In what was one of the biggest missed opportunities in recent franchise history, the Denver Broncos fell to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, 28-29. A series of ill-fated, but easily preventable, mistakes proved too costly. Pro Football Focus (PFF) released its Week 2 player grades, highlighting the best and worst individual performances.

Offense

Best Players

  • WR Pat Bryant: 79.2
  • WR Troy Franklin: 76.7
  • LT Garett Bolles: 75.4
  • WR Marvin Mims: 69.0
  • RT Mike McGlinchey: 68.2

Franklin is proving the preseason buzz was justified. Following a mediocre rookie year, he flashed potential over the summer, and that momentum has carried into the regular season. Through two games, he’s hauled in 12 of 15 targets for 133 yards and a touchdown, standing out as the team’s most reliable playmaker.

Worst Players

  • QB Bo Nix: 48.6
  • RB RJ Harvey: 50.8
  • TE Evan Engram: 51.8
  • WR Trent Sherfield: 52.2
  • TE Lucas Krull: 54.6

It’s unusual for a quarterback to toss three touchdowns in the first half and still finish with the lowest offensive grade on the team, but that was the case for Nix. Despite his hot start, a costly fourth-quarter interception shifted the momentum and triggered a chain of mistakes that allowed the Colts to escape with the win.

Defense

Best Players

  • DE Zach Allen: 79.6
  • OLB Dondrea Tillman: 78.3
  • S P.J. Locke: 72.1
  • S Talanoa Hufanga: 70.1
  • OLB Jonah Elliss: 68.3

Hufanga’s relentless effort saved the Broncos from falling behind on Jonathan Taylor’s 68-yard run, chasing him down to prevent a touchdown. Per PFF, he’s now posted back-to-back games with at least nine tackles. He did step off briefly for strength testing on his right arm, but fortunately was able to return to action.

Worst Players

  • LB Justin Strnad: 42.2
  • CB Pat Surtain: 43.9
  • OLB Jonathon Cooper: 45.2
  • DL John Franklin-Myers: 47.3
  • CB Riley Moss: 48.4

Surtain had arguably his worst game of his career. Per PFF, he surrendered seven receptions on nine targets for 63 yards—matching the highest single-game total he’s allowed. It’s worth noting, though, that he suffered an ankle injury early in the game that likely impacted his performance.

Special Teams

  • LS Mitchell Fraboni: 82.2
  • ST Lucas Krull: 72.5
  • P Jeremy Crawshaw: 64.4
  • KR Marvin Mims: 58.7
  • K Wil Lutz: 50.5 (FG) 60.0 (KO)
  • ST Dondrea Tillman (32.7)

The special teams unit had a fourth-quarter performance that will likely haunt the team for the rest of the season. Lutz’s missed 42-yard field goal would have likely been a game-winner. However, it was Tillman’s leverage penalty on the Colts’ initially missed field goal that was the most egregious, given the ramifications.

With Week 2 behind them, the Broncos will look forward to bouncing back in Week 3. At 2-0, the Chargers currently sit atop the division, which makes this game monumental. The Broncos will travel to Los Angeles to face their division rivals this Sunday at 2:05 p.m. MST.