The Broncos made it hard on themselves again, but they still found a way.
For much of Week 5, Denver looked headed for what would have been a brutal loss, maybe even one of the roughest of the Sean Payton era. Instead, a strong fourth quarter from both sides of the ball turned the night around just enough to beat the Chargers and move the Broncos to 3-2.
That result mattered even more because of what the Chargers were dealing with. Los Angeles was short-handed on both offense and defense, missing most of its primary wide receivers and starting offensive linemen. In that kind of spot, Denver could not afford to be the team that let one slip away.
The Broncos’ late surge was built in part on J.K. Dobbins finally finding some rhythm after a rough opening half.
He was flat-out bad early, but his second-half runs were much more efficient and gave Denver a little stability when it needed it most. Dobbins still has not looked like the player he was last year, and there has been real speculation about whether he is playing hurt.
Even so, he delivered when the game demanded it.
The offense, though, remains the biggest headache.
It has become hard to ignore how many problems are piling up for that unit. The running game is not creating lanes.
The line is giving up too much quick pressure. Bo Nix still has not looked good.
Denver also has not seen him use his legs nearly as much as he did his first two years, and Dobbins may be a player the team is watching regress rather than rebound.
The good news for Denver was that the defense helped close the door, and the team once again proved it can finish in one-score games. The Broncos scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to pull out another close win, and their only two losses this season have both come by double digits. Even with the messiness that has shown up more often this year than last, that late-game composure keeps showing up.
There was a cost, too. Talanoa Hufanga forced a key first-half fumble, then left in the second half after an awkward tackle that left him with an ankle injury and he did not return. On a short week, that injury is a major concern, especially with Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss already hurt.
That leaves Denver’s secondary in a difficult spot heading into Week 6 on Thursday Night Football. If Hufanga, Surtain, and Moss are all unavailable, the Broncos could be vulnerable against Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and the Seahawks.
When healthy, this is one of the better defensive backfields in the league. Right now, though, health is the whole story.
In Other News...
Broncos Starter Hit With Another Fine And Fans Will Have Opinions
Quinn Meinerz keeps finding himself on the league offices radar, and this latest issue has nothing to do with what he does between the lines. After already getting dinged earlier this season for his dice-rolling touchdown celebration, the Broncos guard has drawn another punishment, this time tied to a social media video that crossed a line with NFL policy.
The situation has an extra layer because the post centered on the drug-test collection process, a subject the league treats seriously even when a player may not have meant any harm. Meinerz is appealing the fine, so this one is not necessarily finished yet, and it adds another small off-field distraction for a Broncos team that is trying to keep its focus on the field after its Week 3 win over the Rams. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Defense Awaits A Big Week 5 Call On Ladd McConkey
The Broncos may get a break on the injury front in Week 5, with Chargers receiver Ladd McConkey showing up on Los Angeles injury report as the division matchup approaches. McConkey has been one of the more productive pieces of the Chargers passing game through four weeks, with 12 catches for 183 yards and a touchdown, so his status matters plenty to Denvers defense as it prepares for a familiar AFC West test.
McConkey is dealing with multiple injuries, and the early read is that he is likely to miss the game, which would force the Chargers to reshuffle targets in a meaningful spot. If he is sidelined, Los Angeles will be asking other pass catchers to pick up the slack, and Denver will be watching to see whether the offense can maintain its rhythm without one of its steadier options. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Can Exploit A Chargers Weakness That Could Swing This Game
The Broncos head into their matchup with the Chargers looking for a place to press an edge in what figures to be a tight division game, and the middle of the field may offer it. Los Angeles has had to sort through protection issues up front, with guard Oday Aboushi struggling, while Asante Samuel Jr. remains the kind of versatile defender who can complicate easy throws. Even so, Denvers defense will be alert to the Chargers tight-end usage, especially with Jared Gadsden emerging as a meaningful piece in the passing game despite a still-unclear role.
From Denvers side, the more intriguing opportunity may come when the Broncos have the ball and test where the Chargers are least settled defensively. Injuries have thinned that group enough to make linebacker Justin Phillips a potential coverage target, and that sort of matchup can tilt a game if Denver isolates it well. Whether the Broncos lean on RJ Harvey, Evan Engram or another option, this is the kind of wrinkle that could decide which sideline is left looking for answers late. [Read more 🡒]