RSS Broncos Team Notes

[Denver Broncos]

2025, Week 3: Broncos at Chargers – Everything we know

The Denver Broncos are coming off a brutal collapse in the fourth quarter to lose on the road to the Indianapolis Colts last week and now must face AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3. The Chargers are looking strong and sit atop the division after two games. Denver will need to play much better defense this week if they hope to have a chance.

Kickoff is set for 2:05 p.m. Mile High time on Sunday, September 21, 2025 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California. 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.

• Broncos vs. Chargers: Thursday practice participation report
• Broncos vs Chargers Week 3: Keys to Victory
• Broncos at Chargers TV broadcast map for Week 3
• Nik Bonitto continues to lead NFL in pass rush win rate
• Broncos vs. Chargers: Wednesday practice participation report
• Broncos at Chargers preview: Denver hopes for rebound in LA
• Broncos must look inward, refocus, and move forward

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...cos-at-los-angeles-chargers-complete-coverage

 

[Denver Broncos]

Ultimate Fan: Players just need to do their jobs to get the W

Last week’s loss to the Colts was not the ending we deserved as fans of this team, but it was what we got because the Broncos did not do as they were told by us — play discplined football.

But they have another chance this week to get on track and even make some headway in the AFC West if they can do what they were supposed to last week.

WesternAZBroncosfan44 is back with another outstanding UFG, telling the Broncos exactly what they have to do to get this done — doing their jobs!!

Like a pro, WesternAZ has done his job, so let’s hope the Broncos know how to do theirs!

Starting divisional play in LA pic.twitter.com/nhHvwVFP20

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 19, 2025

Week 3: Broncos at Chargers​

MHR – Oh my goodness. Do we even need to talk about last week’s game? Just tell us your immediate thought after watching the Broncos win then lose
WesternAZbroncosfan44: I went from relief to instantaneous Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. The team didn’t do their job and left victory in the hands of the refs. We got hosed, Laurie. I hate it when the Broncos play in that building…bad things seem to happen for the Broncos there. The only good thing that came out of there for the Broncos was Peyton Manning.

MHR – Despite losing on a stupid penalty (my view, of course), the fact is that the Broncos offense made some big mistakes at the worst times (e.g., an interception and a missed field goal from 42 yards away). Are you concerned about the offense overall or was it “just some unfortunate errors” that will happen?
WesternAZbroncosfan44: The offense was okay for most of the game. We even ran the ball more than 10 times. Bo had a choice to make the errant throw or hurt his hand on the helmet of a defender or hope for the best, IMO. I usually enjoy the kicking game and couldn’t believe that Lutz missed a very makeable kick. I hope he’s gotten that out of his system and is good for the rest of the year. A lot of errors cost us the game.

MHR – The defense last week was another story…playing pretty poorly the entire game. Is that any more concerning to you, given how good they are supposed to be this year? What needs immediate attention to turn it around this week and play like a top 5 NFL defense?
WesternAZbroncosfan44: I think the defense was busy reading reports in the media how great they were and didn’t take the Colts that seriously. Surtain got hurt early, and the Colts found the weak spot, named Singleton. He’s a good run-stop ILB but has no business trying to play coverage. The Colts’ game plan was executed very well.

MHR – Zach Allen leads the NFL in QB pressures and Nik Bonitto has added a bunch of those too. But the pass rush had a hard time reaching Daniel Jones last week (just one sack) after having a field day with rookie Cam Ward in Week 1. Justin Herbert is no rookie and is light years beyond Daniel Jones. Any chance the Broncos can sack him this week?
WesternAZbroncosfan44: Only if we can have sound coverage on the back end of our defense and a little bit of push from the middle of our D-line.

MHR – Dre Greenlaw’s impact on this defense seems to be a phantom in our minds so far. Do you think his absence is a major factor in some of the exploitation offenses have been able to do the last two weeks against the Broncos?
WesternAZbroncosfan44: I am positive his presence would be a big boost to our defense. Strnad and Singleton are not going to cut it. I am bummed that the Broncos have yet to legitimately address the ILB hole that has been in the D for a long time. FA pick-ups from other teams’ cast-off or worn-out players isn’t going to cut it.

MHR – Jonathan Taylor BY HIMSELF ran 165 yards on the defense last week. Jim Harbaugh has to be salivating over that number as he looks at rookie running back Omarion Hampton’s name in the Chargers’ game plan this week. Do you expect an extra heavy run attack from the Chargers, and do you think the Broncos D will be up to the task after last week’s embarrassment?
WesternAZbroncosfan44: Yes, provided the players (this next line tastes awful) do their jobs. They had Taylor bottled up most of the game. An arm tackle and a missed assignment and he was headed for the promised land until he got caught by Hufanga, the safety who didn’t quit on his job!

MHR – Even if the Broncos are able to stymie the Chargers’ ground game, they have Justin Herbert who is finally playing like an MVP quarterback (unfortunately). And he has had a lot of success with 72-year-old Keenan Allen as well as Quentin Johnston. Will Pat Surtain and Riley Moss be more effective in shutting down the passing game or do you think it’s going to be a long day for this secondary?
WesternAZbroncosfan44: If Surtain and Moss are healthy, we have a chance. We need to get more pressure on Sherbert (my pet name for him that my LA Chargers fan relatives hate). Let him know we have come to play, make him uncomfortable, rattle him a bit. Then we will have a chance.

MHR – Moving to the offense, Bo Nix looked much more comfortable last week than he did Week 1 but then had a key mistake that cost the team a big chance to seal the win. Are you concerned about our second-year QB’s progress from last year to this year or is that way too early of a hot take on Nix?
WesternAZbroncosfan44: I liked how he and Payton converse on the sideline during games. Fire baby, lots of fire. It’s still too early in his career to tell. Last year Nix was being called a bum or bust early in the season if I recall correctly. Then all of a sudden he’s the best thing since sliced bread. I think midseason would be a better picture of what we have in Nix. Payton changed the run game and opened up the playbook this season. Nix is operating with the same coordinator for the first time in his career. Let’s simmer the meal for a game or two and see what kind of sauce we get.

MHR – In addition to offseason hype over the defense and running attack, there was A LOT of talk about having a “joker.” So far the only joker has been Sean Payton for having said that all offseason but not having delivered. Do you think we’ll see Evan Engram live up to his hype before the season is over or it’s too late to matter?
WesternAZbroncosfan44: Engram has been injured. I coached football (never above high school level) before, and whenever I had an injured player, I would not game plan for him too much. It would be a waste of time and resources. Plays are precious and shouldn’t be wasted. If Engram heals up, I believe he will be exactly as advertised. Until then, your guess is as good as mine.

MHR – JK Dobbins has almost quietly had a productive first two games, landing himself at No.2 among all running backs for percentage of 10+ yard runs. Yet the running game doesn’t seem to be as dominant as we were promised (at least, I’m thinking we were promised this). Do you think that has been the game plan? Or just circumstances? Or are these backs not as dominant as we were planning?
WesternAZbroncosfan44: Dobbins has looked better than I thought he would. Harvey looks like he’s still figuring it out. They installed a new run scheme this season, and It looks like it hasn’t gelled yet. Too many players thinking instead of playing. Ben “underpowered” Powers looks to me like he’s lost on some plays.

MHR – One of the most positive things out of last week was the emergence of Troy Franklin. How important will he be to the offense this week? How should Payton balance using Franklin and Courtland Sutton for big plays?
WesternAZbroncosfan44: I think Franklin has moved up the depth chart with his play so far. I would keep throwing him the ball and see what happens. Whichever player is hot gets the rock. I think Franklin is very important to open up the offense; he makes the defense cover more of the field instead of just doubling up on Sutton.

MHR – This is going to be the Broncos’ biggest test so far but may be one of their toughest opponents all season. How do the Broncos attack this very balanced Chargers team to get them out of sync so Denver can win a “home” game in LA?
WesternAZbroncosfan44: The team in all three phases of the game needs to play every down like it’s going to be their last. This Broncos’ team has Super Bowl dreams. The only way they are going to get there is by beating good teams and winning the games you are supposed to win. I am worried about the loss to the Colts. I hope it doesn’t get in the way later. LA is playing good ball right now. We need to play much better as a team.

Bo Nix has had tremendous success in AFC West games.

He has 14 TDs to only 1 INT going against division opponents and a 112.2 passer rating.

He has had at least 2 passing TDs in every division game. pic.twitter.com/MiEgRkJvEH

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) September 19, 2025

Predictions​

Stats for BO NIX? 19 /25, 250 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Stats for each Broncos RB? Dobbins 18/100 yards, 1 TD; Harvey 10/72 yards, 1 TD

Number of yards receiving/TDs for the receivers? Sutton 6 for 88yards, 1 TD; Franklin 8 for 115yds, 1 TD; Mimms 3 for 20 yards; Trautman 2 for 17 yards.

How many points for Lutz this week? 7

How many missed FGs for Lutz this week? Fingers crossed, 0

Number of sacks to Justin SHerbert? 4

Broncos player with the most tackles? Hufanga 10

Who gets the first sack of the game for the Broncos? Zach Allen

Who gets the most sacks? Jonah Elliss

How many INTs/FF/FR for the Chargers D? 1 / 0

How many INTs/FF/FR for the Broncos D? 1 / 1 / 1

How many penalties between the two teams? 15

How many “leverage” penalties called in the NFL in Week 3? 1! on the Broncos so the refs can be consistent

Final score? Broncos 24, Chargers 21

The Favorites ​

Favorite Broncos win ever? It’s a tie for me – 1977 AFC championship game versus Oakland or Super Bowl XXXII. Both games made my grandfather cry for joy. He hated Oakland and his beloved Broncos made it to the dance by beating them. In Super Bowl XXXII, his words after the final gun are permanently planted in my memory – “the bums finally did it!”

Favorite Peyton Manning win? Super Bowl 50. Thank you, Jim Irsay!

Favorite John Elway win? Every time he won!

Team you love to beat the most in the AFC West? Used to be the team that can’t stay in one place…now it has become the BBQ boys east of Denver.

Coach you despise most in the NFL? Pete Carroll

Team you hate to lose to the most in the rest of the AFC (outside AFC West)? Baltimore Ravens

NFC team you could cheer for in the Super Bowl? Detroit Lions

NFC team you’d want to face more than any other in the Super Bowl? Dallas or NY Giants. I despise them both.

Toughest game on the schedule? Philadelphia Eagles

Favorite Broncos player on the current roster? Hufanga or Surtain – I like them both.

Favorite Broncos player of all time, not named John Elway? Floyd Little, they don’t make men like him anymore.

Favorite Broncos Hall-of-Famer? Randy Gradishar

Favorite new guy/rookie on the team? RJ Harvey

Food/Snack you have to eat on game day? Bacon done on the Traeger grill and using them as chips for my habanero salsa.

Favorite game analyst/commentator? Dave Logan…

Favorite sports cliché? “That’s why you play the game!”

Who is on your Broncos Mt. Rushmore? Floyd Little / John Elway / Karl Mecklenberg / Louis Wright

Give me one word to describe the season so far? Better

Give me one word to describe your hope for the rest of it? Believe

The last time Bo Nix played at SoFi Stadium against the Chargers:

72% Completion Percentage
263 Yards
2 Touchdowns
0 Interceptions
️ 106.6 Rating#BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/ajnokzb2ww

— SleeperBroncos (@SleeperBroncos) September 18, 2025

How did you become a Broncos fan?​

I was forced into going to games (lol) with my grandfather at Mile High Stadium. My three older brothers were in trouble a lot, so my grandfather would ask my dad who could go. I went to a lot of games with him, and he taught me all about football.

I remember Craig Morton threw an interception, and the whole section stood up as my grandfather walked to our sideline to call Morton a lot of words I hadn’t heard before (my grandfather was the loudest). He told Morton to go back to Dallas, with a few dirty words inserted! He would always tell me not to let my grandma know when he cursed out loud due to bad play by his beloved Broncos.

I miss that man a lot. That was the beginning of my love for the Broncos.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...ayers-just-need-to-do-their-jobs-to-get-the-w

 

[Denver Broncos]

Future Broncos: Prospects to upgrade Denver’s ILB position

The Denver Broncos added inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw in free agency with the hope could be a transformative force for their defense. Alas, Greenlaw has suffered from lingering issues since training camp and has yet to make an appearance on the field this season. On top of that, veteran Alex Singleton has struggled to start off their 2025 campaign and looks a step slower a year removed from an ACL tear.

While the Broncos do have an intriguing group of former UDFA linebackers in Karene Reid, Levelle Bailey, and Jordan Turner, the Broncos haven’t bothered to draft and develop a true inside linebacker for quite some time. Though they selected Drew Sanders several years ago in the third round, he has failed to stay healthy, endured numerous position switches, and can’t be relied upon as a potential long-term solution at the position given those concerns.

With five selections in the top four rounds, the Broncos have plenty of draft day ammunition to address multiple needs. Considering the above, I believe it would be wise for them to finally try and find a long-term fixture at the position. Fortunately, this year’s group of prospects at the position appears to have star power, as well as quality depth. I’ll give a breakdown of two of my favorite prospects but also give an honorable mention of players who could very well be early picks come April.

Anthony Hill Jr. — Linebacker — Texas

Over the past few years, the Broncos have added a handful of former Texas Longhorns defenders to their team. Currently, they have four on their defense right now. And wouldn’t you know it, the premier off-ball prospect in this year’s class happens to be from there as well. That’s Texas standout Anthony Hill Jr., who arguably one of the best linebacker prospects we have seen in quite some time.

A top recruit who had dozens of offers from the nation’s top programs, Hill earned co-Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors after posting 67 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks in 14 games in 2023. During his 2024 season, he posted 107 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 1 interception, 1fumble recovery and 4 forced fumbles over 16 games. Three games this season, the SEC junior has 14 tackles and two forced fumbles on the season.

At 6’3″ and 235 pounds with a 40-yard time in the 4.5’s, Hill’s size and athleticism hit the mark for what teams covet at the position. The traits are outstanding, but what is even better is that they have translated to production on the field. Whether it’s stuffing the run, covering the pass, or even going downhill as a blitzer, Hill certainly has tremendous talent and the ability to be a top linebacker in the NFL. He is the absolute definition of a playmaker.

I highly doubt he will return to school and is poised to be an early declaration. He should wind up being a Top 20 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. Broncos Country is hoping the Broncos are picking later than that, but if Hill is within striking distance during the first round, it certainly wouldn’t surprise me if he was high on Denver’s draft wish list. He’s an immediate impact player. And guess what? Denver needs one at the position.

It feels like every single Anthony Hill Jr. tackle is an attempt to send the ball carrier into the Earth’s core.

It’s remarkable for a freshman. pic.twitter.com/Jp3WswjoV2

— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) November 20, 2023

Taurean York — Linebacker — Texas A&M

There were a handful of different linebackers I could have chosen for my second prospect to discuss. After a little debate, I opted to go with someone who is flying under the radar compared to some others in this year’s class. That’s Texas A&M junior Taurean York. So, I guess this week’s Future Broncos is a “best of Texas” showcase of Lone Star state prospects.

While Hill was a top-tier prospect coming out of high school, York was a relative after thought in the recruiting process and garnered only a handful of offers from well-known schools. At 5’11 and 235 pounds, York may be a little shorter than preferred at the position. However, he makes up for the lack of size with incredible intangibles. Aggies Defensive Coordinator Jay Bateman often raves about York’s football intelligence, leadership, and how he has continued to over the past several seasons.

The tape bears that out, showcasing a player that is rarely out of position defending the run. He is top-notch tackler who has the physicality to devastate opposing ball carriers. Moreover, York has posted some of the most run stops of any linebacker in college football the past two seasons. He had a sensational freshman season in the SEC in ’23 with 74 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. He followed that up with a successful sophomore year with 82 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and 1 interception. Thus far in ’25, he has 17 tackles through three games.

This year’s class has a lot of depth and versatility. With that in mind, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see York end up going a little bit later than one would think given his production. My biggest concern with him is lack of plays in coverage. Nevertheless, I feel his body of work merits consideration on Day 2 of the draft and expect him to come off the board in the Top 100 picks.

Other Top Prospects to Watch:

• Harold Perkins Jr. — LSU
• CJ Allen — Georgia
• Sonny Styles — Ohio State
• Deontae Lawson — Alabama
• Arvell Reese — Ohio State
• Suntarine Perkins — Ole Miss
• Lander Barton — Utah

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...cos-prospects-to-upgrade-denvers-ilb-position

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos place linebacker Dre Greenlaw on the short-term IR

According to multiple reports, first by DNVR’s Zac Stevens, the Broncos have placed linebacker Dre Greenlaw on the short-term injured reserve due to a lingering quad injury. This will sideline him for at least four weeks, and the earliest he could return is in Week 7 vs. the New York Giants. According to reports, Greenlaw suffered a small setback during practice this week, and the team is placing him on the IR to be cautious and make sure he can get healthy.

Breaking: The Broncos have placed LB Dre Greenlaw on short-term IR (quad) with the ability to return as soon as Week 7 vs the Giants, per sources.

The move will allow Greenlaw to fully recover and be ready to help the Broncos in the second half of the season. pic.twitter.com/kB77bX2qc5

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) September 20, 2025

Greenlaw was one of the Broncos’ bigger free agent additions this past winter, but so far, he hasn’t seen the field much at all. He initially suffered this quad injury back in April, and it sidelined him throughout the offseason. He was good to go for training camp, but would soon suffer another quad injury during camp. This would sideline him for most of training camp, all the preseason games, and then continue to linger into the start of the regular season. He was ruled out for the season opener vs. the Titans, then again for their week 2 matchup vs. the Colts, and then again for this Sunday’s game for the Chargers. Now, he will have four weeks to get his quad right and hopefully, be able to take the field for the Broncos and elevate their defense like we all hoped he would.

He will miss games against the Chargers, Bengals, Eagles, and Jets at least, and will be able to return for the Giants game in Week 7 if he is finally able to shake this injury.

With Greenlaw being a non-factor so far, the Broncos’ linebacker woes have continued. Alex Singleton had a rough outing vs. the Colts, Justin Strnad is a special teamer, Drew Sanders is on the injured reserve, Garrett Wallow is a special teamer, and Karene Reid and Levelle Bailey are inexperienced and unproven. This weakness will be targeted by teams moving forward, and the Broncos will need one of these players to step up, or they will once again be a liability for them on the defensive side of the ball.

No corresponding roster move has been announced as of yet, but I would assume Levelle Bailey would get signed to the 53-man roster with Greenlaw now on the injured reserve. Either way, this is a disappointing development for the Broncos, who play some key games in the coming weeks. Hopefully, we see someone step up and Greenlaw is able to get healthy for a second-half postseason push for the Broncos.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...-linebacker-dre-greenlaw-on-the-short-term-ir

 

[Denver Broncos]

Week 3: Broncos at Chargers – Live Coverage

The Denver Broncos blew a chance to win a tough road game last week and are now down a game to their AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers. They have a chance to even the score and return to a first-place tie in the division with a win today, but a loss creates a very big hole to climb out of just three games into the season.

Kickoff is set for 2:05 p.m. Mile High time on Sunday, September 21, 2025 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California. 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.

• Game Information
• Gameday Inactives
• Everything have on this game

Broncos vs. Chargers score predictions​

According to FanDuel, the Broncos opened 2.5-point underdogs, but the line grew to 3 by Sunday. Until the Broncos prove they can win close games against playoff-caliber opponents, I’m no longer going to sip the Kool-Aid. They are 2-7 against teams in one-score games since the start of 2024 and two of those losses came against these very same Chargers. Their only wins against the hapless New York Jets and Tennessee Titans. They have got to figure this our or they’ll be a fringe .500 football team.

Prediction: Chargers 23, Broncos 20.

Join the discussion in the comments section below.​

Broncos vs. Chargers live updates​

Getting warm pic.twitter.com/XYuUu2pdHT

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 21, 2025

Broncos gameday captains:

Alex Singleton
Bo Nix
Courtland Sutton
D.K. Jones
Talanoa Hufanga

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) September 21, 2025

Broncos WON the toss.

They will kick to start the game after deferring.

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) September 21, 2025

Herbert throws incomplete, but another flag. Illegal formation on the Chargers and it's 3rd down

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) September 21, 2025

Quentin Johnston catches a third-down pass and then breaks a tackle to pick up an extra chunk of yardage.

Chargers into the red zone.

— Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) September 21, 2025

Again, a nice red-zone series by the #Broncos' defense. Jonah Elliss generates some pressure, Jahdae Barron nice coverage.

But #Broncos give up points on opening drive for third straight game. Not something Sean Payton's been happy with. 3-0 Chargers

— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) September 21, 2025

Dicker is GOOD from 32 yards

Broncos: 0
Chargers: 3

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) September 21, 2025

Broncos start three and out.

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) September 21, 2025

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denver-broncos-news/158115/broncos-vs-chargers-live-coverage-week-3

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos vs. Bengals betting odds for Week 4

It’s been a tough couple of weeks in the Mile High City. With back-to-back fourth quarter collapses on the road, the Denver Broncos are now sitting at 1-2. The good news is, they get a bit of a break hosting the Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football in Week 4. It’s an opportunity for Bo Nix and the offense to get back on track some.

According to FanDuel, the Broncos are 7.5-point home favorites against the Bengals in Week 4. The over/under stands at 44.5 for this matchup.

Broncos vs. Bengals betting odds​

Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos
Monday, September 29, 2025 at 6:15 P.M. Mile High time
Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado
ATS Betting Lines: Denver -7.5
Moneyline Odds: Denver -375 / Cincinnati +300
Over/Under: 44.5

The Broncos are now 2-8 in one score games under Bo Nix. Fortunately, this should not end up a one score game. The Bengals are a hot mess without Joe Burrow and just got obliterated by the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. By all accounts, the Broncos are the better team here and should (hopefully!!) have a bit of urgency lit under them for this game at home.

I expect the Broncos to come out and dominate in all three phases and win by a very comfortable margin. Perhaps not the meltdown 48-10 margin the Bengals just got handed in Minnesota, but certainly a two score comfortable win to get Denver back to .500 before having to travel to face the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5.

What are your predictions for the Broncos-Bengals game in Week 4?

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denver-broncos-odds/158105/broncos-vs-bengals-odds-week-4

 

[Denver Broncos]

Monday Night Football Week 3: Lions at Ravens Open Thread

Week 3 of the regular season will conclude tonight with the Detroit Lions on the road to take on the Baltimore Ravens. This game has all of the makings of a massively fun one. Both teams have big play abilities and could easily get into a back-and-forth shootout. Which likely means we’re going to end up with a low-scoring defensive battle, right?

Kickoff is set for Monday, September 22, 2025 at 6:15 p.m. Mile High time at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland and will air on ESPN/ABC.

My Prediction​

According to FanDuel, the Ravens are 4.5-point favorites at home over the Lions. While both teams have started off 1-1, the Ravens have looked like a really good football team despite losing an exciting game against the Bills. The Lions were off to a bit of a slow start. I think they are still an NFC powerhouse, but I have to give the edge to Baltimore here.

Prediction: Ravens 30, Lions 26.

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

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/game-day-threads/158486/mnf-week-3-lions-at-ravens

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos have a favorable schedule moving forward

The Denver Broncos are 1-2 but should be 3-0 or at least 2-1. They let two very winnable games slip away the past two weeks and lost on two last-second field goals. Both of these losses were heartbreaking, frustrating, and frankly pissed me off. Neither the Colts nor the Chargers beat the Broncos; the Broncos shot themselves in the foot multiple times and lost the game.

With that said, the Broncos had back-to-back tough road games against good teams. The Colts are playing good football right now, and Daniel Jones appears to have found a home in Indianapolis. The Chargers have one of the best defenses in the NFL and potentially the MVP frontrunner in Justin Herbert, but despite all that, both teams needed a last-second field goal and some Broncos errors to beat them. While 1-2 sucks, the Broncos have proven they can be a much better team than their record shows.

Due to all this, the sky isn’t falling, the Broncos are still very much in the AFC playoff picture, and they have a very favorable schedule coming up.

These are the Broncos upcoming games

vs. Bengals(no Burrow)
@ Eagles
Jets (London)
vs. Giants
vs. Cowboys
@ Texans
vs. Raiders

They've played two of the better teams in the AFC on the road so far and probably should have beat both. If they can get their shit together, they…

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) September 22, 2025

If you take a look at the Broncos’ upcoming schedule, it is very favorable. On paper, they should be able to win most, if not all, of these games and move on from their disappointing start to the season.

Week 4: vs. Bengals on MNF

The Bengals are without Joe Burrow and were absolutely destroyed by the Vikings last week. The Broncos should dominate this game and move back to .500 on the year. If they struggle in this game, it will be a major red flag.

Week 5 @ Eagles

This is the toughest game on their stretch and will be a road game against the reigning Super Bowl Champions. I think the Broncos will play them tough and can win this game, but for now, I’ll mark it a loss. 2-3.

Week 6 @ Jets (London)

This game is a wildcard due to the London aspect of it, but again, the Broncos should be able to win this game. They’re a more talented team, and their defense should be able to dominate. If they take care of business, they will once again move to .500 with a 3-3 record.

Week 7 vs. Giants

I would be surprised if Russell Wilson is still starting at this point, so the Broncos will likely be facing rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. They have a good front seven, but overall, the Broncos are the better team and should come away with the win here. 4-3.

Week 8 vs. Dallas

The Cowboys have not played good football this year and are a bit of a mess due to the Parsons trade, injuries, and just typical Dallas Cowboys drama. This is a home game for the Broncos and a game they should win. 5-3.

Week 9 @ Houston

Right now, the Houston Texans are 0-3 and one of the more disappointing teams in the AFC thus far. They have a very talented defense, but the offense and the team as a whole have not played well. This will be a tough game for the Broncos, but if the Texans’ struggles continue, they should come away with a win; but it really could go either way. 6-3

Week 10 vs. Raiders

The Raiders have talented playmakers in Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty, but overall, they are not a good football team. This is a home game for the Broncos, and they should easily handle their AFC West rivals. 7-3

So, when looking at the schedule, the Broncos should be anywhere between 6-4 and 8-2 before their pivotal matchup vs. the Chiefs before the bye week. This is a stretch of football where they need to take care of business.

Another thing that benefits the Broncos is the AFC landscape in general. The Chiefs and Ravens are 1-2, the Texans are 0-3, while teams like the Jaguars, Steelers, and even the Bengals are 2-1. The Broncos are far from out of it, other contending teams are off to slow starts, and I believe the teams ahead of the Broncos right now will begin to fall back to earth as we progress through the season.

On top of all that, Sean Payton teams all historically get off to slow starts, it seems. Have your “get right” game vs. the Burrow-less Bengals, get back to .500, and take advantage of the favorable schedule moving forward. We have seen Payton’s teams go on a run this time of the year in the past, and I believe we will see them do that again this season.

I understand things are frustrating right now, but remember, this team should be 3-0. They’re a good team that is making too many mistakes right now, and despite these mistakes, they nearly beat two of the better teams in the AFC on the road. They should turn things around, and I believe they will.

It is not time to hit the panic button just yet, Broncos Country.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...ncos-have-a-favorable-schedule-moving-forward

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos Film Review: Luke Wattenberg vs the Chargers

The title of “Most Controversial Denver offensive Lineman” is a constant battle between Ben Powers and center Luke Wattenberg, and there is a clear winner in my book. It’s been quite a while since the Broncos have had a center they could truly rely on week-to-week, and they had that for one season in Lloyd Cushenberry III, but that’s about it. And over the last two years there’s been a position battle between Wattenberg and Alex Forsyth (maybe not actually, but us the fans have seemingly thought so) and Wattenberg has won them both.

This must mean that the coaching staff thinks Wattenberg is the best center on the roster. But does that mean he’s actually good?

We’ll be taking a look at how Wattenberg did against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3 of the season. I know what I saw online, in our MHR chats, and how I felt after watching the game live. Spoiler alert: I did not feel good about his performance. Let’s see if the film agrees.

Stat crunch​

Luke Wattenberg was on the field for all 47 offensive snaps. The Denver Broncos had 14 designed run plays and 33 designed pass plays.

Wattenberg gave up one TFL, four pressures, and one QB hit.

Wattenberg had five “Bad” blocks, nine “Meh” blocks, nine “Alright” blocks, 28 “Good” blocks, and zero “Great” blocks. This was good enough for 37.25 points out of a possible 47, or 79.3%.

Wattenberg’s run blocking grade was 76.8% (10.75 points) and his pass blocking grade was 80.3% (26.5 points).

In general​

The worst parts of Wattenberg’s play haunted the Broncos in this one. He absolutely struggles against any sort of stunt by the defense. And in the second half the Chargers really started to dial those up, and that’s when Wattenberg really faltered. It just feels like he doesn’t have the instincts to pick those up. The rule is when someone goes away from you, expect someone to replace them. Wattenberg struggles to snap his head and expect the pressure coming behind the slant. There was even one play late where the slanting DT totally leveled him.

Most of his play though is just mediocre. His pass blocking when not facing a stunt is just decent. His run blocking, for the most part, is just decent. His decision making as a center is just decent. He’s not going to dig out a DT playing a 0 or 2i technique and he hardly get’s good vertical displacement on run blocks.

To his credit though, his game is not all bad. I was pleasantly surprised by his double team blocks on Sunday, particularly the ones on Outside Zone plays. He had a handful of plays where he showed really great technique on reaching a DT from the backside and bumping the guard off to the linebacker. This is definitely a part of his game that is new, and let’s give him some credit. And it wouldn’t be a offensive line article of mine where I didn’t give credit to offensive line coach Zach Strief for doing such a good job developing these guys.

The specifics​

Outside Zone – Good block

Now, Mike McGlinchey sort of ruins this block/ play be getting stalemated at the point of attack and causes Quinn Meinerz, and subsequently Wattenberg, to trip. But besides that, Wattenberg does a great job of working the backside of this double team and takes over the block, and theoretically bumps Meinerz off to pick up the backer.

The get off, footwork, and body positioning here is all textbook. And this is not the only example of this by Wattenberg this game. He does this a couple of other times as well.

Pass protection – Bad block

Here is the play I alluded to earlier when I said Wattenberg got leveled on a stunt in pass protection.

And that was something that was completely preventable. When someone starts to loop over the top, expect a slant from the side he’s looping to. As soon as Wattenberg saw this loop, he should’ve snapped his head to his left and expected that slanting DT. At least if he got eyes on him then he would’ve stood a chance, and likely wouldn’t have given up a QB hit.

Bad instincts.

Outside Zone – Bad block

I can’t lie, it sucks to have the defense run a stunt like this on Outside Zone. As an offensive lineman you’re locked in on hitting your playside gap and getting out to the linebacker, especially if you’re uncovered, so your eyes are locked to the outside. And that’s exactly where Wattenberg’s eyes are. They’re all the way to the left.

And even if the Chargers aren’t running an interior stunt, Wattenberg still needs to at least take a chunk out of that slanting DT to help out Meinerz. Instead he just bypasses him, ends up not blocking anyone, and Dobbins is getting blown up in the backfield. Wattenberg is lacking a general feel/ instinct for these kind of things, and this play makes that very evident.

Pass protection – Good block

Let’s close out the review with a positive, and proof that Wattenberg does have the ability to pick up a stunt.

He’s aided by Powers doing a great job passing this off, but Wattenberg shows poise and good technique. He sits at hip-level of his guards (a great starting point when it comes to picking up stunts easier), and when the DT loops, he is in good position to pick up the slanter.

This is a relatively easy stunt to pick up, but at least Wattenberg was able to do a good job with this one.

Final thoughts​

Luke Wattenberg has the chance/ ability to be good. He needs to work on stunt pick ups and getting better leverage on his double teams, when they need to work them vertically on Inside Zones, but I don’t think he’ll ever be anything more than just good.

I think the Broncos need to take a long look at this position this offseason. There are a handful of upcoming free agents that would be an improvement, or they can look to the draft.

And for what it’s worth, Alex Forsyth has shown that he is better than Wattenberg when it comes to picking up stunts in pass protection.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/bron...oncos-film-review-luke-wattenberg-vs-chargers

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos at Chargers: The No Bull Review

Once again, the Denver Broncos lost in the last second after a hard-fought game against a very good team. I’m always proud to see our team going toe-to-toe and being in the game until the last second. It is far better than losing by 20.

That being said, I don’t like a close game like this where our team lost because they shot themselves in the foot far too many times.

Last year, we had the excuse of the Broncos being a young team. They just needed to get more comfortable in order to really win some more of the close games.

At this point, I’m starting to honestly question the coaching. These players just don’t look prepared to win NFL football games. They lack discipline. They also lack focus. Both of those things are very coachable.

Offense​

This is such an inconsistent offense. The only thing I think they excel at is having low-yield plays on first down. In the first half of the game, our running backs had negative yards on 5 rushing attempts. In the first quarter, they were consistent in going 3-and-out on each and every drive.

I do want to give big credit to Payton for his gutsy call on 4th and 2 at the end of the half. The play design was the perfect call at the perfect time.

Where I think Payton needs some blame is for the players lining up poorly. That’s on his coaching staff to have the players drilled on who covers the tackle on each and every play.

Quarterbacks​

Bo Nix really needs to improve his accuracy. Several plays early don’t work because he’s either too far to the outside on his placement or behind his target. He was just a bit too far on the flea flicker. At the end of the 4th quarter, he overthrew Sutton. He had 3 deep passes that were misses long. He had many throws that just missed, and several of them would have extended drives.

I think it is so frustrating to watch because we have seen so much potential in Nix. He’s got superb scrambling ability. The throws he’s missing are, by and large, the right spots to be going with the ball. And to be fair to him, he’s just missing these throws. If the guy would just take setting his feet more seriously, he’d be killing it.

Line​

Luke Wattenburg is not holding his ground up front. A lot of the problems establishing the run are coming right up the A gaps. We need a center that can hold his own, and so far this season, I don’t see it.

Adam Trautman had terrible blocking on the edge against a safety blitz on the edge. Later on, on a 3rd down, he gets help and lets a smaller player get by him to stop a 3rd down conversion by R.J. Harvey. It is bad enough that our tight ends have problems being impactful receiving targets, but seeing these plays makes one wonder if we just need a whole new group of tight ends.

Running Backs​

JK Dobbins came alive in the 2nd half with a big run in the open for 41 yards. Had a whole drive to himself for a touchdown and played really well as the game wore on. He ended with 83 yards on 11 carries. If only the team could find a way to get him going in the first half of the game as well…

R.J. Harvey, on the other hand, had 2 carries in the game and netted 2 yards. At some point the rookie needs to show up on the field and do something.

Receivers​

Courtland Sutton led the team in receiving with 118 yards on 6 receptions with a touchdown. My only complaint was his effort on the deep pass. I think he’s capable of laying out for it and also could have pushed his stride a bit to get there.

Troy Franklin had his worst game of the season with an offensive pass interference. He also dropped a nicely thrown ball that hit him right in the hands.. Two plays later, he gets another target that is dropped (though he was double-covered to be fair).

Marvin Mims, Jr. also had a rough go, catching only 1 of his 4 targets. We need these talented players to be more involved and there is work to do by them on their hands and routes and by Nix with his throws in order to make that happen.

Defense​

My only biggest negative on the defense was that they were completely unprepared for the Los Angeles Chargers’ touchdown run, which is pretty impressive given that they were only two yards away from the goal line.

They also have work to do on cleaning up penalties. I also saw some zone plays shuffled in where the players were playing too soft and gave up easy catches for chunks of yards. I think good defenses are able to mix it up, but great defenses mix it up and execute any style of coverage at a high level. There’s work to do on that front.

On a bright note, the pass rush was completely back and causing chaos in the backfield from time to time. That’s the engine of this defense and goes a long way to helping this team win games.

Front 7​

Nik Bonitto had another stellar game on defense. He gets home on a blitz as he gets the edge on his blocker before the guy can even get squared up to him. He had another big sack at the start of a drive in the 3rd quarter as he hop steps outside the blocker and zips in to sack Herbert. He had 4 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 TFLs, and 5 quarterback hits on the day.

D.J. Jones kicked off the game with a dominating TFL. He also made a key tackle on Herbert on 3rd down to kill their 2nd drive. He ended the game with 2 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFLs, and 1 quarterback hit.

John Franklin-Myers is another interior lineman bringing the heat from this defense. He came up the middle for a sack with pressure off the edge by Bonitto. He also chipped in 3 tackles, 1 TFL, and 2 quarterback hits on the day.

In a signature Alex Singleton game, he led the team with tackles, made no real impact plays, and was a liability in coverage. In a game where everyone is taught to wrap up and tackle on defense, he instead shoulder hits the WR free early out of Pat Surtain’s arms to help the Chargers gain an extra 20ish yards. On a key 3rd and 3 pass, he was just simply not ready to defend a pass.

Jonathan Cooper gets a sack on 3rd down, impressively looping all the way around his defender to come from directly behind Herbert. He chipped in a TFL and another quarterback hit as well.

Secondary​

Pat Surtain II bounced back this game to look like the excellent defender we’ve been used to seeing. He was stellar in coverage on a deep throw at the end of the first half. He had another perfect pass defense in the end zone against Keenan Allen.

I love the play that Talanoa Hufanga brings to this defense. He is excellent in coverage and has a nose for the ball, which is what you want to see out of your free safety. He was a significant contributor to the Broncos’ penalty woes, which really need to be cleaned up. He got a pass interference as he hit the receiver before the ball was there. He also got an unnecessary roughness penalty for driving a player into the ground. It was very undisciplined, stupid, and avoidable.

Jonah Ellis continues to impress me with his play when he is in on rotation. He showed great pass rushing early that didn’t necessarily get home, but helped rush plays. He had a TFL and a pass defense to his credit on the day, in only 43% of the snaps.

Brandon Jones had a solid game on the back end for this defense. On his interception, he did a great job of concentrating to snag the tipped pass off of Riley Moss’s great coverage. He had 11 tackles and a pass defense to his credit as well.

Riley Moss had a rough game. While he was often in position, he was unable to stop passes from happening (credit to Justin Herbert for so many great passes, honestly). In this defense, Moss is always going to see a lot of targets. It is a credit to him that he is able to move on to the next play and keep his play level consistent.

Special Teams​

Easily one of the plays that are at the top of the list of plays that cost the Broncos this game was the offside penalty on a 4th and 4. Lining up correctly is the most remedial of things in the game of football. That our players don’t know how to do it speaks volumes to the poor quality of the coaching they are under.

Jonah Ellis gets mad props with the forced fumble during a Charger’s kick return. He got a perfect punch at the perfect angle to break the ball loose and cause the turnover.

Final Thoughts​

Being 1-2 really sucks for a team that looked on paper to be so much better. The talent on this team is better than it was last season. The players are, by and large, another year matured in the systems this team runs.

And yet, there are lots of mental errors that are costing this team wins. Sean Payton does a superb job of calling it out in his press conference. He talks about things that are on him and his staff.

I think it is time to do the work of cleaning it up instead of talking about it every week, though. This team has too much potential to be crapping away close games consistently.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/broncos-editorial/158534/broncos-at-chargers-no-bull-review

 

[Denver Broncos]

Snap and analysis for game 3

Once again all five offensive linemen and Bo Nix took all 52 offensive snaps. The Denver Broncos defense was on the field for 86 plays vs. the Los Angeles Chargers largely because of the six three-and-outs by the Bronco offense.

The game-day inactives were Evan Engram, Sam Ehlinger, Jaleel McLaughlin, Que Robinson, Frank Crum, and Sai’vion Jones.

Player	Pos	Num	OFF Pct	Num	DEF Pct	Num	ST Pct
Garett Bolles	T	52	100%	0	0%	4	12%
Ben Powers	G	52	100%	0	0%	4	12%
Quinn Meinerz	G	52	100%	0	0%	4	12%
Mike McGlinchey	T	52	100%	0	0%	4	12%
Luke Wattenberg	C	52	100%	0	0%	0	0%
Bo Nix	QB	52	100%	0	0%	0	0%
Courtland Sutton	WR	42	81%	0	0%	0	0%
Troy Franklin	WR	41	79%	0	0%	0	0%
J.K. Dobbins	RB	35	67%	0	0%	0	0%
Marvin Mims	WR	23	44%	0	0%	11	34%
Trent Sherfield	WR	22	42%	0	0%	17	53%
Lucas Krull	TE	22	42%	0	0%	15	47%
Adam Trautman	TE	19	37%	0	0%	4	12%
Nate Adkins	TE	18	35%	0	0%	7	22%
RJ Harvey	RB	15	29%	0	0%	5	16%
Pat Bryant	WR	13	25%	0	0%	0	0%
Adam Prentice	FB	5	10%	0	0%	9	28%
Alex Palczewski	T	3	6%	0	0%	4	12%
Tyler Badie	RB	2	4%	0	0%	17	53%
Patrick Surtain II	CB	0	0%	86	100%	5	16%
Riley Moss	CB	0	0%	86	100%	5	16%
Alex Singleton	LB	0	0%	86	100%	0	0%
Talanoa Hufanga	S	0	0%	85	99%	5	16%
Brandon Jones	S	0	0%	81	94%	0	0%
Justin Strnad	LB	0	0%	70	81%	7	22%
Zach Allen	DL	0	0%	69	80%	5	16%
Ja’Quan McMillian	CB	0	0%	60	70%	0	0%
Jonathon Cooper	LB	0	0%	51	59%	1	3%
Nik Bonitto	LB	0	0%	47	55%	8	25%
D.J. Jones	DT	0	0%	39	45%	5	16%
Eyioma Uwazurike	DL	0	0%	38	44%	5	16%
Jonah Elliss	LB	0	0%	37	43%	23	72%
Dondrea Tillman	LB	0	0%	37	43%	11	34%
John Franklin-Myers	DL	0	0%	37	43%	5	16%
Jordan Jackson	DL	0	0%	21	24%	6	19%
Jahdae Barron	CB	0	0%	16	19%	5	16%
Devon Key	DB	0	0%	0	0%	28	88%
JL Skinner	S	0	0%	0	0%	20	62%
Garret Wallow	LB	0	0%	0	0%	18	56%
P.J. Locke	S	0	0%	0	0%	16	50%
Karene Reid	LB	0	0%	0	0%	16	50%
Kris Abrams-Draine	CB	0	0%	0	0%	14	44%
Jeremy Crawshaw	P	0	0%	0	0%	11	34%
Mitchell Fraboni	LS	0	0%	0	0%	11	34%
Wil Lutz	K	0	0%	0	0%	9	28%
Matt Peart	T	0	0%	0	0%	4	12%
Alex Forsyth	C	0	0%	0	0%	4	12%

Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims and Trent Sherfield played 42, 41, 23 and 22 snaps. Pat Bryant only got 13 and was not targetted. Of course, Sherfield was not either, but was on the field for run blocking.

JK Dobbins, RJ Harvey and Tyler Badie played 35, 15 and 3 offensive snaps with FB Adam Prentice only playing 5.

Alex Palczewski played 3 as the 6th offensive lineman.

Lucas Krull, Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins played 22, 19 and 18 snaps – meaning that we only could have run 19 plays with two TEs.

On defense three guys played all 86 snaps – Pat Surtain II, Riley Moss and Alex Singleton. Talanoa Hufanga played all but one snap and Brandon Jones played all but five.

At the other ILB Justin Strnad played 70 snaps.

Other CBs who played on defense were Ja’Quan McMillian (60) and Jahdae Barron (16).

On the DL Zach Allen, DJ Jones, Eyioma Uwazurike, JFM and Jordan Jackson played 69, 39, 38, 37 and 21 snaps. This was a career high in snaps for EU.

At OLB Jonathon Cooper, Nik Bonitto, Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman played 51, 47, 37 and 37 snaps.

Active offensive players who did play on offense are Jarrett Stidham, Matt Peart and Alex Forsyth.

Defensive players who only played on special teams were Devon Key, KAD, JL Skinner, Garret Wallow, PJ Locke, and Karene Reid

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...7/denver-broncos-snap-and-analysis-for-week-3

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos vs Bengals preview: Denver can recalibrate

The Denver Broncos are in major need of a win.

It’s a good thing the Cincinnati Bengals are coming to town sans quarterback Joe Burrow. Yes, the NFL is a week-to-week league, but the Bengals were just flogged 48-10 by the Minnesota Vikings. Obviously, that kind of lopsided outcome this Sunday shouldn’t be expected; however, Denver is the favorite.

The Broncos enter Monday night’s game as -7-point favorites at FanDuel Sportsbook over Cincinnati. The total sits at over/under 43.5 points.

This goes without saying, but Denver will need to walk out of Mile High on Sunday with a win.

Offensive Rankings​

Cincinnati: Thirty-second in total offense (220.7 yards per game), 32nd in rushing offense (49 YPG), 27th in passing offense (171.7 YPG), 24th in scoring offense (19.3 points per game).

Denver: Tied for nineteenth in total offense (302 yards per game), eighth in rushing offense (129 YPG), 25th in passing offense (186 YPG), seventeenth in scoring offense (22.7 points per game).

Defensive Rankings​

Cincinnati: Twenty-fifth in total offense (359.7 yards per game), 21st in rushing defense (119 YPG), 25th in passing defense (240.7 YPG), 26th in scoring defense (30.3 points per game).

Denver: Nineteenth in total defense (327.3 yards per game), 20th in rushing defense (114.7 YPG), 18th in passing defense (212.7 YPG), 16th in scoring defense (21.3 points per game).

Here are the MHR staff’s keys to Monday’s game.

Play a clean game​

As huge favorites and playing a team without its star quarterback, the Broncos don’t need to do Cincy any favors. That means winning the turnover battle, no costly/dumb penalties, or unforced errors. Basically, all of the things that cost Denver in its last two games. The Broncos can also start to establish some positive habits this Sunday that they can improve on for the rest of the season. — Ian St. Clair

Obliterate the Bengals​

This team is in complete disarray without Joe Burrow. I don’t need any one specific key to this game. The Broncos should completely dominate this team from start to finish. It’s a home game and on prime time. I don’t care how it gets done, but they must humiliate and dominate in all phases. Anything less is just an addition to the already many concerns we have with this team. — Tim Lynch

Score more points than Cincy​

They need to revisit what they did in Week 1 and score more points than their opponent. They were doing this in the previous two games, but let the other team score in the final seconds. So it’s simple! Score more points than the Bengals, and we can get back to .500. — Scotty Payne

Finish​

I’m gonna build on Scotty’s point. They have to finish. It’s a sarcastic response to a legitimate question, but it’s the right response. The Broncos have failed to put teams away when they had them on the ropes. That’s a sign of a team that doesn’t know how to win. Up by a score, defense makes a stop, and the offense better outpoints on the board. Third quarter lead and ball in hand, the offense better put points on the board. Finish. — Adam Malnati

What are your keys to Monday’s game?​

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...cos-vs-bengals-preview-denver-can-recalibrate

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos vs. Bengals: Thursday practice participation report

With the Denver Broncos having moved inside linebacker Dre Greenlaw to the short-term injured reserve, their weekly injury report is filled with mostly full participants now. The only limited guy was defensive end John Franklin-Myers. The biggest name on that full participation list is tight end Evan Engram. The intermediate passing game has been completely absent through the first three games and this was an area that Engram was supposed to fill out well for this offense. It would be good to see him get more involved this week.

For the Cincinnati Bengals, two former-Broncos are full participants in running back Samaje Perine and guard Dalton Risner. The other former-Broncos on that list was a non-participant with tight end Noah Fant being held out.

Here is your full practice report for Thursday.

Denver Broncos Injury Report​

Player	Pos.	Injury	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Game Status
Nate Adkins	TE	Foot	FULL
Nik Bonitto	OLB	Wrist	FULL
Evan Engram	TE	Back	FULL
Alex Singleton	ILB	Thumb	FULL
John Franklin-Myers	DE	Hip	LIMITED

Cincinnati Bengals Injury Report​

Player	Pos.	Injury	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Game Status
Samaje Perine	HB	Finger	FULL
Dalton Risner	G	Calf	FULL
Cam Taylor-Britt	CB	Hamstring	LIMITED
Noah Fant	TE	Concussion	DNP
Shemar Stewart	DE	Ankle	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...4/broncos-vs-bengals-thursday-practice-report

 

[Denver Broncos]

Scouting the Enemy: Cincinnati Bengals

Week Four of the 2025 NFL season is upon us. The Denver Broncos host the Cincinnati Bengals for their first primetime game of the season on Monday Night Football. The Broncos are hoping to get back to being a .500 ball club, while the Bengals are hoping to stick atop of the AFC North even without Joe Burrow at quarterback. The stakes are high for both teams, but there is no denying it’s a must-win game for Denver. With that said, let’s take a deeper look at the Bengals, some key players, and what the Broncos have to accomplish to secure a primetime victory.

2024 Cincinnati Bengals Season Review

The Bengals finished their 2024 campaign falling just sort of the playoffs with a 9-8 record and a third-place finish in the AFC North. While their offense was efficient scoring the sixth most points and accumulating the ninth most yards in the NFL, their defense ranked 25th in points allowed and yards given up. In order for them to get back to being a playoff team, they are certainly going to have to do much better than they did defensively in ‘24.

2025 Cincinnati Bengals Offseason Additions

Falling just short of the playoffs, the Bengals didn’t make a whole lot of outside splashes in free agency this offseason. However, they did a good job of rewarding their top players who have helped them be successful in recent memory. They gave mega-deals to receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Most of their outside additions were on the defensive side of the ball.

The same goes for their endeavors in the 2025 NFL Draft, where they used multiple early selections to improve the defense. They are hopeful first-round pick Shemar Stewart can eventually give them a must needed boost to their pass rush, but rookie linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. has already hit the ground running. Through three games, he already has 21 tackles and is making a lot of plays on the ball just like he did in college.

Offensive X-Factor: Quarterback Jake Browning

Last season, I had wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase as the obvious choice here as their offensive X-Factor. He’s certainly their most dynamic playmaker. They are certainly going to need him to perform well in order to topple the Broncos on the road.

However, for this year’s game, I’m going to switch it up and focus on a player that certainly has a lot of work to do. I’m talking about quarterback Jake Browning since Joe Burrow is out due to a foot injury for quite some time Browning’s start on the road in Denver will be the fifteen game of his career and his ninth start. Playing in two games this season, he has completed 68-percent of his passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns. However, he has been prone to throwing interceptions (five) in those two appearances and has a quarterback rating of 67.1.

I don’t envision Browning being able to perform like Burrow did in last year’s matchup. In fact, I think this matchup is pretty favorable for Denver’s defense who has the most sacks in the NFL with 12. Keep in mind, the Bengals’ offense has also struggled to run the ball this year. Chase Brown has only 93 yards on 47 carries. That’s a pitiful 2.0 yards per carry and puts enormous pressure on Browning to have to try and put the game on his shoulders.

The Bengals have some good playmakers on offense. Even so, I’m just not convinced the former Washington product is going to be able to take command of the game in the Mile High City. It would be a huge surprise if that happened, but stranger things have happened.

"I don't think the season's over for the Bengals.. I think Jake Browning is better than maybe a third of the starting quarterbacks in the NFL." — Rich Eisen pic.twitter.com/PXvab4A4tk

— Cincinnati (@CincyProblems) September 15, 2025

Defensive X-Factor: Safety Jordan Battle

For their ’24 matchup I had defensive end Trey Hendrickson as the X-Factor for the Bengals defense. This season, I’ll switch gears here and focus on a member of their secondary who has impressed to start the year. That would be safety Jordan Battle.

The third-year pro finally has come into his own as a full-time starter for the team. So far in his ‘25 campaign, he already has 23 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 2 passes defended. If he keeps it up, Battle will certainly put together a career year at the age of 25-years-old and could cement himself as one of the best up-and-coming defensive backs in the NFL.

Overall, the Bengals pass defense has struggled a bit today, but they are tied for third league-wide with four interceptions. Battle has two of them, and the Broncos can’t afford to let his ball-hawking skills and playmaking range to stifle their passing offense. Bo Nix is going to have to be very cognizant of where he is at all times.

Jordan Battle travels a long way to make this stop pic.twitter.com/ghR2bEU3ey

— mike (@bengals_sans) September 8, 2025

How the Broncos can secure a victory over the Bengals

Over the course of the week, the Mile High Report staff and I have authored several pieces on how the Broncos can emerge victorious on Monday night. This is one of those games that could dictate the aura of the rest of the season. Sitting at 1-2, Denver can’t afford to crater into a 1-3 hole with the potential of the Los Angeles Chargers getting to 4-0. That would be a catastrophic scenario and put their divisional and playoff hopes in jeopardy. If the Broncos can be more efficient on offense and generate some turnovers on defense, I have a feeling they will be able to take care of business. All things considered, I expect the coaching staff to have their players poised to perform at a high level in primetime.

Hart’s Prediction: Broncos 34, Bengals 13.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...ngals-scouting-report-game-preview-nfl-week-4

 

[Denver Broncos]

Thursday Night Football Week 4: Seahawks at Cardinals Open Thread

The Seattle Seahawks are coming off a big win last week. Everything seemed to be firing on all cylinders during their 44-13 blowout win over the New Orleans Saints. However, I think the Arizona Cardinals defense is a bit more impressive. Being at home, I think the Cardinals could give Seattle some problems.

Kickoff is set for Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 6:15 p.m. Mile High time at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona and will air on Prime Video.

My Prediction​

According to FanDuel, the Seahawks are slight road favorites here over Arizona at 1.5-points. I think the Cardinals win straight-up tonight as I am not a big believer in this Seahawks team right now. They’ve had a good start again some inferior opponents and while I’m not all that impressed with the Cardinals either, I’ll give them the nod being at home and under the prime time lights of Thursday Night Football.

Prediction: Cardinals 24, Seahawks 22

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

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/game-day-threads/158698/week-4-seahawks-at-cardinals-tnf

 

[Denver Broncos]

Future Broncos: Finding a playmaker at tight end

In the early installments of Future Broncos, we’ve dove into a handful of prospects on the offensive line, defensive line, and at linebacker. Those were my three biggest preliminary draft needs for Denver leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft. Outside of those three, one could make a strong argument that finding a high-profile prospect at tight end would be in the franchise’s best interest moving forward.

To date, the early returns on free agent addition Evan Engram have been limited. While I’m still optimistic he can become a big part of the offense in 2025, he certainly isn’t a part of the team’s long-term vision at the age of 31—as he signed only a two-year deal. Denver is expected to get second-year tight end Nate Adkins back for their game against the Cincinatti Bengals. I thought the UDFA from last season performed admirable when called upon, but he doesn’t necessarily translate as a legitimate top target at the position.

Keep in mind, veteran Adam Trautman is an unrestricted free agent at year’s end. Additionally, Lucas Krull will be a restricted free agent. Last year’s seventh-round draft selection Caleb Lohner still has a lot of work to do, and his potential shouldn’t preclude Denver from being interested in finding a significant upgrade next April. So, who are some of the top options for the Broncos could consider early on? Let’s discuss a few.

Kenyon Sadiq — Tight End — Oregon

Four-star high school standout Kenyon Sadiq didn’t have to travel far to find his next home to continue his gridiron joruney. The Idaho native trekked Westward a few hundred miles and landed in Eugene, Oregon to become the next big playmaker for Dan Lanning and the Ducks.

As a freshman in 2023, Sadiq saw time in fourteen games serving primarily as a reserve and special teams’ player. He caught only five passes for 24 yards and 1 touchdown. In 2024, Sadiq made some strides in his sophomore year hauling in 24 receptions for 308 yards and 2 touchdowns. His two-touchdown performance against Penn State in the Big Ten Championship game elevated his status in the eyes of talent evaluators and have drawn him first-round grades entering his junior year at Oregon.

At 6’3 and 245 pounds, he possesses similar size to Engram and reminds me a bit of Isaiah Likely who was a standout pass catcher at Coastal Carolina several years ago. The one big difference between them is Sadiq’s tenacity as a run blocker. He’s very active in that regard and a hard-nosed player who has no problems giving it his all to help establish the Ducks’ formidable rushing attack.

Through four games this season, he has 9 catches for 155 yards and 3 touchdowns. That 17.2 yard-per-catch average is one of the best in all of college football. Sadiq plays with great athleticism (4.55 speed), poise, and is a gifted player. There aren’t many holes about his game, but crisping up his routes will bode well for him as he works toward taking his talents to the pros.

Overall, it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he winds up being a Top 20 pick when Spring comes along. He is definitely someone I’d peg in as a potential first-round selection for the Broncos if they opt to go in that direction. You can see Sadiq in primetime this evening when the sixth-ranked Ducks take on the third-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions this evening.

Watch Kenyon Sadiq blocking. pic.twitter.com/Xsy1nVmy1k

— LegalizeQuack (@Legalize_Quack) September 7, 2025

Max Klare — Tight End — Ohio State (via Purdue)

Over the years, the Broncos have added a lot of prospects from Ohio State to their roster. With a long-term need at tight end, don’t be surprised if Denver’s scouting department is keeping close tabs on another draft eligible Buckeye this cycle. That would be senior tight end Max Klare, who is spending his first year in Columbus after three seasons at Purdue.

At 6’4” and 240 pounds, Klare boasts the physical profile you want for an NFL tight end. He isn’t going to burn you with deep speed (4.7 40-yard dash) but is a fluid mover on tape and is a sure-fire winner on seam routes and concepts targeting the middle of the field. I like his toughness and tenacity. He’s extremely hard to bring down after initial contact and generates quality yardage over the catch. He’s a tried-and-true playmaker that can attack all three levels of the defense.

Last year with the Boilmakers, he embarked upon a special junior season notching 51 catches for 685 yards and four touchdowns. He was a big-time threat for them in the redzone during his time there. In three games with the Buckeyes, Klare hasn’t enjoyed the same success adjusting to a new team. He has just 4 catches for 48 yards and 1 touchdown on the year. Nevertheless, I’m definitely not down on him because of that. I’m confident he will be able to turn things around and notch a productive final season in the collegiate ranks.

How he performs the rest of the way out and his medical checkup at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis will play a big role in his draft stock. On top of that, I’d like to see some of that grit he shows after the catch show up in his run blocking, but as usual, most tight ends in college are a work in progress in that department. All things considered, there is no doubt he is an extremely talented player. You can catch him in action this afternoon when the top-ranked Buckeyes take on the Washington Huskies.

Max Klare on scoring his first touchdown as an Ohio State Buckeye:

“It felt great. I mean, I kind of blacked out,” he told @Dan_Hope. “That's probably one of the coolest touchdowns I've ever scored. Just looking up into the helmet stripe, too, it was pretty sweet.” pic.twitter.com/2oltAvw1Td

— Josh Poloha (@JorshP) September 14, 2025

Other Top Prospects to Watch:

The two aforementioned will likely be the first two tight ends off the board next April, but here are several other prospects to keep in mind as the ‘25 college season progresses. All five of these players could find their way into Top 100 consideration if they perform well over the next few months.

• Eli Stowers — Vanderbilt
• Oscar Delp — Georgia
• Jack Velling — Michigan State
• Joe Royer — Cincinnati
• Marlin Klein – Michigan

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denver-broncos-draft/158749/future-broncos-9-27-2025

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos vs. Bengals: Saturday practice participation report

The Denver Broncos and the Cincinnati Bengals released their final injury reports ahead of their Monday Night Football matchup. For the Broncos, they are entering the game fairly healthy, but had one of their explosive playmakers pop up on the injury report. As for the Bengals, they will be their first-round pick pass rusher, and a former Denver Broncos first-round pick for this game.

Good news, veteran tight end Evan Engram practiced fully all week and is good to go for Monday Night’s game vs. the Bengals. The bad news is that explosive wide receiver/returner Marvin Mims Jr. was a late add to the injury report with a hip injury and is questionable for the game. If Mims were to miss this game, look for Troy Franklin to see more reps along with rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant.

As for the Bengals, they will be down explosive rookie pass rusher Shemar Stewart due to an ankle injury, as well as former Denver Broncos tight end Noah Fant, who is dealing with a concussion. Stewart’s absence is a blow to the Bengals’ defense that has had its struggles this season, while Fant being out gives backup quarterback Jake Browning one less weapon to rely on during this game.

With all that said, here is your entire Saturday injury report for the Broncos and Bengals ahead of their week 4 matchup on Monday Night Football.

Denver Broncos Injury Report​

Player	Pos.	Injury	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Game Status
Nate Adkins	TE	Foot	FULL	FULL	FULL
Nik Bonitto	OLB	Wrist	FULL	FULL	FULL
Evan Engram	TE	Back	FULL	FULL	FULL
Alex Singleton	ILB	Thumb	FULL	FULL	FULL
John Franklin-Myers	DE	Hip	LIMITED	FULL	FULL
Marvin Mims Jr.	WR	Hip	– –	– –	LIMITED	QUESTIONABLE

Cincinnati Bengals Injury Report​

Player	Pos.	Injury	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Game Status
Samaje Perine	HB	Finger	FULL	FULL	FULL
Dalton Risner	G	Calf	FULL	FULL	FULL
Cam Taylor-Britt	CB	Hamstring	LIMITED	LIMITED	FULL
Noah Fant	TE	Concussion	DNP	DNP	DNP	OUT
Shemar Stewart	DE	Ankle	DNP	DNP	DNP	OUT

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...engals-saturday-practice-participation-report

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos vs. Bengals: 3 players to watch in Week 4 matchup

The Denver Broncos have their backs against the wall after dropping two straight games to the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers. Monday Night Football’s matchup against the Cincinatti Bengals is a must-win game for them in order to salvage their season and get back on the right track. Here are three players I’m looking for to have better games this week to help Denver get back to being a .500 ball cub.

Luke Wattenberg — Center​

When you take a look around to glance at advanced metrics and analytics, outlets like Pro Football Focus, ESPN, and several others speak highly of the Broncos’ offensive line. That’s especially true with respect to pass blocking ability. However, there is one player who has regressed in that regard to start the season and that’s fourth-year center Luke Wattenberg.

Earlier in the week, our in-house offensive line guru Ross Allen broke down the tape from Wattenberg’s performance against the Chargers. It wasn’t a terrible performance, but his inability to diagnose stunts and deal with unique pressures Jesse Minter was dialing up certainly caused a lot of chaos on the interior protecting Bo Nix. That has also been a common theme in other games this season.

The Bengals’ interior defensive line doesn’t feature the premier players some of Denver’s other opponents had. Given such, that gives me some optimism Wattenberg can have a rebound game and be more consistent in the trenches. They will need him to protect Nix and help jumpstart their heavy zone rushing attack to secure a victory on Monday night.

RJ Harvey — Running Back​

The Broncos have had a lot of success running the ball with J.K. Dobbins on first down when they choose to do so. Overall, on 41 rushing attempts, Dobbins has gained 222 yards (5.4 yards per attempt) and 3 touchdowns. That’s quality production from the veteran who has proved to be a solid addition to their backfield to start the season.

Unfortunately, rookie second-round pick RJ Harvey has had a slow start to his season. Harvey had one explosive run for 50 yards against the Tennessee Titans in Week 1. Unfortunately, on 12 other carries to date, he has only amassed 30 yards. That’s certainly not going to cut it if he wants to play even a complimentary role in the offense. Earlier this week, Head Coach Sean Payton fielded questions on Harvey’s share and role in the offense and what to expect moving forward.

One area Payton mentioned that he hopes Harvey can be featured more is as a receiving option for Nix. On six receiving targets, the former UCF standout has just five catches for 30 yards. During his time with the Golden Knights, Harvey demonstrated he was a terrific outside zone runner and a quality pass catcher out the backfield. With Nix’s penchant for short passes and the screen game, perhaps Harvey’s confidence and production could get a much-needed boost featuring him as a primary outlet option out of the backfield against the Bengals.

Jonathon Cooper — Edge Rusher​

Fourth-year edge rusher Nik Bonitto has had a hot start to his ’25 campaign. Though Broncos Country shouldn’t sleep on how well veteran Jonathon Cooper is playing opposite of him. In fact, after last week’s performance, Cooper now boasts a higher pass rush win-rate than Bonitto. With 10 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks through three games, the former Ohio State standout has continued to build upon his breakout season in ‘24 where he had a career best 10.5 sacks.

In order to help achieve a victory, the Broncos will need Cooper to play at a high level and get after quarterback Jake Browning. Cincinnati’s offensive tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims have struggled a bit this season in pass protection and have given up multiple sacks. I think watching Cooper go up against both of them is a matchup for fans to keep their eye on.

I’d specifically like to see him be aggressive against Mims. His on the field performance to date simply hasn’t matched up with his athleticism or draft profile. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Cooper notch a few sacks under the bright lights on Monday night to keep Denver’s pass rushing attack atop the NFL in sacks.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...als-key-players-matchups-predictions-analysis

 

[Denver Broncos]

Ultimate Fan: No need to overcomplicate this — Broncos just need to play better

The season has not gone as expected but that rarely happens in the NFL, especially for the Broncos. But we do have a home game on prime time Monday Night Football, and that’s usually a recipe for a great game at Mile High.

And OrangeAndBlueFan has given us a fantastic UFG to preview what better be a fantastic outcome.It’s time for Bo Nix and the offense to show they can get in sync while the defense plays lights out for four full quarters.

"It's just electric, the energy that the fans bring."

Broncos look to capitalize on prime-time opportunity in 'Monday Night Football' matchup with Bengals » https://t.co/NsdWMCjiYp pic.twitter.com/B5ZFITRV8p

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 26, 2025

Week 4: Bengals at Broncos on MNF​

MHR – For the second week in a row, the Broncos lost the game more than their opponent won it. Should Broncos Country be worried this is a trend or encouraged that it’s fixable?OrangeAndBlueFan: I’m not worried. I view this as progress. The Broncos carried leads late into the fourth quarter against what appear, so far, to be two of the better teams in the AFC. It didn’t work out in the end, both the Colts and Bolts were able to get timely stops on defense, and then get in range to kick the walk-off field goals, and that is definitely disappointing. But last year this team wasn’t even competitive with playoff-caliber teams. The fact that the Broncos are hanging with them this year, and able to put themselves in position to win the game late, is progress. Obviously, now they need to learn how to finish the job.

MHR – Is a prime-time game at home against a team without its elite QB a “get-right” game for Denver? Any chance they look past Browning and don’t take the Bengals serious enough?
OrangeAndBlueFan: I suppose it’s always a possibility the Broncos could look past the Bengals, especially with the defending champs next up on the schedule, but knowing it’s a Monday Night game with a national audience will likely prevent any “looking past” the opponent at hand. Also, we saw evidence last year that this team really does take it one game at a time and respects all of their opponents. The consistent blow outs of the “lesser” opponents last year tells me they have good leadership in the locker room and they take every opponent seriously. I think the only concern could be underestimating Browning’s ability because of how much he struggled last week. Burrow has been injured a lot, and Browning has typically filled in for him quite respectably. As long as the Broncos give Browning and the Bengals proper respect, I do believe this is a “get right” game.

MHR – The Bengals secondary has been decent so far this season with four interceptions, two by safety Jordan Battle. Bo Nix and his receivers haven’t been enough in sync to be a consistent threat. Will that change on Monday night for the Broncos’ offense?
OrangeAndBlueFan: What gives me optimism is that Payton’s plays have been scheming receivers wide open quite frequently. For reasons I can’t explain, Bo has been missing them way too much. I know there will be guys open down field on Monday night. The question then becomes if Bo can deliver them the ball. Where I feel good about our chances of seeing improvement here is the fact that his misses haven’t been by a lot. If you recall last year, early in the season some of Bo’s misses were pretty wild, and he was still able to get that corrected over the course of the season. His misses have been by inches this year, so I like the chances of him getting on the same page with the receivers.

MHR – JK Dobbins has ended games with pretty good stats, but it never feels like the run game is causing defenses much stress. Is this on Sean Payton for the runs that are drawn up or do the running backs just need to do better? How much of a factor does the run game need to be on Monday night?
OrangeAndBlueFan: I think it’s a bit of a misnomer to say that Payton doesn’t run the ball enough. He calls a lot of screen plays, which is really just an extension of the run game in his offense. If we counted screens as run plays, the run/pass splits would be a lot more in line with what people probably want to see. The problem is, the screen game just isn’t working. And because of that, yes, I would like to see less screens and more Dobbins (and Harvey). And especially in the second half. I don’t have stats off hand to back this up, but it seems to me Payton commits to the run game the first couple drives, and then completely abandons it in the second half. I wouldn’t mind seeing Dobbins get around 10 touches, and Harvey around 5 or so, in the second half alone Monday night, especially if the Broncos are winning like they should be.

MHR – The offensive line has protected Nix quite well, but Dax Hill has been an effective defender in a lot of areas for the Bengals – run stopping, blitzing off the edge and in coverage. Will we be talking about the O-line in a good way after the game on Monday?
OrangeAndBlueFan: I think the offensive line has been excellent as a whole so far this year. The problem has been Bo. He’s holding the ball a fraction too long, waiting to take off and run a fraction too long when things do break down, and even in clean pockets he’s moving himself into pressure (ie, taking three steps up into the pocket instead of one, like on the missed flea flicker to Mims in L.A.).

I have to imagine Davis Webb has had Bo working on this pretty hard this week, and if he can clean this up it will have a cascading affect on the entire offense, including making the line look really good! The Broncos have an elite unit. I hate to say it, but the problems that exist with the offense early in the season stem from Bo just seeming to be slightly off. Like he’s nervous or he’s pressing too much. They’re not massive problems and I have full confidence he’ll get it cleaned up sooner than later, but I think the o line is solid and doing their job.

One of the most important factors in success is decisiveness. Not just in football, but in business, and in relationships. Decisiveness means you’re prepared, you know what to do, and you do it full speed. The Broncos know they need to run the ball more, but instead of calling… pic.twitter.com/qPREtkGDF1

— Karl Mecklenburg CSP, NFL (@KarlMecklenburg) September 26, 2025

MHR – Evan Engram is back at practice. Do you think we might finally see our much hyped “joker” play soon? Can he be a big difference-maker for this offense?
OrangeAndBlueFan: First of all, I’ve never bought into this idea that Evan Engram is a “Joker.” When I think of a Joker, I think of Jimmy Graham in Sean Payton’s offense, or what someone like Tyler Warren could become. Evan Engram is not the caliber of either of those guys. That said, he is a very talented Tight End. Better than any we have had around Broncos Country in quite some time, and his presence on the field will absolutely make a difference. One of Bo’s strengths at Oregon was getting the ball out quickly on short routes in the middle of the field. We haven’t really seen a lot of that in his 21 games in Denver, and I think Engram would really help add that element to the playbook and make this offense much more dynamic.

MHR – The Broncos’ defense started strong against a bad team, then faltered against what has turned out to be an undefeated team and then last week looked strong again until the final two drives. What gives with this?
OrangeAndBlueFan: The other team gets paid, too. Even the ’85 Bears didn’t go undefeated. The Colts have an actual “Joker” in Tyler Warren, and a player like that in the middle of the field has given the Broncos fits seemingly for millennia. And it will continue to give the Broncos fits as long as Greenlaw is unable to get on the field. Last week, the Chargers made plays with their heart when they needed it the most. That touchdown completion to tie the game was insane. There’s absolutely no logical way that should have been a completed pass – the defense was excellent. And yet it was completed and they did tie the game. If we’re going to see some untimely breakdown on defense on Monday, my bet is it will be Moss getting torched by Higgins for a deep touchdown. I think the defense has been really solid, though, outside of the first half in Indy, and I don’t have any reason to think that will change Monday. At the end of the day, we’ve lost two games to two very good teams on walk-off field goals. There are good 1-2 teams and bad 1-2 teams, and I firmly believe the Broncos are one of the good 1-2 teams.

MHR – Jake Browning as the starting QB should be a gold mine for Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper, not to mention Zach Allen and John Franklin Meyers. This defense has 12 sacks, the most in the NFL through three games. How many do they get on Monday?
OrangeAndBlueFan: I do think the pass rush will feast on Monday, but I don’t want to assume anything crazy just because of a backup QB. Because he has been with Cincy for a while now, and Burrow has been injured a lot, we have seen a lot of Jake Browning, and he’s been a really good backup. He did struggle last week quite a bit, but I think it would be a mistake to underestimate him. It’s entirely possible last week totally ruined his confidence and we get a repeat of it. It’s also possible he uses last week as fuel to rise to the occasion and have the best game of his career. More likely, it will be somewhere in the middle – he’s probably not going to serve up three picks, but he might hang onto the ball a tick longer to ensure that, which would be welcome news to Nik Bonitto. So while it’s tempting to go crazy and predict 8 or 9 sacks, I think reality will be we get a lot pressure, but I’ll temper expectations to 5 sacks.

MHR – Ja’Marr Chase is likely to draw Patrick Surtain for the majority of the game, which will leave Tee Higgins against either rookie Jahdae Barron and/or Riley Moss. How much of a problem could Higgins be for his defenders if the edge rushers aren’t causing trouble beforehand?
OrangeAndBlueFan: Ah yes, the Bengals receivers! This is what makes them such a fun team to watch. Ja’Marr Chase vs. PS2 is best in the league vs. best in the league and is must-see-TV. Chase isn’t going to be totally shut down, but I do trust PS2 to do his thing and limit Chase to more pedestrian numbers. Moss on Higgins is my biggest fear because of last year, and the fact that Moss has looked a step behind in coverage numerous times against lesser receivers than Higgins. I believe this is the key matchup of the game. I don’t think Cincy has a realistic shot at winning this game without Higgins putting up massive stats. To your point, the pass rush wrecking the game would go a long way to helping out in that regard.

MHR – The Bengals’ run game hasn’t been great, and the Broncos’ run defense hasn’t been great enough (in my opinion). Who wins that matchup this week?
OrangeAndBlueFan: I have Chase Brown on my primary fantasy team, so I am very aware of how dismal their run game has been to start the year! And I don’t think it gets much better this week. I really do believe this is a “get right” game for the Broncos and Cincy is going to be trailing too much in the game to even consider running the ball much at all. I would say the Broncos front wins this battle by default due to lack of volume. But the Broncos do have a habit of giving up a big run per game, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they do it again Monday. I just don’t think it’s going to have a huge impact on the outcome. My fantasy team certainly wouldn’t mind a 60 yard house call by Brown, as long as it’s in garbage time and Stidham is coming out onto the field afterward.

MHR – Which ONE player on offense and defense has to be an MVP on Sunday for this game to end with a check in the W column?
OrangeAndBlueFan: Let’s not overcomplicate this. Bo needs to be better, and Bonitto needs to get to the QB. If they are our MVP’s, I think this is an easy win.

MHR – What is one word to describe the season so far? For the for this team for the rest of the season?
OrangeAndBlueFan: The season so far: Underwhelming. The rest of the year: Still-hopeful (yes, I’m cheating with the hyphen! Lol)

The Broncos won't see Joe Burrow on Monday night, but the NFL Research team has quite the note on how Bo Nix's and Joe Burrow's stats compare through their first 20 games.

Nix and Burrow are tied for the 10th-most TD passes through a player's first 20 games since 1970. pic.twitter.com/QICVR09btX

— Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) September 27, 2025

Predictions​

Stats for BO NIX? 21 of 31 for 255 yards, 3 TDs, 4 rushes for 36 yards. 2 sacks. 0 turnovers.

Stats for each Broncos RB? Dobbins: 18 carries for 93 yards, 1 TD, 1 reception for 8 yards. Harvey: 11 carries for 42 yards, 2 receptions for 22 yards, 1 receiving TD

Number of yards receiving/TDs for the receivers? Sutton: 8 receptions for 103 yards, 1 TD; Engram: 4 receptions for 48 yards, 1 TD; Franklin: 2 receptions for 17 yards; Mims: 2 receptions for 38 yards; 2 other miscellaneous receptions for 19 yards by some combo of Trautman, Adkins, Bryant or Sherfield (a friend and I have made a drinking game out of “# 63 has reported as eligible,” so I would love to see them actually get Palcho the ball one of these times!)

Longest FG from Lutz this week? 1 for 1, from 46 yards

Number of sacks to Jake Browning? 5

Broncos player with the most tackles? Flip a coin between Hufanga and Singleton. I’ll go Singleton this week.

Who gets the first sack of the game for the Broncos? Let’s go outside the box. Jahdae Barron

Who gets the most sacks? Bonitto 2, and Cooper, Allen and Barron each with 1

How many INTs/FF/FR for the Bengals D? 0/0/0

How many INTs/FF/FR for the Broncos D? Moss gets some revenge with a pick. One of the sacks results in a fumble recovered by the Broncos

How many penalties for the Broncos? It’s a get right game. They clean things up and only commit 5 penalties

How many stupid penalties for the Broncos? Even in a clean game, they still gotta have one boneheaded penalty, right? This is the Broncos we’re talking about.

Final Score? 31 – 10 good guys

Night mode activated pic.twitter.com/qvTD36si0V

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) September 24, 2025

The Favorites ​

Favorite Broncos win ever? Obviously pick a Super Bowl….but outside of that, it’s a toss up between the Tebow to DT OT win over Pittsburgh in the 2011 playoffs (January 2012), or the 2005 playoffs (January 2006) win over Brady and the Pats to knock off the dynasty (that was the first NFL game I ever went to in person, so I’d probably pick that one).

Favorite Peyton Manning win? I know he was physically done by this point and we won because of THAT D!, but it doesn’t get better than an all-time great riding into the sunset with a ring. SB50, all the way. Second place is probably the 2012 MNF comeback against the Chargers to start the winning streak. 3rd place: The Colts 2006 AFCCG win over the Pats (what can I say, first and foremost I’m a Broncos fan, but I’m also just a football fan in general, and that was a great game and I was rooting for Manning and Indy).

Favorite John Elway win? I’ll go with the 98 Super Bowl for the same “riding off into the sunset” reason. But despite my “middle age” status, I wasn’t around as a Broncos fan for the Elway years (see “How You Became A Broncos Fan” section for more info)

Favorite win by any other Broncos QB? Plummer and Tebow were the QBs for my two favorite Broncos wins outside of their Super Bowls.

Team you love to beat the most in the AFC West? In this moment in time, KC. Not taking era into account, Raiders.

Coach you despise most in the NFL? Pete Carroll has always annoyed me. Now that he’s with the Raiders, need I say more?

Team you hate to lose to the most in the rest of the AFC (outside AFC West)? Steelers. Earlier I referenced the 2005 season win in the playoffs over the Pats being the first NFL game I ever attended in person. I also went to the AFCCG the next week against Pittsburgh. I’ve never left a sporting event early in my entire life just because my team was getting blown out, and I wasn’t about to start that night. But by the end of the game it was just me, my friend who I forced to stay because we drove there together, and the 40,000 Steelers fans who took over Mile High. That was brutal and I’ve despised the Steelers ever since.

NFC team you could cheer for in the Super Bowl? Like everyone else has said in these articles, Detroit winning a Super Bowl would be a great story. Beyond the Lions, I’ll catch heat for this in the comments, I’m sure, but I grew up a Cowboys fan, sooooo…… there’s also that.

NFC team you’d want to face more than any other in the Super Bowl? None of the same players and coaches are there obviously, but who wouldn’t like a little revenge against Seattle?

Toughest game remaining on the schedule? Easy this year. Week 5. Philly. The tush push is impossible enough to stop as it is, hopefully the refs can at least figure out how to officiate it correctly by then.

Broncos player on the current roster? He’s the best player in the league on an entire side of the ball, and I wear #2 to every home game, so I gotta go PS2.

Favorite Broncos player of all time not named John Elway? PFM. My son, Peyton, may or may not be named after him.

Favorite new guy/rookie on the team? I play in an IDP fantasy league and have been a big fan of Dre Greenlaw for years. If he had been able to be on the field yet for all of Broncos Country to see what a difference-maker he is, he’d be my easy answer. But since he hasn’t actually suited up as a Bronco yet, I’ll go with Hufanga. Yeah, he contributed to the parade of penalties last week, but he hits hard and clean and is always around the ball. He’s one of those 100% on every play guys who you can’t help but love.

Food/Snack you have to eat on game day? I have season tickets with a friend and we tailgate for a few hours before every home game. We alternate weeks cooking, and do it up right! So it isn’t the same every week, but it’s ALWAYS good eats! He made muffaletta sandwiches for the opener (I was born in New Orleans, where the muffaletta was invented. It’s one of my favorite foods on earth). I’m making a CO classic, pork green chili, for Monday night. This is only our fourth year with tickets, but trying to one-up the previous week with our tailgate food has quickly become a tradition!

Favorite game analyst/commentator? I think Greg Olsen should announce every NFL game. Dude is on point.

Who is on your Broncos Mt. Rushmore? All-time: Elway, Gradishar, TD, Manning. In my era as a Broncos fan (since 2004): Manning, Von, DT, and I’ll go with Champ just barely over PS2 only because PS2 is still fairly early in his career

Give me one word/phrase/cliche to describe your hope for this season.
To be the best you gotta beat the best. It’s no secret we completely dominated the bad teams we played last year, but struggled a bit against the playoff-caliber teams. So far it’s been much the same this year (although we have had excellent opportunity to beat the playoff teams). With the loss of Burrow, Cincy is now one of those bad teams we should easily beat. Assuming we do, can we clean up the discipline on the penalties and can Bo re-find his accuracy and stop missing wide open receivers, and then use this week as a jumping off point for the rest of the season. Because if this team can do those two things, they are absolutely capable of beating anyone. If they can’t do those two things, they are absolutely capable of losing to anyone.

How did you become a Broncos fan? ​

I was an adult before I became a Broncos fan addict. I was born in New Orleans and grew up in Dallas during the Cowboys 90’s dynasty. So I was a Cowboys fan as a kid, and the Saints were my #2. I ended up in Denver for college in 1999, but I was playing on a golf scholarship so my Sundays were always spent either practicing or traveling to tournaments, so I didn’t really follow football for those 4 years.

After college, I stayed in CO and started following football again, but had lost any feeling of loyalty to the teams I grew up rooting for. Colorado was the first place I lived that really felt like home to me, so it felt really natural to start rooting for the Broncos. By the time I attended my first ever NFL game in person – the 2005 playoffs (January 2006) win over the Patriots – I was already a Broncos fan, but that game was basically a life changing experience, and I’ve never looked back since. Getting to be live in that environment for Champ’s 100 yard pick 6 on Brady was the most electric, jaw on the ground, hair standing up on the back of my neck moment I’ve ever experienced.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...plicate-this-broncos-just-need-to-play-better

 

[Denver Broncos]

Good or Bad: Broncos on national display Monday night

For football fans, the offseason was full of delicious preseason Broncos hype. Expecations were that Bo Nix and the offense would take that next explosive step. Surely the dominant defense from last year would only get more ferocious under Vance Joseph’s steady hand, right? The losing ways of the last decade were going to be a thing of the past.

So far, the Broncos everyone expected have yet to show up to the 2025 season have been MIA. At 1-2, the Broncos have been disappointing. From an offense desperate to find any sort of consistency to a defense what has seemingly forgotten how to stop the run, the Broncos are doing a damn good job dispelling all that offseason optimism.

On Monday, the Broncos are hosting the banged-up Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. What version of the Broncos are they going to show the world? Is it going to be the penalty-heavy, sluggish, soft, Broncos that allows running backs to carve them up, or have the Broncos found that sense of Mile High pride to change the early narrative?

In the end, optimistic prognostication doesn’t count for diddly squat once the season starts. The games will be played and the Broncos are going to show the world exactly who they are. Are they a team that can take care of business versus a team missing their starting quarterback or are they a team that will play down to the opposition, doing just enough to lose the game in heart-breaking fashion. Last-second field goal, anyone?

Monday Night Football is mere hours away and we are fixin’ to find out.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...-bad-broncos-on-national-display-monday-night