The Denver Broncos were utterly dismantled by the Baltimore Ravens, falling 41-10, and because of that, when Pro Football Focus (PFF) released their grades for Week 9, it was no surprise that few players earned high marks.

Offense

Best Offensive Players 

  • WR Courtland Sutton: 79.0
  • OT Garett Bolles: 71.1
  • C Alex Forsyth: 67.7
  • RB Audric Estime: 66.5
  • FB Michael Burton: 66.2

Worst Offensive Players 

  • TE/FB Nate Adkins: 42.0
  • OT Mike McGlinchey: 50.1
  • TE Adam Trautman: 50.1
  • TE Lucas Krull: 51.6
  • RB Jaleel McLaughlin: 52.8

Courtland Sutton (79.0) continued his hot streak, throwing a touchdown pass and securing over 100 receiving yards for the second consecutive game. Sutton was the Broncos’ primary target, seeing ten passes come his way and hauling in seven. No other Broncos receiver surpassed 20 yards.

Bo Nix (63.2) caught the only Denver touchdown of the day, making him the only player in the NFL who has thrown, rushed, and caught a touchdown. While Nix showcased some promising plays, some inconsistency was highlighted by an interception and missed open receivers.

After their impressive showing last week, where Adkins (42.0) and Trautman (50.1) both found the end zone, the tight end group was virtually nonexistent this week. Lucas Krull (51.6) and the other tight ends combined for a meager one catch for four yards.

Defense

Best Defensive Players 

  • LB Kwon Alexander: 92.4
  • OLB Nik Bonitto: 76.9
  • DL Eyioma Uwazurike: 70.9
  • DL John Franklin-Myers: 70.1
  • OLB Jonathon Cooper: 67.5

Worst Defensive Players 

  • LB Justin Strnad: 25.6
  • DL Malcolm Roach: 27.2
  • CB Ja’Quan McMillian: 30.1
  • CB Riley Moss: 38.0
  • DL Jordan Jackson: 41.0

Denver made a shrewd move in signing Kwon Alexander (92.4) to replace the injured Alex Singleton. Alexander graded the highest by PFF against the run (93.4) and was credited with five total tackles.  With Baron Browning (52.5) traded to the Arizona Cardinals, Denver will likely sign Alexander to fill the roster spot.

Nik Bonitto’s (76.9) six-game sack streak came to an end against the Ravens. A strong performance was marred by a technicality, as his tackle for loss on Lamar Jackson on a designed run play was not credited as a sack.

John Franklin-Myers (70.1) had a solid game with two tackles, a sack, and a QB hit. His sack of Jackson early in the game pushed the Ravens out of field-goal range after they gained a short field on the Nix interception.

Justin Strnad (25.6) saw a significant drop in snaps in favor of Alexander. He played in just 14 and struggled in coverage (27.3), though he scored high in both tackling (71.4) and the pass rush (87.2).

Special Teams 

  • ST JL Skinner: 88.8
  • R Marvin Mims: 62.5 (KR) 61.8 (PR)
  • K Wil Lutz: 62.6 (FG) 60.0 (KO)
  • P Riley Dixon: 60.4

Mims graded higher on special teams (59.7) than on offense (53.7).