Broncos Grind Out Tenth Win, Leaning on the Trenches and Timely Defense in Wild Finish
If you're a Denver Broncos fan, you probably aged a few years watching Sunday night’s nail-biter. But when the dust settled, Denver walked away with their 10th win of the season - and they did it the hard way. It wasn’t always pretty, but when the game was on the line, the Broncos delivered in the clutch, thanks to a dominant offensive line, a few key defensive takeaways, and just enough firepower to get it done.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) dropped their Week 13 player grades, and there’s a lot to unpack - especially when it comes to the big boys up front and a linebacker who turned the tide with a game-changing play.
Offense: The Big Uglies Dominate
Top Performers:
- G Quinn Meinerz: 92.3
- LT Garett Bolles: 89.0
- RT Mike McGlinchey: 79.4
- TE Adam Trautman: 75.5
- C Luke Wattenberg: 72.8
Let’s start with the offensive line - because they absolutely earned it. Denver allowed just one sack all night and didn’t commit a single penalty up front. That’s the kind of clean, disciplined performance that gives your quarterback a fighting chance, especially in a game where every possession mattered.
Quinn Meinerz led the way with a monster 92.3 grade - a number that reflects just how dominant he was in both pass protection and the run game. Bolles and McGlinchey weren’t far behind, anchoring the edges and giving Bo Nix time to operate.
The lone skill player to crack the top five? Tight end Adam Trautman, who made arguably the biggest offensive play of the night.
His 22-yard grab on 4th-and-1 was pure guts and execution, setting up a crucial field goal. He finished with three catches for 47 yards and posted the highest receiving grade (80.6) on the team.
That’s how you make your touches count.
Tough Night for the Young Guns:
- WR Troy Franklin: 47.4
- RB Jaleel McLaughlin: 54.2
- RB RJ Harvey: 57.5
- WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey: 59.0
- WR Pat Bryant: 60.3
The bottom of the offensive grading sheet featured a handful of young playmakers who struggled to get going. Troy Franklin had a quiet night, while McLaughlin and Harvey couldn’t find much daylight on the ground, combining for just 59 yards on 19 carries.
Harvey did punch in two touchdowns, but the absence of J.K. Dobbins was definitely felt in the run game.
Bo Nix came in just outside the bottom five with a 61.8 grade - a number that reflects the rollercoaster nature of his performance. His interception was a backbreaker in the moment, but his touchdown toss to Courtland Sutton was a thing of beauty. Sutton, for his part, graded at 63.8, doing what he does best: making big plays in tight coverage.
Defense: Greenlaw’s Statement Game
Top Performers:
- LB Dre Greenlaw: 89.9
- OLB Dondrea Tillman: 85.7
- CB Ja’Quan McMillian: 79.2
- CB Riley Moss: 75.2
- DL Eyioma Uwazurike: 70.6
Dre Greenlaw was the heartbeat of Denver’s defense on Sunday night. His second-quarter interception flipped the script - a potential 10-point swing that gave the Broncos life.
He added five tackles, a defensive stop, and allowed just one catch for seven yards. That kind of lockdown coverage earned him a stellar 91.1 coverage grade - the highest on the team.
Dondrea Tillman continues to be a quiet force off the edge, while Ja’Quan McMillian and Riley Moss both held their own in coverage. Eyioma Uwazurike rounded out the top five, providing some interior push that helped contain the run.
Lowest Graded Defenders:
- DL Zach Allen: 29.2
- DB Talanoa Hufanga: 36.5
- DL John Franklin-Myers: 45.6
- CB Jahdae Barron: 48.6
- OLB Nik Bonitto: 49.5
It might seem harsh to see Nik Bonitto in the bottom five, especially after he delivered what might’ve been the game-saving play. He finished with three pressures, a sack, three tackles, and two defensive stops - but PFF docked him for a missed tackle and a couple of receptions allowed for 26 yards.
In other words, it was a mixed bag. The splash plays were there, but the consistency wasn’t.
Zach Allen and Talanoa Hufanga had rough outings, struggling to make an impact up front and in the secondary, respectively. John Franklin-Myers and rookie Jahdae Barron also couldn’t quite find their rhythm.
Special Teams: Devon Key Deserves His Flowers
- ST Devon Key: 82.8
- LS Mitchell Fraboni: 64.5
- KR Marvin Mims Jr.: 60.6
- P Jeremy Crawshaw: 59.6
- K Wil Lutz: 65.3 (FG), 61.4 (KO)
Devon Key continues to be a standout on special teams, and he’s making a real case for a Pro Bowl nod. He’s leading the NFL in special teams tackles, and his teammates have been vocal in their support. Key graded out at 82.8 - a well-earned mark for a guy doing the dirty work and doing it well.
Jeremy Crawshaw, who currently leads all AFC punters in Pro Bowl voting, had a quieter night by his standards, but remains a steady presence. Wil Lutz was solid on field goals, though his kickoff grade dipped a bit.
Final Word
This wasn’t Denver’s cleanest win of the season, but it might’ve been one of the most revealing. The offensive line is quietly becoming a strength, and the defense - while still up and down - has playmakers who can flip a game in an instant. If the Broncos can clean up the turnovers and get more out of their young skill players, this team could be a real problem down the stretch.
For now, they’re 10-3 - and in the NFL, that’s all that matters.