on the kick.
They’re impacting the results of games and I do not like them. Am I jaded and chapped beyond belief? Yes, yes I am. I cannot use my colorful language because “that’s not serious enough” so here’s my long-winded response. - Scotty Payne
What is the one thing you learned from the Broncos-Colts game? Share in the comments section below.
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