The Broncos came into Sunday’s matchup with the New York Jets trying to show signs of life. Poor quarterback play, questionable coaching decisions, and ineffective management throughout the organization led to an eight game losing streak and a 3-9 record.
Vance Joseph and company had one mission: Stop the bleeding.
They did that and more in a ballgame that reminded fans of the championship Broncos teams they had gotten used to seeing over the last several seasons and the team they were promised at the beginning of this year. While almost certainly a one-game flash in the pan, the win gives the organization something to build on and turns the temperature down on Vance Joseph’s seat, which had grown increasingly hot in recent weeks.
Below are some notes and observations made throughout Denver’s dominant performance Sunday.
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- Making the decision to throw the ball deep along the sideline to Emmanuel Sanders on the first play of the game set the wrong tone from the start. The Broncos needed to come into this game looking to maintain possession and establish their will. They corrected that later in the drive establishing a better run/pass ratio as the game went on.
- Cody Latimer showed off his skill set with an impressive 27-yard third down catch on Denver’s first possession. He hasn’t lived up to his second round billing, but it will be interesting to see if Latimer can find a future in Denver as a low cost role player and special teams contributor.
- Despite all the trouble they’ve had, the Broncos defense still hasn’t given up. They demonstrated vintage fight and effort on their first possession, swarming Josh McCown and forcing a strip sack to give the ball back to the Denver offense deep in New York territory. The Broncos converted that turnover into a Demaryius Thomas touchdown.
- Speaking of Demaryius Thomas, the 29-year-old passed Shannon Sharpe to take second place on the franchise’s all-time receiving touchdown list. Throughout the first half he flashed the kind of talent that made him this team’s highest paid offensive player. Those moments have come farther and farther apart as his career has gone on and they’ve essentially dried up since the end of the Manning era. Thomas showed in the first half that he still can be an elite receiver, but the offense around him is going to have to adjust to his skill-set. Drag routes, hooks, and plays designed to let him use his behemoth body in open space can still bring big dividends to Denver’s offense.
- The Broncos very well could decide to clean house in the quarterback room at the end of this season. However, Trevor Siemian should still get credit for battling. He played well and whether he is still an option next season for Denver or if he’s simply putting good things on tape for other teams, it’s to his credit that he continues to battle despite the challenges he’s faced this season.
- Shelby Harris was a force in the middle of the Denver defense in the first half. More than just eating up space, he forced big plays in the middle of the field. The defensive interior has been a weakness too often this season and it had to bring a smile to Vance Joseph and Joe Woods‘ faces to see Harris put up an impressive first half performance like that.
- Harris wasn’t the only Broncos defender who came to play. The Denver defense looked almost vintage at times during the first half. Darian Stewart picked off Josh McCown midway through the second quarter to put some icing on the cake for the Broncos’ first half performance.
- The Broncos’ defense was impressive throughout. The Jets offense crossed the 50-yard-line just one time in the first half. That possession ultimately led to the aforementioned Josh McCown turnover. That unit has faced criticism the last several weeks and charges that they had checked out or were disinterested. They proved that wasn’t the case. The “No Fly Zone” is still very much on duty and with an offseason reshuffle it wouldn’t be out of the question to see them fully return to form next season.
- Offensively, the Broncos seemed to be back clicking on all cylinders. They managed a nice run/pass mix and converted in big spots throughout the day. One couldn’t escape the feeling that this was the offense Broncos fans were promised all season. A blend of improved quarterback play and more experience with Bill Musgrave at the offensive coordinator spot benefited Denver enormously. It will be fascinating to see how that unit finishes out the season and if they can build on some of the things they showed in today’s game.
- While Siemian deserves credit for grinding, don’t mistake that for him re-establishing himself as a long-term answer under center for the Broncos. In nearly two seasons of work, we’ve learned all we need to know about the former seventh round pick out of Northwestern. He still holds onto the football far too long, is slow to move through progressions, and remains what he always was: painfully average. The difference in this game was simply that Siemian managed to protect the football. Had he done that at the start of the season, things might have turned out very differently over the last several weeks.
- Jordan Taylor is an upgrade in the return game. He isn’t flashy and won’t break many electric returns, but he’s a solid and sure-handed returner who makes smart decisions with the football in his hands. Taylor will be a suitable return man until Isaiah McKenzie can learn how to hold onto the football.