What are they going to say now? Despite being undefeated at home, the Denver Broncos entered last Sunday’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers as underdogs. After another statement win, Denver has earned a new label — “Overdogs,” as Bo Nix put it in his postgame interview. Pro Football Focus (PFF) released its Week 15 player grades, highlighting the best and worst individual performances.
Offense
Best
- G Quinn Meinerz: 93.6
- WR Troy Franklin: 88.0
- WR Michael Bandy: 87.4
- WR Courtland Sutton: 83.2
- QB Bo Nix: 83.1
Nix delivered the best performance of his NFL career on Sunday. He threw touchdowns to four different receivers, including to Franklin and Bandy. Without a single turnover committed, Nix earned a passer rating of 134.7. Much of Denver’s success has been credited to the defense this season, but there’s no denying the role Nix played in Sunday’s comeback win.
Worst
- OT Frank Crum: 40.0
- TE Nate Adkins: 40.9
- FB Adam Prentice: 47.2
- RB Tyler Badie: 50.0
- RB Jaleel McLaughlin: 51.2
There’s little to criticize about the Broncos’ offense after a five-touchdown performance. Badie and McLaughlin logged just 16 combined offensive snaps, giving PFF a limited sample to evaluate. While Crum, Adkins, and Prentice posted the three lowest overall offensive grades, all ranked among the top four in pass blocking, underscoring how every player contributed.
Defense
Best
- CB Pat Surtain II: 84.9
- OLB Nik Bonitto: 79.4
- DB P.J. Locke: 78.1
- DB Brandon Jones: 74.5
- CB Jahdae Barron: 73.3
Surtain delivered one of the defensive plays of the season with his third-quarter interception — a grab so smooth it would make any receiver jealous. The play flipped the game’s momentum and sparked the Broncos’ comeback. Once again, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year proved why he’s the best in the league.
Worst
- DB Talanoa Hufanga: 44.4
- LB Dre Greenlaw: 44.8
- LB Alex Singleton: 47.5
- DL Eyioma Uwazurike: 48.5
- CB Riley Moss: 51.4
Greenlaw was penalized in the grading for surrendering a receiving touchdown to Josh Jacobs. However, his coverage was nearly flawless, pointing more to an exceptional play by Jacobs than a mistake by Greenlaw. Likewise, Moss’ grade took a hit due to a questionable defensive pass interference call in the third quarter, a decision that has unfortunately become a familiar theme this season.
Special Teams
- ST Adam Prentice: 72.4
- LS Mitchell Fraboni: 63.6
- KR Tyler Badie: 58.8
- P Jeremy Crawshaw: 60.5
- K Wil Lutz: 64.5 (FG) 60.0 (KO)
Prentice has continued to emerge as one of the unsung heroes of this thriving Broncos team. His versatility as a physical blocker and occasional runner has proven to be a valuable asset.
The Denver Broncos have the opportunity to clinch the AFC West at home this weekend. They’ll face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at 2:05 p.m. MST.
