The Denver Broncos defense surrendered their most yards in a game since last year’s matchup against the Miami Dolphins. How big was the absence of cornerback Riley Moss, how did Jerry Jeudy have so much success, and how did Denver’s defense redeem themselves late?
Denver Broncos Film Room: What happened vs. the Cleveland Browns?
Monday Night Football was an absolute thriller, but for folks like me who are defensive-minded, it was frustrating to watch some of the breakdowns in coverage or communication that led to big plays. Vance Joseph and the players felt the same, and there were a handful of instances where something wrong occurred in coverage or with communication pre and post-snap. Here are a few plays that showcase it, and of course, Ja’Quan McMillian’s pick-six that helped redeem things.
Jerry Jeudy scorches Denver for 70 yards
The Denver Broncos defense comes out here in their base package to open up the second half, meaning that they’ve got their two safeties, two cornerbacks, two inside linebackers, two outside linebackers, and three defensive linemen in.
Denver is in man coverage, and because they’re in base, Patrick Surtain II has to bump his coverage assignment to the number one receiver near the end of the offensive tackle, and Levi Wallace ends up having to bump out to take Jeudy. It appears P.J. Locke is playing man on number two, first tight end, and Devon Key is keying inside David Njoku. Wallace doesn’t have the speed to run with Jeudy, and his cushion gets eaten up, and he can’t catch him.
Jeudy catches the Broncos D for 35 yards
The Broncos’ defense comes out in a two-high shell in their nickel package. Ja’Quan McMillian blitzes from the slot, which means somebody has to replace him in coverage. McMillian is initially aligned against Jeudy, so Barton seemingly replaces him. Both safeties are playing deep quarters, while Elijah Moore is attacking Levi Wallace vertically, who is in zone coverage, with P.J. Locke keying him inside. It’s possible there wasn’t communication on Jeudy breaking inside because if there had been, Locke might have been able to plant and rob down to help.
Nik Bonitto’s pick six vs. Cleveland
Right before halftime, the Broncos defense comes out in their base package. Against an empty offensive formation, the Broncos have both Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper step outside to coverage between the numbers and hash marks while they send three defensive linemen after Jameis Winston. Zach Allen’s pressure gets home, while Denver’s zone defense limits anybody from coming open vertically and inside. Winston looks to check it down to the tailback but Bonitto reads it coming and jumps the route for six.
Ja’Quan McMillian ices the game
On one of the final drives of the game, the Broncos, at this point, had a 34-32 lead and needed to protect against the Browns trying to kick a game-winning field goal. The Browns motion to an empty set here, with Jerome Ford and David Njoku motioning up. Njoku runs an arrow to the flat and is picked up by Devon Key, while PS2 covers the slant from Michael Woods II. Elijah Moore is Winston’s intended receiver here in the slot where he runs a speed out, but McMillian reads it the entire way and t-steps at a 45-degree angle to undercut the throw and he returns it for six.
Check out the full film review above for over 30 minutes of film breakdown.
