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Pro Football Focus’ high grade for Audric Estimé suggests more touches in store

Lindsay Bebout

Dec 19, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Denver Broncos running back Audric Estime (23) celebrates after a touchdown in the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Bummer. The Denver Broncos’ hopes of clinching their first playoff berth since the 2015 season were dashed in a heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. After a promising start, the Broncos faltered in the second half due to a series of mishaps by both the players and the coaching staff. Pro Football Focus (PFF) has released their player grades for the Week 16 performance.

Offense

Best Offensive Players 

Worst Offensive Players 

Despite an indication that there’d be an emphasis on the run game, evident by the “Run it!” prominently displayed on his playcalling sheet, Sean Payton seemed hesitant to commit to the ground game. Denver initially stuck to the rushing attack, with Estime (74.1) even finding the end zone on the opening drive. He finished with nine carries for 48 yards and a touchdown. However, Estime saw a significant drop in playing time toward the end of the game, appearing on the field for only 20% of the total snaps. Now, in a must-win mode, the Broncos need to prioritize getting the ball into Estime’s hands more often.

A common theme this season has been the strong correlation between the performance of the offensive line and the team’s win rate. This trend continued in this game, as two of the lowest-rated offensive players, according to the publication, were offensive linemen. Powers (42.3) committed two false start penalties, while Garett Bolles (66.9) incurred a costly holding penalty late in the game. This level of inconsistency from the offensive line cannot persist, especially with a challenging matchup against the explosive Bengals next week.

Defense

Best Defensive Players 

Worst Defensive Players 

Fifth-round rookie Abrams-Draine (75.6) has been a fantastic replacement for Riley Moss while he’s been out with a knee injury. He made a crucial interception in the second quarter on Denver’s own one-yard line, and despite being targeted the most amongst Denver’s cornerbacks, Abrams-Draine allowed only three receptions on six targets, according to PFF.

Strnad’s costly penalty summed up his poor (28.7) Thursday night performance. In a crucial third-down situation, Strnad was flagged for unnecessary roughness after hitting quarterback Justin Herbert late. This penalty negated what would have been a fourth down, and instead gifted the Chargers a first-and-goal opportunity. That drive turned into a touchdown that significantly impacted the game’s outcome.

Special Teams

Lutz (73.5) has been a consistent performer this season, providing stability and crucial points when the Broncos offense has struggled to gain momentum.

Denver will have an opportunity (again) to clinch a trip to the playoffs next Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals. While the short timeframe between games may have been a factor that led to their loss on Thursday night, this time, they’ll have ten days to rest and prepare. The Bengals, thanks to quarterback Joe Burrow and wideout Ja’Marr Chase, possess one of the most dangerous offenses in the league. This will present a significant challenge for a Broncos defense that has given up more than 30 points in two of their last three games. Furthermore, the Broncos’ offense will need to perform at a very high level to keep pace with Cincinnati’s. Perhaps more touches for Estimé will keep the Broncos’ offense humming… and keep Burrow, Chase and the Cincy offense on the sidelines.

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