Evan Engram Delivers When Broncos Need Him Most - And Just in Time
When the Denver Broncos went shopping in free agency last spring, the buzz was all about adding a true offensive playmaker. Sean Payton had his pick of options, but he zeroed in on Evan Engram - a move that raised eyebrows across the league.
The idea was simple: bring in a versatile, athletic tight end who could be a matchup nightmare and give this offense a new dimension. The term “Joker” - Payton’s label for a player who can line up anywhere and create chaos - was quickly attached to Engram.
But through most of the season, the results didn’t match the hype.
Until Sunday night.
In a gritty, high-stakes road win over the Washington Commanders, Engram finally delivered the kind of performance Denver had envisioned when they signed him. And it couldn’t have come at a more critical moment.
A Long-Awaited Breakout
Let’s be clear: the Broncos haven’t exactly ignored Engram this season. He’s been targeted consistently, but the production just hadn’t followed.
Before Week 13, he hadn’t topped 50 receiving yards in a game. He was functioning more as a safety valve than a dynamic weapon - not exactly what you expect from a player labeled as the offense’s “Joker.”
But on Sunday Night Football, that changed.
Engram was targeted nine times, catching six passes for 79 yards - his best game in a Broncos uniform. And it wasn’t just the raw numbers.
It was when and how he made those plays. In overtime, with the game hanging in the balance, Engram’s athleticism and versatility came to the forefront.
Whether it was finding soft spots in zone coverage or simply outrunning linebackers in man, he looked like the mismatch nightmare Payton had hoped for all along.
Right Player, Right Time
This wasn’t just a breakout performance - it was a timely one. The Broncos came into the game riding an eight-game win streak, but with the Chargers still lurking just two games behind in the division, every game matters. And with JK Dobbins out, Denver’s offense has been searching for a new spark, especially in the short and intermediate game.
That’s where Engram fits in perfectly.
Rather than trying to replace Dobbins with another back, the Broncos have leaned into creative ways to extend the run game - quick passes, screens, and mismatches in space. Engram, with his size-speed combo and ability to line up all over the field, is tailor-made for that role. Against Washington, we finally saw what that could look like when it’s firing on all cylinders.
A Turning Point for Engram?
The Broncos signed Engram to a two-year deal in the offseason, but let’s not sugarcoat it - the lack of production had started to raise questions about his future in Denver. If things had continued the way they were going, it wouldn’t have been a shock to see the team consider moving on after just one season.
Now? That narrative has shifted.
With just four games left before the playoffs, Engram’s emergence gives the Broncos a new wrinkle - and potentially a major one. If he can build on this performance and become a consistent threat down the stretch, Denver’s offense becomes a lot harder to defend. And in January, when games tighten up and defenses clamp down, having a wildcard like Engram could be the difference between a quick exit and a deep run.
What’s Next
The Broncos head to Las Vegas in Week 14 for a divisional showdown, and you can bet the Raiders will be watching Engram closely on film. After all, it’s not just the Bo Nix-Courtland Sutton connection that defenses have to worry about anymore. If Engram’s breakout wasn’t a one-night affair, the Broncos may have just unlocked a key piece of their postseason puzzle.
For Denver, the win streak is impressive. But the emergence of a true "Joker" in this offense? That could be the real game-changer.