RSS Broncos Team Notes

[Denver Broncos]

NFL Playoff Picture: Denver Broncos are the number 2 seed in the AFC

While the Denver Broncos were enjoying their BYE week and still riding high on their big win over the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday, there were some developments in the AFC playoff picture. Unfortunately, the Broncos’ reign as the number one seed in the AFC lasted just one week due to the New England Patriots improving to 10-2 with a victory over the Bengals. However, the Broncos are the 2 seed due to the Colts blowing a 4th quarter lead to the Chiefs and falling to them overtime.

Broncos are now the #2 seed in the AFC with the Patriots winning and the Colts losing pic.twitter.com/00487UVJq3

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) November 24, 2025

We also had a change in the AFC North with the Ravens jumping the Steelers as the division winner, while the Texans and Chiefs keep their postseason hopes alive with big wins.

With all that said, let us take a look at the playoff picture in the AFC and how things may shake out as we head into the Thanksgiving holiday.

Division Leaders​

1. New England Patriots (10-2)​

With a win over the Bengals, the Patriots are the first team in the NFL to reach 10 wins, and for now at least, jumped the Broncos in the AFC standings as the number one seed.

Second-year quarterback Drake Maye is playing at a high level, their defense is playing well, and Head Coach Mike Vrabel has this team playing good football. On top of that, they have a favorable schedule and have been taking care of business all season, and now are one of the favorites to be the number one seed in the AFC for the playoffs.

Next up for the Patriots is a two-win Giants team before their much-needed BYE, followed by two big games vs. the Bills and at the Ravens, before finishing up their year against the Jets and Dolphins. How they handle the Bills and Ravens may decide how the top of the AFC shakes out at the end of the season.

Remaining Games: vs. Giants, BYE, vs. Bills, at Ravens, at Jets, and vs. Dolphins

2. Denver Broncos (9-2)​

The Broncos players, coaches, and fan base were riding high this week after their big win vs. the Chiefs last Sunday and were enjoying their time off this week before their second-half postseason run. As I mentioned prior, they did fall from the 1 seed to the 2 seed due to the Patriots winning, but are still very much in the conversation.

Coming out of the bye, they should be getting back All-Pro and reigning Defensive Player of the Year cornerback Patrick Surtain II, along with linebacker Alex Singleton, tight end Nate Adkins, and hopefully, edge rusher Jonah Elliss. These additions will help an already elite defense while giving the offense a key blocking specialist back.

They have back-to-back road games vs. the Commanders and Raiders, followed by back-to-back home games vs. the Packers and Jaguars. After that, they have a Christmas Night game vs. the Chiefs and finish out the year with a game vs. the Chargers. It won’t be an easy road ahead, but the Broncos should be favored and competitive in all their remaining games and have a good shot at being the number one seed in the AFC.

Remaining Games: at Commanders, at Raiders, vs. Packers, vs. Jaguars, at Chiefs (Christmas Night), and vs. Chargers

3. Indianapolis Colts (8-3)​

The Colts looked set to beat the Chiefs in Arrowhead and end their postseason hopes, but they blew a two-score 4th quarter lead and lost in overtime. They had a 20-9 lead in the 4th quarter and had multiple chances to put the game away, but blew it. The offense failed to do much at all while the defense gave up multiple big chunks to Patrick Mahomes and allowed him to lead a classic comeback to beat them in overtime.

With a win, they would have moved back to the number one seed, but a loss knocked them to the 3 seed. On top of that, they fell a game closer to the Jaguars and Texans, who both won this week and have two games each upcoming with the Colts. It’s safe to say that the AFC South is far from decided despite the Colts’ hot start.

I say this because the Colts started a brutal stretch of games this week, starting in Arrowhead, that includes two vs. the Jaguars, two vs. the Texans, a road game vs. the Seahawks, and hosting the 49ers. This loss, added with their brutal stretch of games, likely knocks them out of the running for the number one seed in the AFC, and we could even see them lose their division lead.

Remaining Games: vs. Texans, at Jags, at Seattle, vs. Niners, vs. Jags, and at Texans

4. Baltimore Ravens (6-5)​

Welcome to the party, Baltimore!

After starting the year 1-5, the Ravens have now won 5 straight games, including a win over the Jets this past week, and found themselves back at the top of the AFC North. The return of Lamar Jackson sparked this 5-game win streak, and they now appear to be the favorites in the AFC North.

While the Steelers are free-falling and dealing with injuries to quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Ravens are ascending, and now, both teams sit at 6-5 at the top of the AFC North. This is a division race that is likely far from over and one that could be decided during the regular season finale when the Ravens will travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers.

With that said, the road ahead will not be easy for the Ravens. They will host the return of Joe Burrow and the Bengals on Thanksgiving Night before a home game vs. the rival Steelers. After that, they face Burrow and the Bengals again on the road, host Drake Maye and the Patriots, before back-to-back road games vs. the Packers and Steelers.

This division race is far from over.

Remaining Games: vs. Bengals, vs. Steelers, at Bengals, vs. Patriots, at Packers, and at Steelers

Wildcard Teams​

5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)​

Last week, the Chargers were blown out by the Jaguars and had an extra week to think about it due to being on their BYE this past week. Despite this, they saw themselves move up from the 6th seed to the 5th seed in the AFC thanks to the Bills losing on Thursday Night.

The Chargers have dealt with their typical injuries this season and now have lost both starting tackles for the year. This has led to quarterback Justin Herbert being pressured and hot constantly, and was a big reason why they were blown out vs. the Jaguars. They should be getting back rookie Omarion Hampton, but we’ll see if they can overcome these injuries to two key players on their offensive line.

Coming out of the BYE, they will host the struggling Raiders before they start a brutal stretch of games they will decide if they make the postseason or not. After the Raiders, they will host the Eagles, then have back-to-back road games vs. the Chiefs and Cowboys, a home game vs. the Texans, before finishing out the year on the road vs. the Broncos.

Good Luck.

Remaining Games: vs. Raiders, vs. Eagles, at Chiefs, at Cowboys, vs. Texans, and at Broncos

6. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4)​

The Jags followed their blowout victory over the Chargers with an overtime victory over the Cardinals. The scrappy Jaguars are now just a game back of the Colts, a team they still have to place twice, and have a real shot at winning the AFC South.

Head Coach Liam Coen has this team playing good football right now while leaning on quarterback Trevor Lawrence, a strong run game, and a good defense. They have big wins over the Chargers and Chiefs and have their eyes set on the Colts and the AFC South division title.

Next week, they have a road game vs. the Titans, followed by a key home game vs. the division-leading Colts. After that, they host the Jets, have key road games vs. the Broncos and Colts before ending the year vs. the Titans.

Remaining Games: at Titans, vs. Colts, vs. Jets, at Broncos, at Colts, and vs. Titans

7. Buffalo Bills (7-4)​

The Bills are coming off a tough Thursday Night loss to the Texans and don’t look like the Super Bowl contenders that we are used to seeing. Quarterback Josh Allen is great, but his lack of playmakers and a defense decimated by injuries has the Bills on the verge of being out of the playoffs.

Their hopes of winning the AFC East are slim right now, and they have the Texans, Steelers, and Chiefs on their backs looking to jump them for the final playoff spot. They’ll need Allen to carry them to a postseason berth and hope their defense and playmakers can step up enough during these final six games of the season.

Things don’t get easier for the Bills as they will travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers in a game that will have some important postseason stakes on the line. After that, they host Joe Burrow and the Bengals, have a key road game vs. the Patriots, face the Browns on the road, and then finish out the year with home games vs. the Eagles and Jets.

Remaining Games: at Pittsburgh, vs. Bengals, at Patriots, at Browns, vs. Eagles, and vs. Jets

The Rest​

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5): With Aaron Rodgers sidelined, backup Mason Rudolph struggled to get much going vs. the Bears and failed to lead a 4th quarter comeback. Now, they fell from the 4 seed all the way to the 8 seed and out of the playoffs due to the Ravens winning. The AFC North race is far from over, but they first have a big game vs. the Bills this Sunday, which could be a bit of a “must-win” for them.

9. Houston Texans (6-5): Despite being down quarterback C.J. Stroud, the Texans have won three straight games and are just two games back of the Colts in the AFC South. They have an elite defense and should be getting back Stroud this coming week and figure to make some noise in the AFC before all is settled. They play the Colts twice and face the Chiefs and Chargers on the road. If they want to make the playoffs, they’ll need to win these games.

10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-5): They were down 20-9 in the 4th quarter to the Colts, and things were looking bleak. However, the Colts choked the game away, and Patrick Mahomes led one of his signature comebacks to keep the Chiefs’ postseason hopes alive. Despite that, they fell a spot in the standings and are currently the 10th seed in the AFC and are coming up on a short week. They will face the Cowboys on Thanksgiving in what figures to be another must-win game for them, followed by games vs. the Chargers and Texans. They have little room for error, but if they can go on a bit of a winning streak here, they probably find themselves back in the postseason conversation.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...chargers-jaguars-bills-steelers-texans-chiefs

 

[Denver Broncos]

Monday Night Football Week 12: Panthers at 49ers Live Discussion

Most would have assumed an easy win for the San Francisco 49ers in this game about two months ago, but the Carolina Panthers have come on strong after a horrible start to the season. They were 1-3 then, but have won five of their last seven games and are playing some good football. Meanwhile, the 49ers can’t seem to figure things out and are .500 over their last eight games.

Kickoff is set for Monday, November 24, 2025 at 6:15 p.m. Mile High time at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California and will air on ESPN/ABC.

My Prediction​

According to FanDuel, the 49ers are huge 7.5-point favorites over the Panthers in this game. While I think they will find a way to win, I do not think they are touchdown favorites in any game right now with the amount of injuries they’ve had to deal with. The Panthers defense is playing very well, so I expect a closer type game. I do think the 49ers win, though.

Prediction: 49ers 24, Panthers 19.

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

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv.../164503/mnf-panthers-at-49ers-live-discussion

 

[Denver Broncos]

LB Alex Singleton is expected back on the practice field tomorrow and hopes to play Sunday Night vs. Commanders

We have some great news regarding linebacker Alex Singleton.

According to 9NEWS Denver’s Mike Klis, linebacker Alex Singleton is expected back on the practice field tomorrow, and the hope is that he will be able to play Sunday Night vs. the Commanders. While his status remains TBD at this point and time, this is encouraging news after he revealed a cancer diagnosis after the Broncos’ Thursday Night victory over the Raiders.

Singleton also appeared on Good Morning America this morning and revealed that his pathology results came back cancer-free and that he is expected back at practice this week.

Great news all around for Singleton and his family.

Source: ILB Alex Singleton is expected back on #Broncos practice field tomorrow, just 19 days from surgery to remove cancerous tumor. Even after missing the Chiefs' game, Singleton still team's leading tackler with 89. Playing Sunday at Washington is the hope, but TBD.

— MikeKlis9NEWS (@mikeklis9news) November 25, 2025

Singleton played through that Thursday Night contest, knowing about the cancer diagnosis and that he needed to have surgery in the coming days. Thankfully, the surgery was successful, and he is now cancer-free and able to return to the team and practice after missing just one game. While his status is TBD at this point, I would anticipate that we’ll see him actively participate in practice this week and likely be good to go for Sunday Night’s game vs. the Commanders.

The Broncos are coming off a big victory at home vs. the Chiefs, sit at 9-2 on the year, are currently the number two seed in the AFC, and are getting back a beloved team captain who just beat cancer. Singleton’s clean bill of health and return to the field could ignite a second-half run by the Broncos’ defense that could carry them to the number 1 seed in the AFC and hopefully, a deep postseason run that ends with them hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

That would be a storybook ending for Singleton and this 2025 Denver Broncos team.

While Singleton was sidelined, Justin Strnad stepped up and played well vs. the Chiefs, and his return, along with a healthy Dre Greenlaw, gives the Broncos a good group of linebackers for a defense playing at a high level. They could also be getting back the reigning DPOY, All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II back from injury as well.

This Broncos defense has played at an elite level while being without key members like PS2, Dre Greenlaw, and Alex Singleton. Now, the Broncos may have all 3 back coming out of a week off, where they were able to get healthy and fresh for a deep postseason run.

Good luck to the rest of the NFL.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...ngleton-cancer-practice-return-commanders-gma

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos sign center Luke Wattenberg to a four-year, $48 million dollar deal

According to multiple reports, including NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the Denver Broncos signed center Luke Wattenberg to a four-year, $48 million dollar extension that includes $27 million in guaranteed money.

The Broncos are signing Luke Wattenberg to a four-year, $48 million extension, including $27M guaranteed, per source.

Brian McLaughlin of @VaynerSports negotiated the deal, which puts Wattenberg among the NFL’s highest paid centers.

pic.twitter.com/RuxlUSO4Rf

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 26, 2025

After signing kicker Wil Lutz to a three-year contract extension earlier in the week, Head Coach Sean Payton told reporters that the team talked to a few other players about potential deals. It was later reported that those two players were center Luke Wattenberg and defensive lineman Malcolm Roach.

Apparently, those talks went well as Wattenberg has agreed to a new four-year extension with the Broncos.

Wattenberg is a former 5th-round selection by the Broncos in the 2022 NFL Draft and has become a consistent part of their offensive line. Over four seasons, he has appeared in 47 games for the Broncos, including 25 starts. He won the Broncos’ starting center competition last summer and has been quarterback Bo Nix’s center the past two seasons. While he may not be the best center in the NFL, Wattenberg has been solid overall and is a key part of the Broncos’ current top-ranked unit. It would make sense for the Broncos to keep him around.

I’m personally a fan of this deal. Continuity is important, and something this team lacked along the offensive line prior to Sean Payton joining the team. Now, the Broncos have the same starting five offensive linemen locked up for a third straight season. That’s even more important when this offensive line is regarded as one of the best units in the NFL.

If the Broncos let Wattenberg walk, they would have had a hard time finding a viable replacement. The free agent market looked thin, and it would be risky to head into this draft looking for a day-one-ready starter in this draft class.

On top of that, the Broncos now have one less major hole to address this upcoming offseason. Now, Wattenberg joins a growing list of players to receive extensions that includes Pat Surtain II, Nik Bonitto, Courtland Sutton, Zach Allen, Jonathon Cooper, Garett Bolles, Quinn Meinerz, Wil Lutz, and others.

The Broncos are locking up their own and keeping the core of this team intact. This is what the well-run and successful organizations do, which allows them to have prolonged success, and I am thankful that the Broncos are following this philosophy.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...tenberg-to-a-four-year-48-million-dollar-deal

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos at Commanders preview: Denver looks to keep rolling

The Denver Broncos finally got the chance to enjoy the bye week.

After seven games in 39 days, and winning all seven, the Broncos received a mini-bye before hosting and beating the Kansas City Chiefs. Now, coming off the full bye week, Denver is hopefully fully recharged and about to get some players back from injury. For those keeping track at home, the Broncos (9-2) have played just one game in the last 23 days.

Up next for Denver is the host Washington Commanders (3-8) on Sunday Night Football.

FanDuel Sportsbook currently lists the Broncos as 6.5-point favorites. The total sits at over/under 43.5 points.

Offensive Rankings​

Denver: Fourteenth in total offense (335.3 yards per game), 10th in rushing offense (122.3 YPG), 17th in passing offense (213.0 YPG), tied for 15th in scoring offense (23.4 points per game).

Washington: Seventeenth in total offense (330.2 yards per game), fifth in rushing offense (138.5 YPG), 24th in passing offense (191.6 YPG), 23rd in scoring offense (21.5 points per game).

Defensive Rankings​

Denver: Third in total defense (274.4 yards per game), third in rushing defense (88.5 YPG), sixth in passing defense (185.8 YPG), third in scoring defense (17.5 points per game).

Washington: thirty-first in total defense (387.0 yards per game), 27th in rushing defense (137.5 YPG), 29th in passing defense (249.5 YPG), 28th in scoring defense (26.9 points per game).

Here are the MHR staff’s keys to Sunday night’s game.

No bye-week lag​

The Broncos are on an eight-game winning streak. They sit atop the AFC West standings and are poised to win their first division title since 2015. They’re also in contention for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. None of that matters. What matters is ensuring Denver plays its best, and everyone does their job on Sunday night. No looking past the Commanders due to their 3-8 record. Take the game seriously and don’t have a bye-week lag. The Broncos should aim to play their best game to date. — Ian St. Clair

Run, run, run​

Washington has the sixth-worst run defense in the league, giving up an average of 137.5 yards per game. This would be a great week to see what kind of offense you can run with RJ Harvey at the forefront of things. Hopefully, with this kind of defense, Payton can test out different looks that he thinks would be ideal for a guy like Harvey. Or maybe some more sets with both him and Jaleel McLaughlin or Marvin Mims in the backfield. Heck, I want to see if Adam Prentice can manage two or three yards a carry on short-distance downs. And what better way to get the offense back in a rhythm after the bye than to pound that rock? — Ross Allen

Dial up the heat on Marcus Mariota​

Coming off their bye week, the Broncos should be well-rested and prepared to execute at a high level. Jayden Daniels isn’t expected to play, which means Marcus Mariota will take the reins of their offense once again. In the five games he has seen significant playing time, he is averaging a turnover a game. I’d like to see the Broncos’ pass rush rattle Mariota and help deliver some turnovers that can give Denver’s offense a chance to get points on the board. — Christopher Hart

Get Bo Nix started early​

Find a way to help Nix find success early and then build on that throughout the game. The knock on Nix has been the slow starts, but the Commanders could be the remedy to that. — Adam Malnati

Get Marvin Mims involved in the offense​

Mims is just too explosive to have him making those big plays on special teams. Get him involved on offense and start putting some stress on these pass defenses. — Tim Lynch

What are your keys to Sunday’s game?​

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...mmanders-preview-denver-looks-to-keep-rolling

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos vs. Commanders: Wednesday practice participation report

After a nice long bye, the Denver Broncos are back for the final six games of the regular season. They are locked in a major battle for the number one seed in the AFC and must keep winning despite having a 9-2 record. They will catch the Washington Commanders without their start quarterback and riddled with injuries to boot, while Denver is getting most of their missing starters back for this one.

“I think we felt—and we didn’t get into it, but I think we felt realistically when we… Obviously the scans and all of that were important,” Payton said. “When those came back positive, the relief for Alex [Singleton], never mind the football player. That news came prior to the bye week. We felt confident with him and Pat [Surtain II] and a few of these guys that we’ve been without that this was a target game.”

Coming out of the bye at near full strength is all a fan can ask for. They have two very winnable games this week and next week and after that it becomes very challenging, so they need to take care of business here in Week 13.

Here is your full practice report for Wednesday.

Denver Broncos Injury Report​

Player	Pos.	Injury	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Game Status
Pat Bryant	WR	Shoulder	FULL
Jonathon Cooper	OLB	Thumb	FULL
Alex Singleton	ILB	Illness	FULL
Jonah Elliss	OLB	Hamstring	LIMITED
Pat Surtain II	CB	Pectoral	LIMITED
Nate Adkins	TE	Knee	DNP

Washington Commanders Injury Report​

Player	Pos.	Injury	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Game Status
Will Harris	S	Ankle	FULL
Drake Jackson	DE	Knee	FULL
Ale Kaho	LB	Concussion	FULL
Ben Sinnott	TE	Ankle	FULL
Noah Brown	WR	Groin / Knee	LIMITED
Treylon Burks	WR	Finger	LIMITED
Jayden Daniels	QB	Elbow (Left)	LIMITED
Jaylin Lane	WR	Hip	LIMITED
Frankie Luvu	LB	Shoulder	LIMITED
Terry McLaurin	WR	Quad	LIMITED
Zach Ertz	TE	NIR – Rest	DNP
Von Miller	OLB	NIR – Rest	DNP
Tyler Ott	LS	Illness	DNP
Chris Rodriguez Jr.	RB	Illness	DNP
Laremy Tunsil	T	NIR – Rest	DNP

BOLD – Indicates change in status; NIR- Indicates not injury related; *- Team conducted a walk-through / report is an estimation
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...oncos-vs-commanders-wednesday-practice-report

 

[Denver Broncos]

Thanksgiving Day Football Week 13: Packers at Lions Live Discussion

We’ve got some massive football games this Thanksgiving Day and that isn’t always the case historically. First up is an NFC North battle for second place — thanks to the red hot Chicago Bears — with the 7-3-1 Green Bay Packers on the road to take on the 7-4 Detroit Lions. The winner will at least keep pace with the Bears who have their own dogfight on Friday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Kickoff is set for Thursday, November 27, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Mile High time at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan and will air on FOX.

My Prediction​

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According to FanDuel, the Lions are slight 2.5-point favorites over the Packers. Detroit has been inconsistent in recent weeks winning just three of their last six games and those wins are almost entirely behind the legs of Jahmyr Gibbs. In those wins, he had 219, 142, and 136 yards rushing. In those losses, he had 65, 25, and 39 yards rushing. That one-dimensional aspect is a limiting factor and I think the Packers find a way to limit the damage Gibbs brings to the table. With that belief, I think Jordan Love is far superior of a quarterback to Jared Goff, so I’ll be taking a Packers win today.

Prediction: Packers 26, Lions 22.

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

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...43/thanksgiving-day-football-packers-vs-lions

 

[Denver Broncos]

Thanksgiving Day Football Week 13: Bengals at Ravens Live Discussion

On paper, this matchup is the worth of the Thanksgiving Day bunch, but with the return of Joe Burrow it makes the game a little more interesting. At 3-8, the Cincinnati Bengals season is over, but they can still do some damage to the 6-5 Baltimore Ravens who are fighting to stay in the AFC playoff mix with six games to go.

Kickoff is set for Thursday, November 27, 2025 at 6:20 p.m. Mile High time at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland and will air on NBC.

My Prediction​

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According to FanDuel, the Ravens are huge 7-point favorites over the Bengals even with Burrow returning to the lineup. The Ravens have won four-straight games against Cincy, but the caveat there is that three of those four were won by three points or less. If I were to bet on this game, I would probably take the under based on that history and the hype of Burrow returning to the lineup. However, I still think the Ravens find a way to come out on top at home.

Prediction: Ravens 33, Bengals 30.

Our live discussion is in the comments section below. Discuss the games action there!​

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...3/thanksgiving-day-football-bengals-vs-ravens

 

[Denver Broncos]

Friday Football Week 13: Bears at Eagles Live Discussion

The NFL got quite a good slate of games on Thanksgiving. That isn’t always the case, so to see three really fun games on that day was a real treat… though not sure about the Ravens-Bengals game as I was in a food coma for a big chunk of it. That said, we should get another treat today on Black Friday between the 8-3 Chicago Bears and the 8-3 Philadelphia Eagles. The two NFC contenders should give us a pretty good game.

Kickoff is set for Friday, November 28, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. Mile High time at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and will air on Amazon Prime.

My Prediction​

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According to FanDuel, the Eagles are massive 7-point favorites over the Bears. Could the Eagles win? Sure. However, the Bears are one of the hottest teams in the league and riding high with a ton of confidence. I’m not believing that the Eagles are going to waltz in and win by a touchdown here today. They are playing in a lot of close football games too, so I’d definitely lean on the under and I would not be surprised at all if the Bears come out with a win today.

The only caveat and why I am taking the Eagles here is that the Bears haven’t really been beating great football teams. The only team they have beaten with a winning record when they beat them was the Steelers and they have dropped four of their last six games. The real answer we’ll find out today is whether or not this Bears team is legit or a paper tiger.

Prediction: Eagles 19, Bears 15.

Our live discussion is in the comments section below. Discuss the games action there!​

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denver-broncos-discussion/164666/friday-football-bears-vs-eagles

 

[Denver Broncos]

2025, Week 13: Broncos at Commanders – Everything we know

The Denver Broncos (9-2) will come out of their bye week on the road and in prime time on Sunday Night Football to take on the Washington Commanders (3-8). The AFC is pretty tight at the top, so the Broncos must keep the win streak going to keep pace and challenge for that one seed and all-important homefield advantage. They cannot afford to drop a game to the Commanders.

Kickoff is set for 6:20 p.m. Mile High time on Sunday, November 30, 2025 at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. You can watch the live stream of the game through FuboTV or on NBC. The game will be called by Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst), and Melissa Stark (sideline). You can also check local Broncos radio network affiliate stations.

• Broncos at Commanders 5 questions: How much of a shock is this season?
• Broncos vs. Commanders: Friday practice participation report
• Scouting the Enemy: Washington Commanders
• 2025 NFL Week 13: Hart’s Picks
• Happy Thanksgiving, Broncos Country!
• Broncos vs. Commanders: Wednesday practice participation report
• Broncos sign DT Malcolm Roach to a three-year contract extension
• Broncos at Commanders preview: Denver looks to keep rolling
• Horse Tracks: three areas of focus for the Broncos final stretch of games
• Broncos sign center Luke Wattenberg to a four-year, $48 million dollar deal
• Week 13 Poll: Are the Broncos trending up this week?
• LB Alex Singleton is expected back on the practice field tomorrow and hopes to play Sunday Night vs. Commanders
• Broncos had preliminary contract talks with Luke Wattenberg and Malcolm Roach
• NFL Playoff Picture: Denver Broncos are the number 2 seed in the AFC
• Broncos poised to make noise as race to the playoffs intensifies

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...5/broncos-vs-commanders-full-coverage-week-13

 

[Denver Broncos]

Ultimate Fan: Broncos should dominate in DC

After days and days of football but no Broncos games, it feels like forever since we’ve gotten to watch our favorite team. But absence makes the heart grow fonder, so what a way to finish out the Thanksgiving Weekend than the team in Orange and Blue getting to entertain us once again. And while this matchup should not be the tough competition it seemed it would be at the start of the season, it still serves as the perfect tool-sharpening game for Bo Nix and the offense, a chance to pad those sack stats for the defense and a great time to get Pat Surtain back into game shape. All before the playoffs push.

I am going to this game and praying the rain does not fall but rather Broncos touchdowns come raining down. Thanks drtacp for giving us a fantabulous UFG we’ve come to expect each week. Just another perquisite (you all will get this later) for being a Broncos fan on MHR!

Fit for prime time #ProBowlVote + @DreGreenlaw pic.twitter.com/vUEXeGEoAS

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 29, 2025

Week 13: Broncos at Commanders​

MHR – Broncos are 9-2, coming off a win over the Chiefs and sitting alone atop the AFC West, and just had a rest week before the final 5-game push to finish the season. How good is life for a Broncos fan right now?
drtacp: Life as a Broncos fan is great! 7 wins vs. 39 days! Glorious indeed. I retired in July from a company of 200 employees locally with about a dozen Chefs fans and and a half dozen Broncos fans. I emailed the fans after the win vs. KC. I have young neighbors across the street who gave birth to their first child early November and who are transplants from Denver. I had been flying a blue Broncos flag on gamedays for the last 10 years. He now flies it as I bought a new orange Broncos flag a couple of weeks ago. Being this week’s UFG respondent has me stoked as well.

MHR – When the schedule came out this matchup looked to be a blockbuster between two sophomore QBs who played above their expected pay grade last year and got their teams to the playoffs for the first time in a while. It’s no longer looking like that kind of competitive contest, so what do the Broncos need to do to take this seriously and not overlook the Commanders just because they aren’t the team we all expected.
drtacp: There has been truth to those who say this team has played down to their competition this season. I too am disappointed that Jayden Daniels is out for this game; shout out to Koy Light. This game is firmly in Denver’s hand even if we go for that almost trademark slow start many fans dread. I have no doubt that we will win convincingly, and it will not require heroics but full team effort humming in sync. I think this could be a beautiful win to witness. The win over KC was a beautiful win.

MHR – When you listen to Sean Payton talk about an upcoming opponent or situational football, he loves to bring up analytics, and it’s clear he looks at the numbers almost as much as he watches film. Do you like that approach to game management? Would you prefer a more specific “football IQ” type of strategy or do you like how the “Moneyball” game is evolving in the NFL?
drtacp: I love analytics but they can be skewed. When I was in college, it was military driven scenarios being mathematically modeled called operations research. An example of the skewing is for teams not utilizing the 2-point conversion. The more a team uses 2 point conversions, the better they are at then. To not use it until the score requires two points, leaves the likelihood of actually making it greatly diminished. Therefore the analytics falsely report that not going for two points every time after a touchdown is not optimal. Always going for two will always result in more point conversions overall if you are good at going for two. And the only way to become good at going for two is to always do it. I honestly believe that Sean Payton has a 99.9%ile football IQ and is also smart enough to supplement that with moneyball statistics. Thanks for a great Q. Bonus! Party On!

MHR – RJ Harvey, Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie are the running backs the Broncos are going to have to run with (pun intended). While the Commanders run defense started the season strong, it has recently struggled, allowing an average of 5.3 yards per carry in recent weeks. Is this the week, RJ Harvey or Jaleel McLaughlin gets 100 yards? Can the RB room pick up their game to give Denver a rushing attack that can really complement the offense moving forward and into the postseason?
drtacp: Harvey has the tree trunk legs and the will to break tackles but so far he has too often lacked the vision that he needs in order to become a premier running back. The rest of the RBs rely on not being seen more than their ability to plow. Running back by committee is our only hope for over 100 yards rushing without JK Dobbins. The possible exception is if Harvey’s NFL running lane vision switch gets turned on this week. It will happen some week, but we just cannot expect it until after the fact.

MHR – The Broncos’ offense has struggled to start fast, yet it seems to be a goal of the offense every week. What is the breakdown there – is it just good defenses? Is it a poor choice of the “first 15 plays?” Is it anxious playing by Bo and the offense? Is this a good week to get over that?
drtacp: Sean Payton has a vision for Bo Nix that Bo has yet to achieve. There is no better time in the game than early on to allow Sean to do his moulding of his soon to be top 5 QB. That is my honest consideration of the early game miscues on offense. Think about if all those missed by inches throws to the receivers were actually made! It would be wonderful if Bo responded to all of Payton’s moulding this week, but I do not expect him to be a finished product this regular season. Payton will wait until the playoffs before he lets Bo truly be Bo.

MHR – On the Black Friday Game Day broadcast, Richard Sherman picked Bo Nix as his “player who needs to heat up” the rest of the season, and his rationale was that if the Broncos are going to keep winning, Nix has to be consistently good the rest of the way. Do you agree Nix is the key?
drtacp: Yes, resounding yes. I will reserve my opinion of Richard (aptly named) and focus on how Sean Payton has bridled Bo Nix to becoming entrenched as a pocket passer even when Bo’s instincts and natural ability lean toward Lamar Jackson type of wheels. I predict that Sean Payton will unleash Bo Nix only as needed to win for each and every regular season game. When Denver goes to the playoffs as the No. 1 seed, Sean Payton and Bo Nix will unleash what Sherman thinks needs to happen sooner. I truly think that Sean Payton is an orchestra leader maestro regarding Bo Nix’s development as a top 5 QB in the NFL.

MHR – Since the KC game, the Broncos have agreed to contract extensions for three players – Malcolm Roach, Luke Wattenburg and Wil Lutz. How much easier is it for the team to get these done when it’s a winning franchise? And how does that play into the team chemistry and locker room culture when players are extended mid-season?
drtacp: These signings point to the finest ownership and front office/coaching personnel in the entire NFL. Most obviously the players signed and the rest of the locker room are keenly aware. But don’t you feel that there is a ripple effect that resonates throughout the NFL for players to notice how much better it is to be a player for the Broncos than for every other team. The contrast between the Ellis/Trust and the Walton/Penner ownership is reflected by the onfield performance of this team. THIS 2025 team is only 6 points away from a perfect record. There are probably many players beyond what our coaches would consider hiring that would desire to play for the Denver Broncos.

MHR – Which player is your sleeper on offense this week for the Broncos?
drtacp: Well we are counting upon Harvey to be the man, so that discounts him as sleeper. Similarly Evan Engram will be in demand. The offensive sleeper may actually be a blocker such as Humphrey or Trautman or Throckmorton or Prentice. My wildest wish is for the sleeper to be Franklin. He has missed more than anyone’s share of catches by inches.

New #BroncosIn60: Ahead of SNF, CB Pat Surtain II talks return vs. Commanders pic.twitter.com/GbIn17UKOE

— Elisa Hernandez (@EHernandezTV) November 28, 2025

MHR – Pat Surtain is expected back this week. Even if his skills are not as necessary against the Commanders as some teams in the near future, how good is it for the team to have him back on the field?
drtacp: Very good. I would prefer a less than 50% snap count. Players wanna play. Exhibit 1 is Joe Burrow in this week’s Thursday night game win against Baltimore. JK Dobbins coming back from Liszfranc before the Super Bowl would be even more remarkable and desired. Everything about Pat Surtain tells me that his shit does not stink.

MHR – Riley Moss has been targeted so often this season – as to be expected when you’re opposite Pat Surtain – but does it seem like teams know he’s about a 50/50 chance of drawing a DPI?
drtacp: OOF! The White Toast Wonder actually does everything right 90% of the time. And then there is the 10% where he gets handsy. This is a known phenomenon (against not just Moss) that QBs employ knowing that their chances of making a gainful play by a long ball thrown is doubly enhanced by the chance that DPI makes their uncaught ball a major gain. 21 has been on the losing end because PS II has forced QBs to throw to the target covered by Moss as almost no other CB in the NFL has been stressed. If there is a silver lining, I think that the Moss treatment by the refs may gain further NFL attention to this cheat code that strong-armed QBs employ. I honestly cannot realistically think of a rule change that would fix this unfairness. I think it devolves upon the refs to give more leniency when throwing flags for DPI in order to fix this issue. As is, Riley Moss has become a bigger target than the WR he is defending by both the opposing QB and the refs. My bottom line is that Riley Moss is a major net benefit to this team despite the obvious systemic bias against him. Q: Who could we afford to do a better job? A: No one.

MHR – Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper usually get the glory for the QB pressure that leads to sacks, but how important are John Franklin Myers, Zach Allen and Malcolm Roach for making QBs super uncomfortable? How uncomfortable do you expect Marcus Mariota to be on Sunday?
drtacp: There is no doubt that this defense thrives upon not needing to rush more than four on most snaps just because we almost always have at least two of those three D-line players on every defensive snap. (I have a 99 jersey in blue that I have yet to wear. Gotta match the jersey I am wearing with the jersey the team is wearing; ‘superstition’ if you will.) I am in agreement with those that wish to re-sign JFM. The three recent signings are the righteous answers that this ownership has continually chosen to make.

Marcus has survived in the NFL despite his limitations. He is going to regret that truth on Sunday night in Northwest Stadium, Landover, Maryland. Six sacks and 25 pressures. This defense is historic mostly because of these five mentioned in your Q.

MHR – Is it hard to watch Von Miller trying to sack our quarterback rather than working for him? What is your favorite Von Miller memory and do you hope he retires a Bronco?
drtacp: Von has been limited to 3rd down. The fix is to gain 1st down on 1st or 2nd down. No Problems!? Realistically Von is way beyond his prime and he would be wise to not embarrass himself trying to be something he is no longer capable of being. It pained me to say that because I most definitely respect the ability and the person that Von Miller presented to the world and mostly as a Bronco and philanthropist. I will preview my current MT Rushmore: JE, PFM, VM, CB. That reflects my recency bias since becoming a full-time Broncos fan in 2011 after Denver had a 4-12 record in 2010.
My fav memory of Von: #2 pick essentially ending #1 pick Cam’s career in that Super Bowl strip sack. I have the pic of Von from the SI naked issue rotating in a 1000+ person slideshow as the desktop to my 3 computers.
You are such a capable interviewer, bar none.

MHR – Which player on defense is your sleeper for this week’s game?
drtacp: Who could possibly be a sleeper at this point? And That is your point, because this defense has been stellar to a man. I won’t name all the stellars but somewhere in that DB room might be a Key or Skinner stepping up when rarely called upon. Dre Greenlaw could probably be the ONE to most fill the bill as he has the most ground to recover to cement his status as our Denver Broncos stud.

MHR – Not to get too far ahead, but what is your hope for this team this season?
drtacp: Super Bowl win is so entirely not “too far ahead.” All the other AFC teams this year have either faltered or in the lone case of the PATs* have earned an easy schedule of opponents that has buoyed their win column #. AFC Championship game is a cinch either way with us being the No. 1 or No. 2 seed.

Von Miller will always be a Bronco, even if playing for Denver again is unlikely. My @DPostSports column after talking exclusively with Von today in #Commanders locker room. Von wants to play another season for Dan Quinn, but he will always be a fan of #Broncos because of the…

— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) November 29, 2025

Predictions ​

(This is Such A Shot In The Dark!!)

Stats for Bo Nix? 70%, 25/36, 225 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs, 1 sack, 46 rushing yards on 4 carries, 1 TD

Stats for each Broncos RB? Harvey 13 carries, 78 yards, 8 receptions for 45 yards, 1 TD; Badie 5 carries, 40 yards; McLaughlin 3 carries, 27 yards.

Number of yards receiving/TDs for the receivers? Mims 65 1 TD; Sutton 50; Franklin 35; Bryant 27.

Longest FG for Lutz? 42

Number of sacks to Mariota? 6

Broncos player with the most tackles? Hufanga

Who gets the first sack of the game for the Broncos? Cooper

How many INTs/FF/FR for the Commanders D? 0 2 0

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

Final Score? 27-13, Broncos

The Favorites ​

Favorite John Elway win outside of the Super Bowls? You know, the helicopter drive or the drive helicopter or both. How cruel to ask me to decide.

Favorite Peyton Manning win? I am going for that Romo drubbing and the walkoff touchdown to the left late in that exciting shootout.

Favorite win by any other QB? Dak on Thursday. I know I was supposed to say Tim Tebow in the overtime wildcard AFC game BUT Dak on Thursday is the right answer.

Favorite Broncos win ever? SB50: I watch that season recap video often. I am down to twice a year now. (We got a new sheriff in town.)

Team you love to beat the most in the AFC West? KC

Coach you laugh at the most in the NFL? Sean Payton

Coach you most want to throat-punch? McDouche

The team you hate to lose to the most in the rest of the AFC? Looking back, MIA; looking forward, NE

NFC team you could cheer for in the Super Bowl? SF

NFC team you want to face more than any other in the Super Bowl? LAR

Favorite game so far this season? NYGvsDEN

Favorite Broncos player on the current roster? Zack Allen

Favorite Broncos player of all time not named John Elway (unless it is John Elway!)? PFM

Favorite new guy/rookie on the team? Hufanga

Food/Snack you have to eat on game day? Totally variable at home. Non televised games here means I get the all American cheeseburger at BWW and onion rings.

Favorite game analyst/commentator? Used to be Al Michaels. Tony Romo now

Who is on your Broncos’ Mount Rushmore? Elway, Manning, Von, Champ

With one more win, the Broncos will have consecutive 10-win seasons for the first time since the Peyton Manning era. pic.twitter.com/SyzAwouzBR

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) November 29, 2025

How did you become a Broncos fan?​

I had a roommate from Denver who always watched DEN. (That roommate later met Tom Jackson in a hotel elevator at the HOF weekend when Tom was inducted.) Watching the Broncos in the ‘90s was always a spectacle. When we were no longer roommates I drifted into watching the local and available team to watch – KC Chiefs. I later became incensed at the bonehead moves that Scott Pioli made in the offseason 2011. Todd Haley was worthless, and I blamed Clark Hunt for the whole mess. I went on record at the official Chiefs website and officially resigned being a KC fan. The resignation lasted on site for about 2 hours. I put it up again and it only lasted 2 minutes. I considered Scott Pioli’s dismissal of the Chiefs best O lineman Brian Waters only to be picked up by Pioli’s former team the Patriots without requiring any compensation to the Chiefs as a backdoor gambling debt that Pioli paid. The next move was that KC picked up the O-line player castoff by NE to make room on the roster for Brian Waters. Den had a record of 4-12 the previous year so I made my choice to be a fan of Denver by their incredible reputation. So I credit Pat Bowlen for my becoming a Denver Broncos fan. I am never looking back and I could not be happier with this outcome

This forum gave no opportunity for me to provide the readers with a vocabulary builder word. So I will offer ‘perquisite’ because everyone has heard of ‘perks’, but almost nobody knows this word.

Final word: LLV rocks.

*editor’s note: Awww, thanks. But this series ROCKS because of all of you!

How it looks after playing the Denver Broncos this year. pic.twitter.com/5ii30xC3nb

— Bad News Broncos (@BadNewsBroncos) November 19, 2025

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denver-broncos-news/164734/ultimate-fan-broncos-should-dominate-in-dc

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos vs. Commanders predictions: Final score picks for NFL Week 13

The Denver Broncos are back from their bye and ready to take on the Jayden Daniels-less Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football. It’s a game that Denver is expected to win and that can sometimes spring a trap on overconfident teams. At 9-2, the Broncos do need this game to keep pace with the New England Patriots in the AFC. So hopefully we get one of those fun games from start to finish like the one they had against the Dallas Cowboys a month ago.

Game Overview​

Denver Broncos at Washington Commanders
Sunday, November 30, 2025 at 6:20 P.M. Mile High time
Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland
ATS Betting Lines: Denver -5.5
Moneyline Odds: Denver -270 / Washington +220
Over/Under: 43.5
Note: All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.

Collectively, our Mile High Report staff is predicting a Broncos 28-13 prime time road win over the Commanders. Here’s how each of us predicted things would go individually:

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Broncos 23, Commanders 13​

One remaining concern I have about this team is how they play up or down to their opponents. That’s a dangerous game in the NFL, but so far they have come out on top in each of those close games. Will that trend continue against a Commanders team that has had their season derailed by injury? Or will the Broncos dominate from start to finish like they did against the Cowboys and Bengals? For now, I’m cautiously optimistic. I’ll give them a solid win, but not a blowout win. – Tim Lynch

Broncos 30, Commanders 13​

Maybe I’m more bullish on the Broncos than I should be. Nevertheless, they are sporting a 9-2 record and coming off a bye. That should bode well for them in their Sunday Night Football matchup against the Commanders. Washington will be without Jayden Daniels and their defense has really struggled this season. I believe the Broncos are poised to earn themselves a decisive victory to get their tenth win of the season. I’m very confident Denver will have a great performance in primetime. – Chris Hart

Broncos 31, Commanders 16​

This should be an ideal opponent to get after following a bye. The Commanders are still without their starting quarterback, don’t have a reliable run game, and their defense has struggled most of the season. And I’m pretty optimistic about the way the rest of the season looks for Denver. We saw what that mini-bye week did for them following their Thursday night game against the Raiders when they knocked off the Chiefs. Hopefully a full-bye week produces even more results. As long as they get this JK Dobbins-less rushing attack sorted, things look very good. – Ross Allen

Broncos 27, Commanders 13​

The Broncos are too disciplined from top to bottom to get trapped after a bye by a team starting Marcus Mariota. Our defense will be far too much for the Commanders to handle. The offense is going to get a good look at how they can improve the run game and will have some impressive drives throughout the game. – Sadaraine

Broncos 31, Commanders 12​

There’s no reason the Broncos shouldn’t blowout the Commanders. The last time Marcus Mariota faced off against a Broncos defense, he lost his job. I expect more of the same. I also expect Sean Payton to lean on the running attack, and get RJ Harvey going. Bo Nix should be the big beneficiary of that, getting some big chunk plays to help put points on the board. – Adam Malnati

Broncos 28, Commanders 9​

The Broncos come off their much-needed bye and are doing so healthy. Given how well the defense has played since the second half against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8, it’s easy lose sight of the fact the Broncos have been without Pat Surtain II since then. Denver could also get Alex Singleton back. The defense will make Sunday night miserable for Mariota and the Commanders offense. Meanwhile, Nix, Payton, and the Broncos offense will move the ball effectively and score touchdowns. – Ian St. Clair

What is your score prediction for the Broncos-Commanders game? Let us know in the comments section below.​

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...ers-predictions-final-score-picks-nfl-week-13

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos come back from bye with everything within reach

Good morning, Broncos Country!​

Bo Nix, Sean Payton, and the Denver Broncos are in uncharted territory.

It’s been 10 years since the Broncos were in this position. Not only sitting atop the AFC West standings, but also fighting for the top seed in the AFC playoffs. With that comes homefield advantage and the bye.

Denver heads east to face the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football at 9-2 and everything within reach.

How does Payton balance keeping the Broncos focused on the task at hand and not looking ahead while also knowing the outcome if they continue winning games?

As Denver’s head coach said this week when asked that question:

“I can’t assume everyone on this team understands the playoff format. It switched in 2020. We added the seventh team, so beginning in 2020, there was only one team (with the bye). Analytically, in the 25 years of the (No.) 1 and 2 seed that didn’t play … Then the goal obviously is the end game. You are in a position where they can kind of see that if you are able to capture the No. 1 seed—and it used to be the No. 2 seed—you eliminate a game, and that is significant.

“Those early years in New Orleans, we were the No. 2 seed and ended up at Chicago as the No. 1 seed in tough weather. I remember after that tough loss feeling like, ‘We have to find a way to play this game at home,’ and there it was a few years later in the NFC Championship Game. Just from the studies—and look, that doesn’t mean you have to. We’ve seen years and years of teams — shoot Tampa Bay most recently on the road, on the road, and on the road and won the Super Bowl. Each week, we build up this equity of where we are at, and I think certainly the buy-in and these guys are smart enough to know what each of these games count for.”

What should help the Broncos mentally and physically is getting their bye week.

Over the course of this eight-game winning streak, Denver played a lot of football. So getting the chance to get away for a bit should help the team recalibrate and refocus.

The Broncos know that if they take care of business each week, it puts them in the best position to achieve their goals.

“We put ourselves in this position now to put ourselves in that position then,” Nix said to the media this week. “I think the job is definitely not even close to being finished yet, but we have put ourselves in a spot to obtain it, and so that’s part of the journey. You’ve got to put yourself in a situation to get it there at the end and grab hold of it.

“But it’s right there in front of us. Like I said, you don’t get these opportunities a lot. They’re definitely hard to come by, so you’ve got to make sure that you take it and not miss it. You don’t get these a lot. Obviously, this is my first time, and definitely excited and eager to keep going about it, and you find a way to get it done.”

Now it’s just a matter of taking care of business and doing the job. Focus on the Commanders and nothing else.

As Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton said this week:

“You kind of keep the perspective of it. Call it Week 1. That’s the most important week. This week is what, 12 or 13? 13. So Week 13 is the most important week for us. I feel like I take that perspective into each week, whether it’s on the field or outside of the facility. People always ask me, ‘Oh man, can we come up to this game in December?’ I’m not going to lie to you. I don’t know what’s going on then. I have enough going on my plate this week right here. I don’t say that sarcastically, but it’s a real thing.

“Each week is the most important week, and whatever’s going on in that week is what I’m worried about. I think that we keep that same perspective into our workdays. We had a really good day of practice today. I think that’s been the message, and that’s something we understand. It’s like everything’s right in front of us, but we have to make sure we keep the main thing the main thing and not overlook any situation. Every practice, every meeting, every game is an opportunity for us to get ready for the ultimate goal. Today we have to go finish watching film, and fix up some things we had at practice today, and then go in and get ready for tomorrow.”

If Denver does that, this team has a great opportunity to do something the franchise hasn’t done in a decade.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...me-back-from-bye-with-everything-within-reach

 

[Denver Broncos]

Winners and Losers from the Broncos 27-26 victory over the Commanders

What a game.

It was FAR from the Broncos’ best effort, but in the end, they still found a way to come away with the victory. The Commanders, led by backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, had the Broncos on the brink of losing. He led a game-tying drive at the end of the 4th quarter and had a touchdown drive in overtime, and was a 2-point conversion away from the upset.

However, Nik Bonitto Dikembe Mutombo’d Mariota’s pass, and the Broncos leave Washington with the victory.

As for the winners and losers, it was a sloppy game on both sides of the ball that saw some highs and lows throughout the game. No one really came out of this game without some stink on them, but there were some notable winners who stood out.

With all that said, here are your winners and losers from the Denver Broncos’ 27-26 victory over the Washington Commanders.

WINNER- Nik Bonitto​

Bonitto was getting after the passer all game, and despite not getting the big sack, he made his impact on the final play of this game. The Commanders just scored a touchdown in overtime, the momentum was firmly on their side, and the Broncos looked to be on the verge of a disappointing upset loss. Mariota dropped back to pass and had a WIDE OPEN receiver for a go-ahead 2-point game-winner…but Nik Bonitto was going to have none of that. He put both of his hands up and deflected the Mariota pass, and gave the Broncos the victory.

NIK BONITTO DEFLECTS IT AND THE BRONCOS WIN!!!pic.twitter.com/cTJSWsuvf3

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) December 1, 2025

It may have just been a 3-win Washington club on a potentially forgettable Sunday Night game, but this might go down as one of the more iconic Broncos victories in recent memory. They have had a few this season, and this one might be at the top.

Bonitto and the defense were far from perfect tonight and probably had their worst collective outing since the Indy game, but they still found a way to come up big at the end of the game and get the win.

Now, to talk about the bad.

LOSER – Broncos defense​

We talked about the good, but now, time for the bad.

What the hell was that?

The Commanders had 419 total yards. Marcus Mariota had 294 yards passing, 2 passing touchdowns, and 55 yards rushing. They also ran for 143 yards, had 30 first downs, were 8 for 17 on 3rd downs, which included at least two third-and-long run plays to convert, while also going 3 for 3 on 4th down.

On top of all that, they only sacked Mariota once, and it probably should have been flagged for tripping.

Zach Ertz has 10 receptions for 106 yards, Terry McLaurin had 7 receptions for 96 yards, Deebo had a big play late, which set them up for the OT touchdown, and they allowed Treylon Burks to potentially have the catch of the year earlier in the game.

The defense is not going to be elite for 17 games, and bad games will happen, but man, it was disappointing that tonight was one of those nights.

With all that said, they won, which makes this performance suck a good deal less, but still, not great.

LOSER – Broncos run game​

Rookie RJ Harvey did have 2 rushing touchdowns and needs to be praised for that. However, the overall effort was not good.

The Broncos had just 87 yards rushing in this game. Harvey led the way with 35 yards, but averaged just 2.7 yards per carry. Jaleel McLaughlin was not much better as he went 6 carries for 24 yards, with 16 of those yards coming on one play.

This is their second game without running back JK Dobbins, and in both games, the Broncos’ run game was lackluster. The Commanders’ run defense has not been great all season, but still, the Broncos struggled to do anything on the ground.

If the Broncos want to make a deep postseason run, they need more from their run game.

WINNER – Evan ‘Joker’ Engram​

Engram started the game with a couple of bad drops, which had fans like me calling him out. When he was signed, he was advertised as this playmaking weapon, and he has been mostly an afterthought all season. However, Engram improved as the game went on and had one of the biggest offensive plays of the season for the Broncos in overtime.

He took a Bo Nix pass for 40+ yards to get the Broncos in the red zone, where they eventually scored the go-ahead touchdown.

The Joker, Evan Engram with a huge play in overtime for the Broncospic.twitter.com/O8DbEpg1xa

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) December 1, 2025

Engram finished with a team-leading 6 receptions for 79 yards and had his best overall game as a member of the Broncos. Before this big play, he was Nix’s most trusted target and converted multiple first downs throughout the game, but the 41-yarder is certainly the highlight of his season thus far.

The Broncos will need more from Engram as they head into December and eventually into the playoffs. He was advertised as their ‘Joker,’ and it’s time for him to consistently play like one.

WINNER – QB Bo Nix​

Nix had a very up-and-down game and was trending towards being a loser before halftime. However, he stepped up big in overtime and led what would end up being the Broncos’ game-winning touchdown. Before that, the highlight of his night was a highlight reel touchdown pass to Cortland Sutton, where he threw the ball while falling down, but kept his knee up, and was able to throw an accurate touchdown pass.

BO NIX WITH AN INCREDIBLE PLAY AND THROW TO COURTLAND SUTTON FOR A TOUCHDOWN pic.twitter.com/EILbbwsLkA

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) December 1, 2025

However, it wasn’t all pretty. Nix would throw an ugly interception to the cement-footed Bobby Wagner. Nix didn’t see him and threw the ball right into his chest. The Commanders would score 3 on this play, which factored into the ending of this game. It also ended a drive where the offense had a chance to put this game away.

Speaking of that, Nix and the offense failed to put the game away multiple times in the 4th quarter. At least one three-and-out and multiple failed third-down plays. One first down would have basically ended it, or at worst, made the Commanders use their timeouts and punt the ball away to them with very little time left.

Yet, they failed to step on their throat and end the game.

As I mentioned, he would rebound in OT and lead the offense down the field for a quick go-ahead score. Due to this OT game-winning drive, Nix lands on the winners’ list tonight, but he could have easily been a loser.

WINNER – LB Alex Singleton​

Three weeks ago, Alex Singleton found out he had cancer and needed immediate surgery to remove a growth. This news would cripple most people, but Singleton stayed strong, thankfully received wonderful news about his diagnosis, and, miraculously, was back on the football field after missing just one game.

Huge play on 3rd down by Alex Singleton pic.twitter.com/iZkd42FYN8

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) December 1, 2025

While we may be upset about how that game went, we all should take a step back and appreciate this great story unfolding right infront of us.

What could have been a tragic moment for Singleton and his family turned into something wonderful and memorable.

Other notable winners and losers​

• WINNER – RB RJ Harvey: The run game sucked tonight, but Harvey did find the end zone twice and deserves some recognition.
• WINNER – WR Courtland Sutton: He didn’t have a super impactful game, but did catch Nix’s lone touchdown pass
• LOSER – Broncos OL: I am no offensive line expert, but the Broncos OL seemed to struggle tonight. Nix was under pressure all night, and it seemed like defenders were in the backfield consistently blowing up run plays.
• WINNER – S Talanoa Hufanga: He made some great plays tonight, but also had a few misses. I believe the good outweighs the bad, and Hufanga continues to be an electric player for the Broncos’ defense.
• LOSER – WR Marvin Mims: It seems like his role on offense has diminished
• WINNER – WR Pat Bryant: It felt like he made more plays than he did, but he continued to step up and had a key play to get the Broncos into the red zone.
• WINNER – LB Dre Greenlaw: Greenlaw had the Broncos’ lone turnover of the game, and he took points off the board from the Commanders
• LOSER – Broncos pass rush: Where did you go?
• LOSER – Lil’Jordan Humphrey: Pinning the Commanders at the 1 could have been game-changing, but you stepped on the line
• WINNER – Double-digit wins: The Broncos are only the 2nd team to hit double-digit wins in the NFL. I don’t care if they’re ugly wins or not; that’s exciting, and the Broncos have won 9 straight games.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...s-alex-singleton-bonitto-mariota-nix-mclaurin

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos make their own luck by making ‘one more play’

Call it luck if you want, but 10 wins, nine of them in a row, is not the luck that just happens to you.

It’s the luck you make happen.

Bo Nix understands this acutely.

Last year the Broncos lost multiple close games. They didn’t call it unlucky. They knew they just didn’t make the last play.

So you move on and figure out how to make that last play.

It’s been happening all season and no game proved that more obviously than last night’s OT thriller over the Commanders.

“At the end of the day, we scored one more point than they did and that’s the difference in a game in this league.”

BO NIX

“I understand what it’s like to be on the other side of things, but you just, kind of, keep moving on and you got to have a belief that you’re just going to find a way,” Nix said after the victory. “You know, it didn’t look great there for a minute, but we just found a way to make the next best play. At the end of the day, we scored one more point than they did and that’s the difference in a game in this league.”

In fact, it felt like the “last play” happened over and over.

After Nix led a touchdown drive that was so seamless you might have forgotten how inept the offense appeared much of the night – or at least in the fourth quarter. Thanks to solid run from RJ Harvey to start the drive, a huge gain from Evan Engram and a clutch catch from Courtland Sutton to set up Harvey’s easy TD from the five, the offense changed all the momentum and put the pressure on Marcus Mariota and the Commanders to respond.

Which they did.

It seemed like the defense was going to get a fourth-down stop until a pass interference call denied the Broncos an instant win and gave the Commanders new life.

A Mariota-to-McLaurin touchdown was called back for offensive holding, turning the tide once again in the Broncos favor, giving Denver a new chance for a stop.

But five plays later Mariota drilled McLaurin for an easy three-yard touchdown, and the Commanders were in the driver’s seat.

When the offense lined up for a two-point conversion, going for a win rather than settling for a tie, both teams knew one last play would decide their fates.

Thanks to a timeout, a perceptive play call change from Vance Joseph and an incredibly athletic gamble on staying on course for the sack or being prepared to bat down a pass to a wide open receiver were the confluence of factors that allowed the Broncos to create their own good luck.

It cannot be overlooked that in a split second @nikkkkbonitto recognizes that the REAL play was not a sack but to go after the ball.

I love this team.#DENvsWASH #BroncosCountry @Broncos https://t.co/k5h3Bg9FcU

— Doctor of Words (@docllv) December 1, 2025

“We got incredible belief no matter what. We just feel like we’re going to figure out a way to win the game, make the next play,” Nix said, adding his admiration for Mariota’s performance all night. “We’ve played some really good teams and we’re going to play more. We just got a good belief that we’re going to find ways to win.”

Nik Bonitto, the guy most responsible for that win, said his confidence level is at “1000 percent.”

“I mean, we’ve been battle tested all year. There’s no situation that we’re new to,” he added. “It was just a matter of just finding another way to win the game, and we did that.”

Head coach Sean Payton admitted the Commanders “were a handful all night.”

“It’s a great game to win; it’s a tough one to lose,” he said.

For Nix, games coming down to the last possession are what he’s used to, what he’s expecting.

And he looks at it as good practice for the bigger road ahead.

“I feel like we’ve seen any game possible, all the outcomes, but I know there’s going to be many more,” the quarterback said, adding that he looks at the pressure as a privilege.

“I was told a long time ago by one of my many offensive coaches that pressure is a privilege, and not many people get to be in that opportunity. So, if it’s going to be me who gets this opportunity, I am going to make the best of it,” Nix said. “It doesn’t always go your way. Fortunately for us, it’s gone our way in these games.”

“Statistics can’t grow legs and go out there and score touchdowns for you.”

BO NIX

To Nix and the rest of the team, this pressure is practice for the bigger and even more important games where only winners move on.

“As much as we feel like we’ve had success, there’s a lot of guys in that locker room that are eager to perform better,” Nix said. “We know that there’s a higher ceiling that we could play up to, and that’s what we’re gonna continue to practice hard to do and continue to work.”

Because the goal isn’t a 10-win season. It’s not round one of the playoffs. It’s not even the divisional round.

Whether you believe with them or not, the Broncos have their eyes on the Super Bowl.

And the players know it’s theirs for the taking.

“Statistics can’t grow legs and go out there and score touchdowns for you,” Nix said.

“We’ve shown great improvement but we definitely don’t want to stop here. …We didn’t wanna get to December and be ten and two. That wasn’t our goal,” the QB added. “Our goal was to make a deep playoff run and we’re clearly not there yet. We haven’t even had time to get there yet, so we’re gonna continue to battle, continue to fight.”

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...s-make-their-own-luck-by-making-one-more-play

 

[Denver Broncos]

NFL Playoff Picture: Broncos remain the 2 seed in the AFC

Week 13 in the NFL officially concluded Monday Night with the New England Patriots retaking the number one seed in the AFC with a dominating victory over the New York Giants. The Broncos, coming off another thrilling victory, remain the number 2 seed, but after that, we have some big changes to the AFC playoff picture.

The biggest change was the Jacksonville Jaguars overtaking the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South and moving to the 3 seed in the AFC, while the free-falling Colts are now the 6th seed and in danger of missing the postseason entirely. Despite their Thanksgiving Night loss, the Ravens are at the top of the AFC North, while the Chargers and Bills are your other two wildcard teams.

After their thrilling OT victory over the Commanders, the Broncos remain the number 2 seed in the AFC with a chance to be the 1 seed with a win over the Raiders this Sunday pic.twitter.com/6AtM40XF5w

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) December 2, 2025

If any of those teams slip up in the coming weeks, the Texans and their dominating defense are knocking on the door for a wildcard spot. Meanwhile, the free-falling Steelers and Chiefs are watching their postseason hopes slip away, and could Joe Burrow ignite a late-season AFC North run for the Bengals?

With all that said, here is your AFC playoff picture coming out of week 13 of the 2025 NFL season.

Division Leaders​

1. New England Patriots (11-2)​

The Patriots continue to roll and improve to 11-2 on the year after a dominating victory over the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. Second-year quarterback Drake Maye is getting MVP chants, and Head Coach Mike Vrabel has this team playing good football. Are they taking advantage of a last-place schedule? Sure, but they’re playing good football and appear to have the best odds of being the number one seed in the AFC.

They are heading into their Bye week this upcoming week and will have some time off before two big matchups vs. the Bills and Ravens. The outcome of those two games will likely decide whether or not they can clinch the one seed or not.

After their home game vs. the Bills and road game vs. the Ravens, the Patriots finish out the year with a road game vs. the Jets and a home matchup vs the Dolphins in the season finale. If they can get past the Bills and Ravens, they have a clear path to the one seed.

Remaining Games: BYE, vs. Bills, at Ravens, at Jets, and vs. Dolphins

2. Denver Broncos (10-2)​

The Denver Broncos improved to 10-2 on the year after an overtime thriller vs. the Washington Commanders. Despite being doubted, they continue to find ways to win and now have a good shot at being the number 1 seed in the AFC and winning the AFC West.

While it may not always be pretty, the Broncos continue to grind out one-score victories led by quarterback Bo Nix, leading multiple game-winning drives and a suffocating defense. They have proven they can compete with any team in the NFL, and their only two losses on the year came on last-second field goal attempts by the opposing team. They’re a gritty team and one that appears poised to make some noise in the final month of the regular season and into the postseason.

Looking ahead, the Broncos have another road game, this time against the Raiders, before home games vs. the Packers and Jaguars, before finishing out the year with a Christmas Night game in Arrowhead vs. the Chiefs and a home finale vs. the Chargers. It won’t be an easy road ahead for the Broncos, but they have the potential to win out and challenge for the one seed in the AFC.

Remaining Games: at Raiders, vs. Packers, vs. Jaguars, at Chiefs (Christmas Night), and vs. Chargers

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)​

With the Colts losing to the Texans and the Jags blowing out the Titans, we have a new King of the AFC South. Liam Coen’s Jacksonville Jaguars sit at 8-4 and are now leading the AFC South and are currently the number 3 seed in the AFC.

Coen has quarterback Trevor Lawrence playing good football, they have a strong run game, and their defense has played well this season. With all that said, the AFC South is far from settled. The Jags and Colts play twice before the end of the season, and the Texans are not far behind both teams.

This Sunday, the Jaguars host the Colts in a game that will have huge playoff implications, followed by another home game vs. the Jets. After that, the Jags have another big game against the Broncos at Mile High before finishing out the year against the Colts on the road. They’re sitting pretty right now, but two games vs. the Colts and a road game vs. the Broncos will ultimately decide their postseason fate.

Remaining Games: vs. Colts, vs. Jets, at Broncos, at Colts, and vs. Titans

4. Baltimore Ravens (6-6)​

Despite a disappointing Thanksgiving Night loss to the Bengals, the Ravens remain at the top of the AFC North due to the Steelers losing to the Bills on Sunday. They sit at 6-6, which isn’t great, but good enough to be leading the AFC North this season.

They started the year 1-5 and looked completely out of it, but then won 5 straight before falling to Joe Burrow and the Bengals on Thanksgiving. They probably are still the favorites in this division, but it doesn’t seem like anyone really wants to win it right now, and it’ll likely go down to the regular season finale before this one is decided.

They play their first of two games vs. the Steelers this Sunday in a game that will have huge postseason implications. Following that, they face the Bengals again on the road, have a tough home game vs. the Patriots, another tough road game vs. the Packers, before finishing out the year on the road vs. the Steelers.

It won’t be an easy road ahead for the Ravens.

Remaining Games: vs. Steelers, at Bengals, vs. Patriots, at Packers, and at Steelers

Wildcard Teams​

5. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)​

The Chargers defeated the Raiders on Sunday to improve to 8-4 on the year, but quarterback Justin Herbert would suffer a fractured non-throwing hand that would require surgery. Thankfully for the Chargers, it doesn’t seem like he’ll miss any games from this, but we’ll know more by the end of the week. Still, not something you want to see happen to your starting quarterback.

Like most years, the Chargers are dealing with multiple injuries to key players on their team, including both starting tackles. This has led to Herbert taking a lot of hits in recent weeks, and now he’s dealing with a fractured hand. Despite all this, they sit at 8-4, two back of the Broncos in the west and comfortably in a wildcard spot. However, a few losses could have them out of the playoffs entirely.

Looking ahead, the Chargers have a big Monday Night game vs. the Eagles, followed by a tough road game vs. the Chiefs in Arrowhead. They will then head to Dallas to take on the surging Cowboys before finishing out the year against the Broncos at Mile High. That’s a tough road ahead, and the Chargers cannot afford to lose many games in this ultra-competitive AFC playoff race.

Remaining Games: vs. Eagles, at Chiefs, at Cowboys, vs. Texans, and at Broncos

6. Indianapolis Colts (8-4)​

The Colts have fallen from the 1 seed to the 3 seed, to now being the 6th seed and no longer leading the AFC South. Now, they face a tough upcoming schedule and face the very real possibility of missing the playoffs entirely.

Quarterback Daniel Jones is dealing with a fractured fibula, Jonathan Taylor has cooled off these past two weeks, and they have lost 3 out of their last 4 games. The AFC is very competitive this season, and they cannot afford many more losses if they want to remain a playoff team.

This Sunday, they have a big “must-win” game on the road vs. the Jaguars in a game where they can retake the lead in the AFC South. Following that, they have a tough road game vs. the Seahawks, home games vs. the 49ers and Jaguars, before finishing out the year on the road vs. the Texans.

That’s a brutal upcoming schedule for the Colts, who have been passed by the Jags and have the Texans right on their heels.

Remaining Games: at Jags, at Seattle, vs. Niners, vs. Jags, and at Texans

7. Buffalo Bills (8-4)​

The Bills defeated the Steelers on Sunday to improve to 8-4 on the year and bounced back from a disappointing Thursday Night loss the week prior.

Currently, the Bills are the final team in the postseason and have the Texans, Steelers, and Chiefs on their heels, looking to take their spot in the postseason. They’ll need quarterback Josh Allen to carry this team on his back if they want to make the playoffs and cannot afford many more losses.

Unfortunately for the Bills, they do have some tough games left on their schedule. They will host Joe Burrow and the Bengals this Sunday, followed by a key road matchup vs. Drake Maye and the Patriots, a road game vs. the Browns, a home game vs. the Eagles, and ending the year at home vs. the Jets.

The games vs. the Bengals, Patriots, and Eagles will be very important for the Bills, and may ultimately decide if they make the playoffs or not.

Remaining Games: vs. Bengals, at Patriots, at Browns, vs. Eagles, and vs. Jets

In The Hunt​

8. Houston Texans (7-5): They got back quarterback C.J. Stroud and have one of the best defenses in the entire NFL. They are firmly in the AFC South race and have a huge game on the road vs. the Chiefs this Sunday. This very well might be a must-win for them if they want to win the AFC South and/or make it in as a wildcard team.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6): The Steelers have lost 3 out of their last 4 games and are a bit of a mess right now. Despite this, they’re still in the AFC North race and have a big game vs. the Ravens this Sunday. Like the Texans, they may need to win this game if they want to stay in the division/wild card conversation.

10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6): They have lost 3 out of their last 4 games and are currently the 10th seed in the AFC. They have little to no room for error moving forward and have a big must-win game at home vs. the Texans this Sunday. A loss may very well end their postseason hopes this season, while a win would keep them knocking on the door for a wildcard spot.

11. Miami Dolphins (5-7): The odds of the Dolphins making a late-season run are slim, but with the AFC up in the air right now, it’s not impossible. They will need to win out and get some help to make it happen, but there’s a chance, even if it is a slim one. They’re only getting mentioned here because I believe the 12th seed could very well win the AFC North still.

12. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8): Joe Burrow is back, and the Bengals upset the Ravens on Thanksgiving night. They’re only two back of the Ravens and Steelers, and despite their 4-8 record, not out of the AFC North race. If they can string together a strong final month, they could make things very interesting in that division. One major hurdle will come this Sunday when they’ll head to Buffalo in December to take on the Bills.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...ars-ravens-bills-chargers-colts-chiefs-texans

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos sign veteran wide receiver Elijah Moore to their practice squad

According to NFL Network’s league insider Tom Pelissero, the Denver Broncos are signing former second-round pick, wide receiver Elijah Moore, to their practice squad. Moore worked out for the Broncos on Monday and is now joining their practice squad.

Veteran WR Elijah Moore is signing to the Broncos practice squad, per source.

Now on his fourth team in five NFL seasons, Moore has 209 career catches for 2,274 yards and nine TDs. pic.twitter.com/d1uj8LQRAQ

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 2, 2025

Moore was a second-round pick by the New York Jets in the 2021 NFL Draft and played two seasons for them before requesting a trade. In March of 2023, Moore was traded to the Cleveland Browns for a third-round selection and played there for two seasons. This past season, Moore signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills before being waived by the team on November 26th, and is now joining the Denver Broncos.

Throughout his five-year career, Moore has appeared in 70 games, including 42 starts, and has totaled 209 receptions for 2,274 yards and 9 touchdowns. Last season for the Browns, Moore had 61 receptions for 538 yards and 1 touchdown, including an impressive performance against the Broncos, where he had 8 receptions for 111 yards. This season with the Bills, Moore had 9 receptions for 112 yards before being waived by the team.

Moore is a 5’10”, 178-pound receiver who ran a 4.35 40-time at his Pro Day during the pre-draft process. He gives the Broncos yet another explosive playmaker for quarterback Bo Nix. He also gives them another veteran receiver to pair with their young core of receivers who play alongside veteran Courtland Sutton.

I do not think Moore would be signing with the Broncos if he did not have a chance to play. He is an established wide receiver in the NFL and has produced throughout his career. With that said, it’ll be interesting to see where Moore fits into the Broncos’ wide receiver rotation. Sutton is the Broncos’ WR1, while Troy Franklin and rookie Pat Bryant have stepped up and seen their playing time increase in recent weeks. All-Pro returner Marvin Mims Jr. has seen his role on offense diminish recently as well, so it’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out.

Giving quarterback Bo Nix another explosive deep threat for their postseason run is never a bad idea. Moore has talent, and hopefully, Sean Payton and the Broncos can revitalize his career and turn him into a productive player who can help them make a deep postseason run.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...receiver-elijah-moore-to-their-practice-squad

 

[Denver Broncos]

Denver Broncos power rankings around the web for Week 14

The Denver Broncos continue to win in the most amazing ways. On Sunday Night Football, they needed a Nik Bonitto batted pass on a two-point try in over time to move past the Washington Commanders.

At 10-2, they are one of just two double-digit win teams in the NFL after thirteen weeks of football. At the end of the day, all that matters is wins and losses and the Broncos are stacking the wins in incredible fashion. The more wins they stack, the harder it will be for national media to throw shade on these Broncos.

Here is where the Broncos rank heading into Week 14:

NFL.com: 3rd​

Perhaps we should start looking at Denver’s late-game heroics as a feature, not a bug. I know it’s difficult when you see a team living as dangerously as the Broncos are, but no one has been able to make them pay for their mistakes since mid-September. They’ve won nine straight games now, seven of those by one score. The past four victories came by a total of 10 points. Can they keep living on the razor’s edge? Well, these Broncos seem to thrive amid the danger, perilous as it might feel. Sunday night’s 27-26 overtime win at Washington nearly slipped away from them a few times, and they were on the right end of some fortunate calls, but the results are ultimately what matter most. The Chiefs won nine straight last season in similar fashion and ultimately got to a Super Bowl. Who’s to say the Broncos are not capable of a similar outcome, even with the doubt they cast?

Yahoo Sports: 3rd​

The Broncos have a great record and a good shot at the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but the lingering issues kept them from moving up this week. Their offense could not put away a game against the Commanders in the fourth quarter Sunday night, whiffing on all four drives while they nursed a small lead. The defense gave up two long drives to Marcus Mariota with the game on the line, though it got the play it needed when Nik Bonitto knocked down a pass on a 2-point conversion. But Broncos head coach Sean Payton believes there’s value in winning close games. “The journey of a good team’s season involves games like this, and then you believe you can do it again,” Payton said.

CBS Sports: 2nd​

It wasn’t pretty in Washington, but good teams find a way. They just keep on winning close games.

ESPN: 3rd​

With J.K. Dobbins on injured reserve (foot), Harvey is clearly the team’s RB1 and the only “big” back on the roster at 205 pounds — no other player at the position is over 200 pounds. He has shown improvement in pass protection, so that should give him some additional third-down snaps in the weeks ahead. But the Broncos need him at his decisive best as a runner if their run game is going to be more than ornamental.

Pro Football Talk: 2nd​

The No. 1 seed is inching within reach.

USA Today: 5th​

In some respects, they resemble a Rocky Mountain version of the Seahawks, sporting an often dominant D and a quarterback who can be great … and also a total wild card.

Fox Sports: 3rd​

They’ve now won nine straight games despite trailing at some point in each one. Their past four wins were by a combined 10 points. Why do they make everything so hard?

Sports Illustrated: 7th​

Opponent aside, I thought this was another great survival test for the Broncos who, despite the circumstances, are getting the critical plays when necessary, be it an efficient rushing drive or the generation of a free runner on defense who can shut a play down. That’s a coaching difference and remains Denver’s biggest advantage to this point.

---

The consensus seems to be that the Broncos are among the top three teams in the NFL right now. The outlier being Sports Illustrated who dropped the Broncos from 4th to 7th after their win on Sunday. That writer is off his rocker, obviously. By and large, the Broncos record is demanding the respect most of these writers don’t want to give. That will likely continue even if they win another game next week over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Respect is earned and beating the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs wasn’t enough. The real test will come in those final four games against the Packers, Jaguars, Chiefs, and Chargers. The stars are aligning for one heck of a finish to this regular season.

Do you think the Broncos are being fairly ranked heading into Week 14?

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/denv...272/denver-broncos-nfl-power-rankings-week-14

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos Film Review: Garett Bolles vs the Commanders

There are three things that we can always expect: death, taxes, and Garett Bolles being the cornerstone of this offensive line. This guy is the definition of consistent, and he’s consistently great. It doesn’t matter the opponent, place, or time, Bolles always shows up to the occasion, and Sunday night was no different.

The Denver Broncos were once again pass-heavy on offense when they took on the Washington Commanders, and you can be that kind of team when you have an offensive line like they do, especially when they have an uber-reliable talent protecting the blind side. Today we get to take a look at the kind of game that Bolles had in prime time, and I think I might’ve already spoiled the general vibe of it.

But let’s take a look at the game Garett Bolles had against Washington.

Stat crunch​

Garett Bolles played all 69 of Denver’s offensive snaps. 21 of them were designed runs and 48 of them were designed passes.

Bolles had zero blown blocks and gave up zero TFLs.

He gave up two pressures in pass protection, but gave up zero QB hits and zero sacks.

He committed zero penalties.

Bolles would finish the game with two “Bad” blocks, two “Meh” blocks, six “Alright” blocks, and 59 “Good” blocks for a score of 64.5 points out of a possible 69, or 93.5%.

He was nearly perfect in run protection, scoring a 98.8% as he had one “Alright” block and 20 “Good” blocks. In pass protection he put up a 91.1%.

In general​

There wasn’t much thrown at Bolles that he couldn’t handle all night long.

His run protection mostly consisted of either a sealing of the backside B gap or the washing out of the playside DE. He was just usually building a wall as that’s what the role of the offensive tackle is on Inside Zone. He looked athletic in this part too, as throughout the run game he handles the space he has to work in well. He’s able to get to the defender efficiently, but still under balance and does a great job at closing the door when the defender attempts to make a move to the inside.

It’s typically Bolles’ athleticism that impresses me in his run game. The Broncos almost exclusively run their series of Crack Tosses or Pin-and-Pulls to the left as Bolles does a great job of getting around the block and into space on the boundary and lays a clean block. He just handles space so much better than most tackles around the league.

And when it came to his pass protection in this game, outside of those two pressures, it was almost comical watching him play. Bolles looks so nonchalant out there, like he’s not even trying that hard. The DE has almost no chance of getting to Nix on any given play. It’s almost like there’s a reason that he’s the only tackle in the league who has yet to give up a sack.

We’ll take a look at one of his pressures specifically, but one was due to him lowering his head on initial contact with the DE, which is just a bit of a mental/ physical lapse by him. Usually he has no issue with that mistake. And the other play, in my opinion, was a lack of effort, thinking he would just be on the backside of the play and not chasing after an extra rusher. But that’s rare to see out of Bolles, so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and say that this won’t really be an issue moving forwards.

The specifics​

Pass play – Drop back – Good block

The first think I like about this clip is the patience that Bolles shows. The DE is playing a wide-9 tech and it’ll take some time for him to close the gap. The worst thing you can do is to try and go out to him, vertically or horizontally. If you play up to him, then you have no base and can get speed-moved easily. If you go out horizontally then you open up a massive gap inside for him to take. Bolles does neither.

He sits and as the DE tries the bull rush, Bolles sits into it, gets his feet behind him and chops them, and then bring his feet back underneath his body to completely absorb the attack.

Pass play – Drop back – Bad block

This is one of the two pressures that he gave up on Sunday. In the last clip he did a great job of absorbing the bull rush. This clip he does a poor job against the same rush.

The main issue is his posture at the initial point of contact. He drops his head and his chest gets too far out over his toes. But most importantly, his left foot is off the ground when the DE lands his hands. Bad timing of the feet and bad posture leads to him getting driven back, collapsing the pocket. And since Bo Nix now feels like he has to step up, the DE is able to get a hand on Nix. Somehow Nix is able to escape and get the ball out before he takes the sack. It’s quite remarkable how good Nix is at this stuff.

Pass play – Drop back – Good block

This clip shows off more of Bolles’ patience, and also how good he is at hand fighting.

He does a great job of first just using his inside hand to keep the DE at distance (in pass protection you want space between you and the dline, the opposite of what you want in run protection). At the initial contact the DE is only in range of Bolles’ right hand, and if he tried to get his left hand on, that would cause him to lean over.

Instead he waits for the DE to attempt his pass rush, and then after that he counters by placing his left hand right into the DE’s chest, stopping him in his tracks. And then the cherry on top is Alex Palczewski coming over to pop the DE a little.

Also I still can’t believe this pass by Nix.

Pass play – Drop back – Good block

While the focus is on Bolles and how well he takes over the slanter on this stunt, this clip is a highlight of Palczewski and Luke Wattenberg too.

Check out how Palczewski sees that the DE is looping back inside, so he gives the DT a big shove right across Bolles, making it easy to pick up the DT. He then slides back inside and gets right onto Wattenberg’s hip and they both completely shut the door on the looper. This is a great rep by all three guys, as well as Bolles.

Run play – Outside Zone Lead – Good block

Don’t worry, I didn’t just pick pass plays to look at. It just so happened that the sample size of pass plays vs run plays is a little lopsided.

With this Outside Zone concept, Bolles is tasked with the job of reaching the DT. With a reach block, you must always be working to get to the playside of the defender as long as that opportunity presents itself (you can turn the block into a wash if you absolutely have no other option). Bolles shows off the rip technique, throwing his backside arm across the defender and running him across the field. It’s a dang near perfect use of this technique.

Side note: for those that care, I was pretty torn of trying to figure out if this was Inside or Outside Zone. The slice block by Trautman make it seem like IZ, and where Jaleel McLaughlin attempts to rush makes it seem like IZ, but the reach blocks by the offensive line and how they’re declaring rushing lanes by flipping their hips seems to be more of an Outside Zone concept. Either way, good block by Bolles.

Final thoughts​

Garett Bolles is simply playing like one of the best offensive tackles in the game at this point, and there is little that he’s unable to do. This offense works in great part due to him. He is a joy to watch every week.

Source: https://www.milehighreport.com/bron...oncos-film-review-garett-bolles-vs-commanders

 

[Denver Broncos]

Broncos vs. Raiders: Wednesday practice participation report

The Denver Broncos have a mix of good and bad news to start their Week 14 preparation to take on the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. First, the good news. Edge rusher Jonah Elliss is a full participant to start this week after a multi-week rehab on a hamstring injury. It sure looks like he’ll be ready to return to action barring any setbacks there.

The bad news is interior defensive lineman D.J. Jones was a non-participant in practice on Wednesday. He was seen watching practice without a helmet, but no other status update on his potential availability for Sunday’s game.

Here is your full practice report for Wednesday.

Denver Broncos Injury Report​

Player	Pos.	Injury	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Game Status
Jonah Elliss	OLB	Hamstring	FULL
Reese Taylor	CB	Chest	FULL
Nate Adkins	TE	Knee	DNP
D.J. Jones	DT	Ankle	DNP

Las Vegas Raiders Injury Report​

Player	Pos.	Injury	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Game Status
Jamal Adams	LB	Knee	FULL
Will Putnam	C	Shoulder	FULL
Maxx Crosby	DE	Knee	LIMITED
Jordan Meredith	C/G	Ankle	LIMITED
Geno Smith	QB	Foot	LIMITED
Alex Bachman	WR	Thumb	DNP
Michael Mayer	TE	Ankle	DNP
Dylan Parham	G	Back	DNP
Dont’e Thornton	WR	Concussion	DNP

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

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