RSS Broncos Team Notes

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos vs. Titans: 3 players to watch in Week 1 matchup

The Denver Broncos begin their 2025 regular season against the Tennessee Titans this Sunday. After a successful offseason, the Broncos added plenty of talent on both sides of the ball in hopes to improve upon their finish last season. In order to beat the Titans, Denver will need to have a fast start and dial up the heat on rookie signal caller Cam Ward. In order to accomplish those goals, here are three players I’ll be watching closely this weekend.

Bo Nix — Quarterback​

After a tremendous rookie campaign, Broncos Country is rightfully optimistic about the potential of Bo Nix in his second year as the team’s quarterback. Last season, Nix struggled early on but really hit his stride in the second half of the season and showcased his tremendous abilities. I fully believe he is poised to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump and make a huge impact right away in ‘25.

One of the major mantras for the Broncos this offseason was starting off fast. A large issue with the Broncos’ offense last year were too many three-and-outs and a lack of sustained drives. With upgrades at running back, wide receiver, and tight end, I believe that will definitely change this season. On paper, there is no doubt this year’s team is more talented than last years, which should certainly aid in Nix’s development.

In 2024, the Titans sported one of the league’s worst defenses. While they certainly improved with additions via free agency and the draft, that side of the ball is still a work in progress. This would be a great game to let Nix get loose and gain chemistry with the team’s new additions, as well as a young wide receiving corps that could really blossom this season.

Nik Bonitto — Edge Rusher​

Entering his fourth year with the Broncos, edge rusher Nik Bonitto is coming off a breakthrough ‘24 campaign. Finishing with 13.5 sacks and helping propel Denver’s defense to a league-leading 63 sacks, Bonitto established himself as one of the National Football League’s premier pass rushers and rising stars.

In order to achieve a victory against the Titans, the Broncos will need him to showcase his pass rushing prowess and rattle rookie quarterback Cam Ward. Ward has a good amount of mobility and the ability to extend plays with his legs, but Bonitto has one of the best get-offs at the line of scrimmage in all of football.

Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph was one of the most aggressive play callers in the league last season sending an extra player after the quarterback. I’d expect that to happen going up against the former Miami standout who is making his NFL debut on Sunday. I usually don’t do stat predictions for players, but I’m thinking Bonitto comes away from the season opener with two sacks. After all, I would expect him to perform at a high level with a potential mega extension on the horizon.

Evan Engram — Tight End​

For most of the ‘24 season, the Broncos deployed a three-headed attack at tight end with Adam Trautman, Lucas Krull, and Nate Adkins. While they were relatively efficient when targeted, their overall production failed to be a needle mover for the offense. Hoping to find a difference maker at the position—Head Coach Sean Payton’s proverbial ‘Joker’—Denver made veteran tight end Evan Engram one of their highlight free agency signings.

Don’t expect Engram to be a traditional tight end in the Broncos’ offense. Whether it’s in-line, at the slot, or even flexed outside, expect Payton to be creative in the way he utilizes the savvy veteran. After all, that’s what a ‘Joker’ is—a mismatch weapon that can deployed in a myriad of ways. If healthy for the entire season, I believe Engram will be a focal point of Denver’s offensive endeavors and receive triple digits in target share.

In their preseason game against the Cardinals, Broncos Country was able to witness Engram’s playmaking ability and penchant for generating yards after the catch. I think we will see him heavily involved in the team’s offensive plans against the Titans. Look for him to be targeted often and be a high-efficiency player who keeps the chains moving for Denver on Sunday.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...s-titans-3-players-to-watch-in-week-1-matchup

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos-Titans inactives for Week 1

The Denver Broncos gameday inactives have come out and there are a few surprises as they host the Tennessee Titans this afternoon. The big name on the list is running back Jaleel McLaughlin who is a healthy scratch for the first time in his career. It appears he knew this was coming as he posted ‘better days coming’ on Instagram this morning. After him, a few rookies are inactive which is to be expected and Sam Ehlinger will be the emergency third quarterback in this game.

Here are your gameday inactives for the Broncos-Titans game in Week 1.

Broncos inactives​

Player	Position
Sam Ehlinger	QB
Jaleel McLaughlin	RB
Nate Adkins	TE
Que Robinson	OLB
Dre Greenlaw	ILB
Frank Crum	OT
Sai’vion Jones	DE

Titans inactives​

Player	Position
Jalyn Armour-Davis	CB
Kevin Winston Jr.	S
Samuel Womack III	CB
Jackson Slater	OG
Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson	OT
Shy Tuttle	DT
C.J. Ravenell	DL

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denver-broncos-injuries/156714/broncos-vs-titans-inactives-week-1

 

[Denver Broncos]

Winners and Losers from the Broncos 20-12 victory over the Titans

Football is back, and man, it was a sloppy one for both teams. However, at the end of the day, the Broncos, led by their defense, did enough to win the game and start the year with a 1-0 record.

It was a very sloppy game for the Broncos. You had three Bo Nix turnovers, a muffed punt, multiple penalties, drops, missed throws, bad blocks, and just overall sloppy play. This was the theme around the league this week, and the Broncos will have plenty to clean up during practice this week.

On the other hand, this Broncos defense looked elite. They stuffed the run, pressured Cam Ward all game, and continued to make big plays all game. They looked as advertised, and if they play like this all year, they will keep the Broncos in just about every game this season.

With all that said, here are your winners and losers from the Broncos’ 20-12 victory over the Titans.

LOSER – Bo Nix​

Nix started the game hot. He was making good throws and led the Broncos offense down the field for an opening drive field goal. However, the wheels would fall off from there. He would throw 2 interceptions, probably should have had a few more, had a strip sack, and missed on a few throws in this game.

He looked flustered by the Titans’ pressure and was trying to force the ball downfield, but was just making mistakes. He did make plenty of good throws, a few of which were called back by penalties, but the bad outweighs the good in this one.

I don’t think this means “Bo Nix sucks”, even though his haters will have ammo now, but it was a sloppy game for the Broncos quarterback. It’s just week one, they have a game under their belt, they’re 1-0, and we saw Nix turn it on as the season progressed last season.

I still B0-Lieve.

WINNER – Broncos Defense​

The expectations and hype for this defense were high coming into the season, and man, they did not disappoint.

They pressured rookie quarterback Cam Ward all game; the Titans’ wide receivers were a non-factor all game; they stuffed the run, and forced multiple turnovers. They looked as advertised and won this game for the Broncos.

Nik Bonitto generated a career-high nine pressures on 22 pass rushes, including five quick pressures (under 2.5 seconds) and a sack in the Broncos’ Week 1 win.

The newly extended-edge rusher generated seven of his pressures against LT Dan Moore.#TENvsDEN | #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/F7iXFt3XXL

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 7, 2025

Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper were menaces off the edge, and both had a sack and a ton of pressures in this game. Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers were monsters in the middle, linebacker Justin Strnad played a helluva game, and corner Ja’Quan McMillian ended the game with a strip sack. We also saw Talanoa Hufanga force a fumble, Riley Moss had great coverage throughout, Pat Surtain II shut down everyone, and the defense dominated despite being down Dre Greenlaw and Malcolm Roach.

If/when the offense gets it together, this Broncos team could be dangerous.

WINNER – Broncos run game​

Sean Payton didn’t run the ball as much as anticipated, but the Broncos’ run game is a big reason why they ended up winning this game. Veteran JK Dobbins had 16 carries for 63 yards and 1 touchdown, while rookie RJ Harvey had 6 carries for 70 yards, which included a long 50-yard run.

Combined, they had 22 carries for 133 yards and 1 touchdown. That comes to a very healthy 6.0 yards per carry, which is a massive improvement from what we saw from the Broncos running backs last season.

With this success, we’ll have to see if Payton will lean more on the run game moving forward. I know many fans are hoping that will be the case vs. the Colts next week.

LOSER – Sloppy play​

I know it’s week 1, and we saw a lot of this throughout the league today, but the Broncos cannot play like this moving forward.

They had 4 turnovers in this game (2 interceptions and 2 fumbles), 6 penalties (honestly, I thought there would have been more), which all seemed to wipe out a positive play, and just overall sloppy, undisciplined play. It’s not what you want, and something Payton will likely stress throughout this upcoming week.

LOSER – RB Tyler Badie​

On one hand, his usage should make him a winner. He was seeing a lot of action on third downs, was targeted in the pass game, and seemed to have a key role in the Broncos’ offense. However, he failed to take advantage of these snaps vs. the Titans.

The play that stood out to me was the dropped screen pass early in the game. The Titans brought the blitz, and Badie was in perfect position with the open field in front of him to potentially score a big touchdown. However, he would drop the ball, and it just spiraled from there.

Again, the usage is noteworthy and could be something we see moving forward but he needs to take advantage of these snaps moving forward. We have seen him make plays on a limited basis for the Broncos and he needs to step it up if he wants to continue to get these snaps.

LOSER – Playcalling​

I hate calling out playcalling because Sean Payton knows more than all of us combined, but it seemed like a rough one for the Broncos coach. He was very pass-heavy early in the game, and the Titans stopped buying the play-action fakes, which led to a pass rusher being in Nix’s lap quickly multiple times. Then, late in the game, he went for it on 4th down and called a play that worked (receivers were wide open), but Nix couldn’t get the pass off properly, and it would fall incomplete. I liked the ballsy play, but the execution wasn’t great.

Add in the substitutions leading to the play clock running low, some questionable plays and decisions throughout the game, and you have a sloppy week one game for the Broncos.

WINNER – Broncos win​

It wasn’t pretty. They turned the ball over 4 times, Bo Nix didn’t have a great game, and it came down to the wire, but at the end of the day, a win is a win. Style points don’t matter, and the Broncos are 1-0 and avoid potentially going 0-2 for three straight seasons.

Ja'Quan McMillan with the strip sack calls game and Jahdae Barron recovers the fumble!

BRONCOS WIN!!pic.twitter.com/2WVOiDOy2z

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) September 7, 2025

Do they have a lot to work on? Sure. It’s a long season, and you need to win a few sloppy ones along the way. Hopefully, they clean things up and the Broncos can improve to 2-0 next week vs. the Colts.

Other notable Winners and Losers

• P Jeremy Crawshaw – WINNER: A lot was made about the rookie punter’s struggles during camp and the preseason, but he had a good game today. He had 3 punts that averaged 48 yards and all 3 were downed inside the 20-yard line. That’s a win for me in my book.
• WR Courtland Sutton – WINNER: Sutton caught the Broncos’ only passing touchdown in this game and was the leading playmaker for them in this game.
• WR/KR Marvin Mims Jr – LOSER: The All-Pro returner made a rare mistake and muffed a punt that led to a turnover. The Broncos’ defense bailed him out, but something you cannot have happen. He also didn’t do a ton on offense.
• LB Justin Strnad – WINNER: I mentioned him already, but he had a helluva game today and made multiple big plays for the Broncos defense.
• Broncos kick return coverage – LOSER: After the Broncos scored a big touchdown right before halftime, they allowed the Titans to have a big kick return, which got them into field goal range with a few seconds left. Instead of it being a 10-6 game at halftime, it was a 10-9 game.
• C Luke Wattenberg – LOSER: He was blown up on Nix’s 4th down QB sneak. That’s all. Not sure how he played throughout the game but that play stood out to be in a bad way.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...ncos-titans-winners-losers-nix-defense-harvey

 

[Denver Broncos]

5 things we learned from the Broncos in win over Titans

With a full day in the books from the Denver Broncos win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, I thought it would be a good idea to check in with the Mile High Report staff and see what was one thing they learned about the team from that game: good or bad. Among us, we came up with five things that we learned and what the Broncos could build on from there as they prepare to face the Indianapolis Colts next week.

1. Broncos’ defense is as advertised.​

I have been unloading defensive stats metrics today into The Feed section of the site. There is just a lot of data being posted to X that is fun to see related to the Broncos’ defense. We also dug into some of the defensive data today in a post aptly named the same as this first thing we learned:

Under the guidance of Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph, the Broncos’ defense shut down signal caller Cam Ward and the Titans offense. When the clock struck zero, it was total domination. They had allowed just 12 points and 133 total yards from scrimmage. Ward finished his NFL debut going 12-of-28 for 112 yards. He was sacked five times and lost a fumble. Overall, the Titans amassed just 62 net passing yards, averaged a dreadful 2 yards per play and completed only 14-percent of their third down attempts.

In the second half alone, the Titans gained a total -1 net yardage in a one-point game. There were some drops by Titans’ wide receivers, but a few of those throws from Cam Ward felt like they had zero touch and were just missiles launched out of paranoia. The Broncos pressure rate was quite literally off the charts in that game. – Tim Lynch

2. Offseason hype was way premature.​

The overall team hype may have been premature. The defensive hype is somehow probably not quite enough for how good they are and can be (assuming they get Greenlaw back and stay healthy).

I didn’t see a playoff team on Sunday and hope they’ll get the offense sorted out over these next few weeks. I would put Denver below the Chargers and Kansas City so far in the division race, just based on eye test. – Jeff Essary

3. Interior OL was dominated by Titans.​

Luke Wattenberg still is poor at run blocking. Jeffrey Simmons ate his lunch all game and T’Vondre Sweat destroyed him on the 4th down sneak. He has got to improve next week or defenses are going to start run blitzing him. – Joe Mahoney

4. Broncos’ offense is not as advertised.​

It’s still really early in the season, and the Broncos survived a game that had numerous sloppy mistakes. The offense looked they were still in the preseason. We can’t learn much from a game like this, but we can see that neither team on the field was prepared for regular season football. Penalties and turnovers should have led to a Broncos loss, but the Titans did a lot of the same.

If they want to take care of business in Week 2 they will have to focus on holding onto the football, and limiting mistakes. Preseason is over. Hopefully, they will understand that in their second game. – Adam Malnati

5. How about Jeremy Crawshaw though?​

Jeremy Crawshaw delivered a steady and efficient performance in the game against the Titans. The highlight came from his ability to control field position, pinning the Titans inside their own 20-yard line on four occasions.

We didn’t expect this performance after the preseason! Let’s see if he can improve! – Ivan Talavera

What is the one thing you learned from the Broncos-Titans game? Share in the comments section below.​

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...e-learned-denver-broncos-win-tennessee-titans

 

[Denver Broncos]

Monday Night Football Week 1: Vikings vs. Bears Open Thread

Week 1 of the 2025 regular season wraps up with the Minnesota Vikings on the road against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. Two first round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft will square off for the first time with Caleb Williams and J.J. McCarthy taking the field for their respective teams.

Kickoff is set for Monday, September 8, 2025 at 6:15 p.m. Mile High time at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois and fair on ESPN/ABC.

My Prediction​

According to FanDuel, the Vikings are 1.5-point favorites on the road over the Bears. First round rookies rarely fare well in their debut game and I expect that to be the case here with McCarthy. The real question is whether the Vikings defense comes back with the same efficiency it has last season. That is the one they could keep this game close and keep Caleb Williams from having any kind of success. Carrying over defensive success from one season to the next is not easily done in the modern NFL, so I’m going to go with the Bears here.

Prediction: Bears 20, Vikings 12

Open thread in the comments section below. Discuss the games action there!​

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/game-day-threads/157148/mnf-week-1-vikings-vs-bears

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos select Burnham Yard as preferred site for new stadium

Big news today on the new stadium front for the Denver Broncos. The city, state, and team issued a joint statement noting that the Broncos have selected Burnham Yard as the preferred site for the new stadium, which will be slated to open for the 2031 season.

That joint letter ended with: “Denver has been the proud home of the Broncos since Day 1. This community-inspired vision will allow our city and team to continue to grow and thrive together at Burnham Yard.”

The key points around this announcement is that the entire endeavor will be privately funded with the taxpayers only picking up the tab for the transportation infrastructure around the facility. This removes one of the biggest contention points that surrounded the last stadium construction back in 2000.

Plans include the stadium having a retractable roof and natural grass fielding. As a fan, this is one of the biggest bummer aspects to the announcement. However, on the business side of things, I understand it. This will put Denver on the map in the NFL and Super Bowls will absolutely be hosted at this future site. Clearly, that is something on the minds of the new ownership and I don’t fault them for it. I will miss the occasional inclement weather game in Denver, though.

Other announcements included that the entire 25 acre plot will go beyond just the new stadium. There will be entire areas dedicated to restaurants, retail and office locations, and even hotels. This is more than just a stadium. It will be a complete revamping of the area that will result in a major economic boon for the city.

On that front, Broncos Owner Carrie Walton Penner noted the importance of building these facilities to reach beyond football saying, “One of our goals is to make sure that we are engaging community members 365 days a year in the area around the stadium.”

On the whole, I welcome this announcement as a fan. I grew up loving the Mile High Stadium atmosphere and while I didn’t much care for its replacement — there is no denying that it was needed at the time. My hope is that the new stadium will bring back some of the atmosphere of that old Mile High Stadium vibe, while being a state of the art facility that it will likely be once finished.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denver-broncos-news/157203/denver-broncos-burnham-yard-new-stadium

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos Reacts Survey Week 2

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Broncos fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denver-broncos-news/157194/broncos-reacts-survey-week-2

 

[Denver Broncos]

2025, Week 2: Broncos at Colts – Everything we know

The Denver Broncos, fresh off their home win on Sunday, will hit the road in Week 2 to take on the Indianapolis Colts who are also fresh off their own win last week. The Broncos are slightly favored on the road. That is likely due to the dominant performance their defense put on rather than expectations of a high-powered offense. That side of the ball has some work to do this week if the Broncos are to come out 2-0.

Kickoff is set for 2:05 p.m. Mile High time on Sunday, September 14, 2025 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can also check local Broncos radio network affiliate stations.

• Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Broncos vs. Colts
• Broncos at Colts preview: Denver must improve on offense
• Horse Tracks: The Broncos still seem to be lacking their joker
• Broncos Reacts Survey Week 2
• Week 2 Denver Broncos power rankings around the web

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...oncos-at-indianapolis-colts-complete-coverage

 

[Denver Broncos]

The Broncos need to play a complete game to beat the Colts on the road

Good morning, Broncos Country. Our Denver Broncos were able to come out victorious against the Tennessee Titans thanks in part to a dominant defensive effort. In order to beat the Indianapolis Colts on the road, the Broncos are going to have to play a much better game in all three phases to come out on top. For today’s morning news article, I wanted to touch based on three things I’d like to see the Broncos accomplish to secure a dub on the road this weekend.

Bo Nix needs to be less erratic and more decisive in the pocket

Fans were hopeful and optimistic that quarterback Bo Nix would hit the ground running and avoid his early rookie woes to start off the 2025 season. Unfortunately, Nix had three turnovers (2 interceptions, 1 fumble) against the Titans and struggled to perform consistently. I’m not hitting the panic button yet, but Nix will have to be more decisive and poised in his decision-making against the Colts. It’s hard to win being negative in the turnover differential, and the Broncos will have to do much better securing the ball to make that happen.

Lean on the running game more early on

The Broncos added J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey this offseason in order to bolster a ground game that was inconsistent to say the least in 2024. In order to alleviate some of the pressure on Nix, I’d like to see Denver establish the run early on against the Colts. The Broncos had some quality success running the ball in the fourth quarter against the Titans to help secure a victory, but I’m hopeful Head Coach Sean Payton will dial up more successful running plays in the first half to help the offense be more well-rounded in their approach.

Dial up the heat on Daniel Jones

Daniel Jones being named the starter for the Colts over Anthony Richardson was one of the bigger storylines in the league this offseason. In his first game against the Miami Dolphins, Jones was incredibly efficient going 22-of-29 for 272 passing yards and one touchdown. He was only sacked one time and the Colts’ offensive line did a tremendous job protecting him. Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph was in his bag calling plays against the Titans and the defense notched five sacks and were able to rattle rookie signal caller Cam Ward. They will need to do the same against Jones, who looks rejuvinated and mobile again with his new team.

As always, thank you for reading. Here are today’s slate of articles for your enjoyment.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...a-complete-game-to-beat-the-colts-on-the-road

 

[Denver Broncos]

Thursday Night Football Week 2: Commanders vs. Packers Open Thread

The Green Bay Packers are hosting the Washington Commanders to kickoff Week 2 on Thursday Night Football. Both teams should be considered NFC powerhouses and the winner of this could could end up with a critical tiebreaker when the playoff seeding comes around.

Kickoff is set for Thursday, September 11, 2025 at 6:15 p.m. Mile High time at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin and will air on Prime Video.

My Prediction​

According to FanDuel, the Packers are slight 3-point favorites over the visiting Commanders. I am super tempted to go with the Commanders here, but I’d be a dang fool to go against a Packers team at home coming off a massive division win last week. I think in that context, we have a close game early and a big play decides it late to end it.

Prediction: Packers 26, Commanders 21

Open thread in the comments section below. Discuss the games action there!​

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/game-day-threads/157362/tnf-week-2-commanders-vs-packers

 

[Denver Broncos]

Scouting the Enemy: Indianapolis Colts

The Denver Broncos took care of business in Week 1 securing a victory over the Tennessee Titans. Their opponent this week is the Indianapolis Colts, who looked quite impressive after a dominant win of their own over the Miami Dolphins to start their season. Let’s take a deeper look at the Colts, some of their key players, and what the Broncos have to do on Sunday to secure a win on the road in Indianapolis.

2024 Indianapolis Colts Review

The Colts finished their 2024 season with an 8-9 record which was good enough for second place in the AFC South but fell short of making the playoffs. Their offense ranked 17th in points scored and 13th in total yards. Most of their struggles were defensively, coming in at 24th in points allowed and 29th in yards allowed.

2025 Indianapolis Colts Offseason Additions

The big change for the Colts this offseason was at quarterback. The team signed veteran Daniel Jones to a one-year deal worth up to $14 million. He competed for their starting job against former top pick Anthony Richardson. After an impressive camp and preseason, Jones was named the starting quarterback for the squad in ‘25.

In order to get better on defense, the Colts made improving their secondary a primary endeavor in free agency. They added cornerbacks Charvarius Ward, Corey Ballentine, and safety Camryn Bynum into the mix. In the 2025 NFL Draft, they added standout tight end Tyler Warren in the first round. He didn’t disappoint in his pro debut and reeled in 7 catches for 76 yards against the Dolphins. My gut tells me Warren will be targeted often this weekend.

Offensive X-Factor: Running Back Jonathan Taylor

Daniel Jones performed well in his debut with the Colts, but I’m choosing a different player as their offensive x-factor—running back Jonathan Taylor. Taylor took the league by storm rushing for 1,169 yards to 11 touchdowns as a rookie in 2020. He followed that up with an All-Pro campaign in 2021 where he had 1,811 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. His next few seasons were marred by injury, but the veteran running back had a quality comeback campaign last season notching 1,431 yards on the ground and 11 touchdowns.

As a seasoned six-year veteran, Taylor is still one of the best running backs in the league and averaged over 100 yards per game in ’24. The Broncos did a magnificent job stopping the run last week but will need to ensure Taylor doesn’t shake things up for them on the ground. Last year in their December matchup, the Broncos handled the Colts, but Taylor was still an impact player with 22 rushes for 107 yards. Halting his prowess as a runner will be mission critical for Denver to secure a victory on Sunday.

Defensive X-Factor: Defensive lineman Kwity Paye

Last week the Broncos’ offensive line did all right for the most part but struggled a bit going up against Pro-Bowl defensive lineman Jeffrey Simmons. This week, they draw another formidable defensive front going up against the Colts. DeForest Buckner is the longtime veteran in their trenches, but fifth-year defender Kwity Paye has come on strong the past two years. He is my defensive x-factor to watch on Sunday.

Coming off back-to-back seasons with at least 40 tackles and 8 sacks, Paye has established himself as one of the league’s up-and-coming defenders. The tape shows a quality pass rusher who also is strong defending against the run. Despite a rather quiet game against the Dolphins with only one tackle for loss, but the Broncos can’t afford to underestimate his abilities. He is athletic enough to even drop into coverage, so Nix will have to be mindful of the unique ways Colts Defensive Coordinator Lou Anarumo will deploy the veteran defender.

How the Broncos can secure a victory over the Colts

There are several ways the Broncos can move to 2-0 on the season with a victory on Sunday. They will need Bo Nix to play a much better game and keep the turnovers to a minimum. I’d also like to see them establish the run against the Colts in order to alleviate pressure of Nix and also help make the play-calling more balanced. The Colts didn’t utilize a lot of extra box defenders in their Week 1 matchup versus the Dolphins. If that holds true for the onset of the game against Denver, they would be wise to commit to the running game.

Last but not least, the Broncos’ defense will need to limit Taylor’s impact on the ground and also force. Jones into making some bad decisions. The veteran quarterback was very efficient last week and still has great mobility and the ability to make moves out of the pocket. Denver’s high-profile defensive line and edge rushers are going to need to be at their best in order to limit Jones’ impact on the game. When it’s all said and done, I believe the Broncos will find a way to win in another close game to start their ‘25 season 2-0.

Hart’s Prediction: Broncos 24, Colts 17.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denver-broncos-news/157272/scouting-the-enemy-indianpolis-colts

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos at Colts TV broadcast map for Week 2

If you are seeing GREEN in your region in the map above, you will get the Broncos-Colts game on your local CBS affiliate in Week 2. The map looks a lot better here than it did last week, but it helps to have the only competition being the Panthers-Cardinals game in the late slot.

The Denver Broncos will be on the road to take on the Indianapolis Colts. Both teams won last week and securing that 2-0 start can be a pretty big deal for any team looking to make a run at the playoffs later in the season. Given how Denver’s schedule is late in the season, stacking wins here early is going to be vital for them.

Kickoff is set for 2:05 p.m. Mile High time on Sunday, September 14, 2025 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. You can watch the live stream of the game through FuboTV or on CBS. The game will be called by Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Trent Green (analyst), and Melanie Collins (sideline). You can also check local Broncos radio network affiliate stations.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denver-broncos-game-information/157365/broncos-vs-colts-tv-map-week-2

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos vs. Colts: 3 players to watch in Week 2 matchup

The Denver Broncos secured a victory in Week 1 of NFL regular season thanks in part to a dominant effort by their defense. It’s always great to start off the season 1-0. This week, they head on the road to Indianapolis to take on the Colts in Week 2. In order to come out with a victory, they will need to improve on the offensive side of the ball and play a complete game. Here are three players I’ll be watching closely this weekend.

Courtland Sutton — Wide Receiver​

Longtime veteran Courtland Sutton earned himself a lucrative extension this offseason. Against the Titans, Sutton caught six receptions on nine targets for 61 yards and a touchdown. Four of those catches also resulted in first downs. He and Bo Nix started of the season much better than last year, but I’m hoping the eight-year pro can be even more effective this Sunday.

The Colts’ secondary is banged up and could be without numerous players including starter Charvarius Ward. If that is the case, I expect veteran Xavien Howard to draw most coverage responsibilities with respect to Sutton. Howard had a down year with the Dolphins last season, but prior to that had been named a Pro-Bowler or All-Pro in four of the five prior seasons.

Howard may have lost a step or two with his speed, but his length and ability to be physical at the catch point remain strengths of his. The Broncos will need Sutton to step up and match Howard’s toughness in order to help secure a victory. I feel confident in #14’s ability to get the job done.

Defensive tackle — D.J. Jones​

Picked in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, nose tackle D.J. Jones has quietly put together an incredibly productive career. For the past several seasons, Jones has been a key cog in the Broncos’ turnaround on the defensive line. In his ninth season in the league, the veteran defensive lineman was voted as a captain by his teammates for the first time in his career.

Durable, reliable, and dependable—Jones’ consistency on a weekly basis is worthy of praise. Last weekend, he was a big reason why the Titans weren’t able to accomplish much of anything on the ground. With teammate Malcolm Roach sidelined with a calf injury, the Broncos will need Jones to keep playing at a high level, especially facing a formidable rushing attack led by veteran Jonathan Taylor.

The Colts lost a few starters from last year’s interior offensive line in free agency, giving way to younger players like Tanor Bortolini and Matt Goncalves. Expect Jones often to be in alignment near or over these two players. While those two players have a lot of potential, I’m banking on Jones’ veteran savvy and technique to help keep Denver’s run defense strong on Sunday.

J.K. Dobbins — Running Back​

Signed late in the summer to bolster the Broncos’ running back stable, veteran J.K. Dobbins carried the ball 16 times for 63 yards with a touchdown in his debut in Denver. Averaging just shy of four yards per carry, I felt he performed adequately in Week 1. However, there is still room for improvement and some of that comes down to play-calling.

The Broncos were quite unbalanced in their offensive approach in the first half against the Titans. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter their running game really started to click as the game wore on. This week, I’m hopeful that Denver is more diligent calling run plays early on in hopes to get their ground attack moving forward.

When the Broncos ran Dobbins on first down, he averaged 6.1 yards on ten carries. But on six other carries between second and third down, he only had 2 yards. My idea? Give Dobbins more than four carries in the first half. The Colts didn’t utilize a lot of extra defenders in the box last week. If that holds true this weekend on first down, that will present a great opportunity to establish the run with Dobbins leading the way.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...vs-colts-3-players-to-watch-in-week-2-matchup

 

[Denver Broncos]

Winners and Losers from the Broncos 29-28 loss to the Colts

I’m angry. That was a heartbreaking and awful loss by the Broncos, which the refs aided. The defense played awful, the offense couldn’t close the game out, and a huge penalty late in the game changed everything.

You can point out some positives from this game, but after a loss like that, I will focus on the negatives. Troy Franklin can get his flowers another day. So, here are your losers from the Broncos’ 29-28 loss to the Colts.

LOSER – Broncos defense​

What the hell was that??

You let Daniel Freaking Jones pick you apart, you allowed Jonathan Taylor to have over 200 yards from scrimmage, and the Colts never punted the ball away. The pass rush wasn’t there, they blew coverages, missed tackles, and did not look like the elite defense we all thought they were.

Yes, they made some stops in the red zone and on 4th down, but the overall play was terrible. This team isn’t going anywhere if they play like this on defense. Especially against Daniel Jones.

Awful

Alex Singleton sucked. Pat Surtain II probably was playing hurt, but he was picked on all game, and as was Riley Moss.

Very disappointing effort in a game that they should have won.

LOSER – Bo Nix INT​

The Broncos just had a HUGE turnover on downs and were in scoring range up 5 points. It was third down, and Nix airballed a pass that ended up being intercepted. It likely took 3 points off the board in a game that was decided by a field goal.

He played well in this game, but this mistake left a huge stain on his performance.

LOSER – Wil Lutz doink​

He has been mostly automatic since joining the Broncos, but a costly doink on a makeable field goal attempt really ended up hurting the Broncos in this one. It would have forced the Colts to score a touchdown; instead, it gave them good field position and the ability to win it with a field goal, which they did.

LOSER – Refs/leverage penalty​

The Colts missed a 60-yard field goal, which would have given the Broncos the win.

But wait, there is a flag.

A personal foul on a leverage play that wiped away the missed field goal and gave them 15 yards to attempt a much more makeable field goal attempt.

The play that cost the Broncos the win. I don't see a penalty. pic.twitter.com/beak2f6qBn

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) September 14, 2025

I don’t know the rule well enough, but I don’t see anything here that impacted the play. What a costly foul and one that cost the Broncos from winning this game. I don’t see anything worthy of a flag, but I am jaded and pissed off.

LOSER – Missed opportunity​

The Chiefs are 0-2.

With a victory, the Broncos could have had a two-game cushion on the team that has controlled the AFC and the division for years now. This costly loss only puts them one game ahead, and it is just a huge missed opportunity.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...nners-and-losersbroncos-colts-refs-field-goal

 

[Denver Broncos]

Monday Night Football Week 2: Open Thread

It is the dreaded Monday Night Football doubleheader in Week 2. I really dislike MNF doubleheaders, but the NFL loves the money.

And today’s doubleheader is especially important to the Denver Broncos. They likely need the Los Angeles Chargers to choke and the Las Vegas Raiders to win. A gassed up Raiders team is preferable, especially if they fade down the stretch as most would expect. The Chargers are considered by many as legitimate contenders, so a 2-0 start for them would not be ideal.

In the other game, I’ll take the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat the Houston Texans. The AFC needs to lose every game until the Broncos figure out how to win theirs. HA!

Open thread in the comments section below. Discuss the games action there!​

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/game-day-threads/157756/monday-night-football-week-2-open-thread

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos Reacts Survey Week 3

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Broncos fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denver-broncos-news/157767/broncos-reacts-survey-week-3

 

[Denver Broncos]

Denver Bronco snap counts and analysis from game 2

I’m going to drop the whole table in this week instead of splitting it up. If you would like to see the separated O, D and ST tables, I can go back to doing that next week. Just let me know in the comments.

Once again the entire OL and Bo Nix played every offensive snap.

Player	Pos	OFF SNAPS	O Pct	DEF SNAPS	D Pct	ST Snaps	ST Pct
Mike McGlinchey	T	58	100%	0	0%	5	18%
Quinn Meinerz	G	58	100%	0	0%	5	18%
Garett Bolles	T	58	100%	0	0%	5	18%
Ben Powers	G	58	100%	0	0%	5	18%
Luke Wattenberg	C	58	100%	0	0%	0	0%
Bo Nix	QB	58	100%	0	0%	0	0%
Troy Franklin	WR	48	83%	0	0%	0	0%
Courtland Sutton	WR	45	78%	0	0%	0	0%
Adam Trautman	TE	36	62%	0	0%	5	18%
J.K. Dobbins	RB	26	45%	0	0%	0	0%
Evan Engram	TE	25	43%	0	0%	0	0%
Trent Sherfield	WR	22	38%	0	0%	15	54%
Marvin Mims	WR	21	36%	0	0%	7	25%
RJ Harvey	RB	19	33%	0	0%	7	25%
Pat Bryant	WR	14	24%	0	0%	0	0%
Tyler Badie	RB	13	22%	0	0%	8	29%
Adam Prentice	FB	9	16%	0	0%	10	36%
Lucas Krull	TE	9	16%	0	0%	10	36%
Alex Palczewski	T	3	5%	0	0%	5	18%
Riley Moss	CB	0	0%	71	100%	8	29%
Alex Singleton	LB	0	0%	71	100%	0	0%
Patrick Surtain II	CB	0	0%	70	99%	2	7%
Brandon Jones	S	0	0%	66	93%	0	0%
Talanoa Hufanga	S	0	0%	65	92%	8	29%
Justin Strnad	LB	0	0%	57	80%	3	11%
Zach Allen	DL	0	0%	56	79%	8	29%
Jonathon Cooper	LB	0	0%	47	66%	0	0%
Nik Bonitto	LB	0	0%	43	61%	8	29%
John Franklin-Myers	DL	0	0%	42	59%	0	0%
D.J. Jones	DT	0	0%	35	49%	8	29%
Eyioma Uwazurike	DL	0	0%	34	48%	8	29%
Ja’Quan McMillian	CB	0	0%	34	48%	0	0%
Jonah Elliss	LB	0	0%	28	39%	23	82%
Dondrea Tillman	LB	0	0%	24	34%	15	54%
Jordan Jackson	DL	0	0%	18	25%	8	29%
Jahdae Barron	CB	0	0%	16	23%	5	18%
P.J. Locke	S	0	0%	3	4%	5	18%
Kris Abrams-Draine	CB	0	0%	1	1%	11	39%
JL Skinner	S	0	0%	0	0%	23	82%
Garret Wallow	LB	0	0%	0	0%	15	54%
Devon Key	DB	0	0%	0	0%	15	54%
Karene Reid	LB	0	0%	0	0%	12	43%
Wil Lutz	K	0	0%	0	0%	10	36%
Jeremy Crawshaw	P	0	0%	0	0%	8	29%
Mitchell Fraboni	LS	0	0%	0	0%	8	29%
Alex Forsyth	C	0	0%	0	0%	5	18%
Matt Peart	T	0	0%	0	0%	5	18%

The game-day inactives for the this game were:

• QB Sam Ehlinger
• RB Jaleel McLaughlin
• TE Nate Adkins
• OLB Que Robinson
• LB Dre Greenlaw
• T Frank Crum
• DE Sai’vion Jones

Alex Palczewski got three snaps as the 6th OL-man.

At running back JK Dobbins got 26, RJ Harvey got 19 and Tyler Badie got 13. At fullback Adam Prentice got 9.

The TE group saw Adam Trautman get 36, Evan Engram get 25 and Lucas Krull get 9.

The WR group saw Courtland Sutton got 48 while Troy Franklin got 45 snaps. Trent Sherfield, Marvin Mims and Pat Bryant got 22, 21 and 14 snaps.

On defense we only had two players play every snap this week, Riley Moss and Alex Singleton. Pat Surtain only missed one snap with his lower leg ding. At CB3 Ja’Quan McMillian played 34 snaps and Jahdae Barron played 22 at CB/S. Kris Abrams-Draine played one snap.

Our other ILB, Justin Strnad, played 57 of the 71 snaps, and had the Broncos lone sack.

At safety Brandon Jones played 66 and Talanoa Hufanga played 63. PJ Locke got on the field for 3 defensive snaps.

On the DL, Zach Allen played 56 snaps, while John Franklin-Myers, D.J. Jones and Eyioma Uwazurike played 42, 35 and 34 snaps. Jordan Jackson only played 18.

At OLB Jonathon Cooper, Nik Bonitto, Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman played 47, 43, 28 and 24.

The Bronco defense was only able to generate 5 QB hits in the game (Allen had 2 and Strnad, Bonitto and Ellis each had one). Cooper was shutout, but he did have one of the TFL that the Broncos had. SIS said he had zero pressures in the game and PFR agrees with that. Cooper, who was rarely shut out (zero pressures) last season, was shutout this game after having two pressures in the win over the Titans.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...r-bronco-snap-counts-and-analysis-from-game-2

 

[Denver Broncos]

The Broncos’ are missing production from key players rewarded this offseason

The Denver Broncos put a lot of effort this offseason into improving their team. Extensions were handed out to Courtland Sutton, Nik Bonitto, and Zach Allen. Big-name free agents Evan Engram, Dre Greenlaw, and Talanoa Hufanga were signed.

We’ve definitely seen some impact from Bonitto, Allen, and Hufanga so far this season.

What concerns me is that Courtland Sutton and Evan Engram have been ineffective on offense, and Dre Greenlaw has yet to suit up for a game.

The Broncos need playmakers to show up and can’t afford to just pay good money to players that aren’t impactful.

Evan Engram is getting outperformed by Adam Trautman at Tight End.

Courtland Sutton is getting outperformed by 2nd year wide receiver Troy Franklin.

Dre Greenlaw is getting outperformed by every linebacker on the roster.

I do think some level of patience is needed. This is only two weeks into the season, after all. I do think every one of these players can make a significant impact in helping the Broncos win games. They are talented players who are top players in their positions after all.

Broncos News:​

Mile High Morning: WR Troy Franklin makes big plays vs. Colts, sets new career marks

Surtain saw more action than he’d faced in nearly three years

Other NFL News:​

Buccaneers-Texans, Chargers-Raiders on Monday night: What We Learned from Tampa Bay’s, Los Angeles’ wins

Vikings RB Aaron Jones (hamstring) to be placed on injured reserve

NFL on Raiders partner Tom Brady: ‘No policies’ bar owners from sitting in coaches’ booth during games

Raiders coach Pete Carroll aims to remedy Ashton Jeanty’s early struggles with ‘more carries’

Sean McVay says he tore his plantar fascia during Rams’ victory over Titans

Why don’t all teams use the unstoppable tush push? Here’s why

Jordan Mailata on chatter Eagles won because of the tush push: ‘Rubbish’

Steelers likely to change returners after special teams gaffe

Bills’ Josh Allen likely to wear visor Thursday to protect nose

Tua Tagovailoa Made Telling Admission While Paying Compliment to Josh Allen

Bengals Sign Multiple Veteran QBs to Practice Squad Amid Joe Burrow Injury

New York Radio Host Floats Bizarre NFL Conspiracy About Chiefs-Giants Game

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...tion-from-key-players-rewarded-this-offseason

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos vs. Chargers: Wednesday practice participation report

The Denver Broncos are fresh off a disappointing finish last week and will now have to head out west to take on their AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers.

Unsurprisingly, they look like they will not have inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw ready to go again this week. He has yet to make his debut in the orange and blue. He was sorely missed as both Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad were on roller skates against the Indianapolis Colts last weekend. Strnad is on the DNP list too to start the week with some kind of foot issue. Also, tight end Evan Engram is on that list with a back issue, which could explain why we didn’t see much of him on Sunday either.

The Chargers are not having a good go at it either losing Khalil Mack to a dislocated elbow. Their injury report is quite extensive after a pretty physical win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football a few days ago.

Here is your full practice report for Wednesday.

Denver Broncos Injury Report​

Player	Pos.	Injury	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Game Status
Nate Adkins	TE	Ankle	FULL
Nik Bonitto	OLB	Wrist	FULL
Alex Singleton	ILB	Thumb	FULL
Talanoa Hufanga	S	Chest	LIMITED
Evan Engram	TE	Back	DNP
Dre Greenlaw	LB	Quad	DNP
Justin Strnad	ILB	Foot	DNP

Los Angeles Chargers Injury Report​

Player	Pos.	Injury	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Game Status
Cam Hart	CB	Hip	LIMITED
Tarheeb Still	CB	Knee / Shoulder	LIMITED
Will Dissly	TE	Knee	DNP
Justin Eboigbe	DL	Foot	DNP
Daiyan Henley	LB	Illness	DNP
Ladd McConkey	WR	Biceps	DNP
Elijah Molden	DB	Hamstring	DNP

BOLD – Indicates change in status; NIR- Indicates not injury related; *- Team conducted a walk-through / report is an estimation; UNDERLINE– Player is on Reserve or Exempt List and has returned to practice
STATUS DEFINITIONS: Did not participate (DNP); Limited: means less than 100 percent of a player’s normal repetitions; Full—100 percent of player’s normal repetitions; Out: will not play; Doubtful: Unlikely to play; Questionable: Uncertain to play

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...broncos-vs-chargers-wednesday-practice-report

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos vs Chargers Week 3: Keys to Victory

After beating the Los Angeles Chargers three consecutive times, the Denver Broncos have now dropped the last two to their divisional rivals. And with a top spot in the AFC West on the line come Sunday, we now take a look at what Denver needs to do to leave Los Angeles with a win.

1. Make the linebacker position good again​

Heading into the season we knew what the weakest position group was: the linebackers. Right now the Broncos have a 32-year old Alex Singleton, who is coming off of that ACL injury, and Justin Strnad, a solid backup. They’re not getting the job done, and that might be just a bit of an understatement following their game against the Colts. And while we were (and still might be) excited about the Dre Greenlaw signing, he’s still not practicing. Greenlaw is undoubtedly one of the best linebackers in the league and will provide a massive boost to this defense, he just can’t get healthy at the moment. The Broncos could really use him right now.

Singleton and Strnad have comparable ability in the run game, but Strnad is clearly better in coverage. Will they give him the green dot?

2. Be creative with getting into 22 personnel​

JK Dobbins has brought a huge improvement to this Denver rushing attack this season, and some of his best runs have come out of the I formation with two tight ends. Particularly it has been Power out of this look, or Inside Zone Lead has been great as well. But you can’t expect teams to not catch on to what you’re trying to do, so it’s time to get creative.

The Broncos must find different ways to get into this formation. That will include a handful of different shifts they can use to keep the defense guessing. We already know that Sean Payton has a deep playbook when it comes to this sort of stuff, just look at that Adam Trautman touchdown play. It’s time to keep this up. A simple but effective way to do this is to line up wide, get the defense spread out, and then you bring your personnel in tight and snap the ball quickly to get the defense off balance.

3. Finish the dang game​

The Broncos seemingly tried to lose their Week 1 game, they we’re successful in blowing their Week 2 game, and they were particularly poor in close games last year as well. This identity is the one that haunts them the most, and this week is a great week to change the narrative.

The last time they played the Chargers they suffered from this same inability to finish out halves or games. I know we all remember that free kick that swung the momentum at the end of the first half in that game and it was over from that moment. Payton and the team leaders have to find a way to close out what should be a tightly contested game from likely the best team in their division.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denver-broncos-news/157971/broncos-vs-chargers-week-3-keys-to-victory