The winning streak was bound to end eventually, and Sunday marked that moment for the Denver Broncos. After rattling off 11 consecutive victories, they suffered a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, though they still hold the No. 1 seed with complete control over their own destiny. Pro Football Focus (PFF) released its Week 16 player grades, highlighting the best and worst individual performances.
Offense
Best
- OT Garett Bolles: 81.8
- WR Courtland Sutton: 78.7
- OT Mike McGlinchey: 78.4
- RB RJ Harvey: 71.9
- RB Jaleel McLaughlin: 69.7
Harvey delivered his best performance of the season so far in his rookie season. Much of the criticism surrounding his play has focused on a perceived lack of explosiveness, but that narrative was flipped on its head against the Jaguars. He averaged an impressive 7.1 yards per carry with a rushing touchdown and added 71 yards as a receiver. His standout moment came on a 32-yard reception that briefly ignited hopes of a comeback, though it ultimately did not materialize.
Worst
- TE Adam Trautman: 48.2
- G Ben Powers: 50.0
- QB Bo Nix: 55.0
- G Alex Palczewski: 55.7
- FB Adam Prentice: 57.8
Nix’s two turnovers were unfortunate, especially considering how strong his overall performance was. He finished the game with 352 passing yards and added 11 yards on the ground, numbers that could have been even higher if not for the Broncos’ ongoing issues with dropped passes this season. His fourth-quarter interception ultimately proved costly, halting what initially appeared to be another one of his trademark comeback drives.
Defense
Best
- OLB Jonah Elliss: 91.7
- DL D.J. Jones: 85.2
- LB Alex Singleton: 82.6
- DL John Franklin-Myers: 81.1
- LB Jordan Turner: 79.7
Franklin-Myers has spent the past several weeks making a strong case for a Pro Bowl selection, and his performance on Sunday backed it up. Per PFF, he recorded two sacks, two stops, and did not allow a single reception. Those two sacks pushed him to a new career high of 7.5 on the season, with two games still remaining.
Worst
- DB P.J. Locke: 29.2
- DL Eyioma Uwazurike: 30.2
- CB Jahdae Barron: 42.7
- OLB Jonathon Cooper: 54.9
- CB Ja’Quan McMillian: 59.3
Both Locke and Barron were flagged for costly penalties that ultimately proved too much for the Broncos to overcome. Filling in for Brandon Jones, who was placed on injured reserve last week with a pectoral injury, Locke clearly struggled in an expanded role. Still, he has shown in the past that he has the talent, and Thursday presents a chance for him to bounce back and prove it.
Special Teams
- ST Que Robinson: 76.9
- LS Mitchell Fraboni: 64.2
- KR Marvin Mims Jr.: 59.7
- P Jeremy Crawshaw: 58.7
- K Wil Lutz: 54.8 (FG) 60.0 (KO)
Lutz entered the game riding a hot streak before missing a 44-yard field goal in the first quarter. While he bounced back by drilling a 54-yarder later, the early miss put the team in a deficit that resurfaced in the fourth quarter.
The Denver Broncos will have an opportunity to redeem themselves on a national stage on Christmas Day. They travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, with kickoff scheduled for 6:15 p.m. PST.