Despite the Broncos’ 27-14 loss in Baltimore on Sunday, a pair of Broncos showed enough on the field to earn Pro Football Focus’ Team of the Week awards for Week 3 of the NFL season.
Rookie linebacker Josey Jewell, a three-time captain at Iowa and one the most productive defenders in Big 10 history, has more than lived up to his billing in the season’s early-going.
Jewell, whose snaps have more than doubled in each successive game this season, drew the start on Sunday as longtime linebacker Brandon Marshall was nursing a knee injury, and graded out as the Broncos’ best defender – his 91.0 rating led the team.
It’s worth noting that Jewell has played 40 percent of the snaps superstar Von Miller has on the season, but his 89.9 rating has surpassed Miller’s 79.9 to lead the Broncos’ defense through three games. Jewell’s in-game rating has also improved in each game, from 65.3 to 69.6 to Sunday’s 91.0.
None of this is to suggest to Jewell is equivalent to Miller, or even that he’s one of the Broncos’ best overall defenders – not yet, at least – but it’s a striking testament to the adjustment to the NFL that the fourth-round selection has made in such a short span of time.
Jewell had eight tackles against the Ravens in Sunday’s loss, including a tackle for a loss of three yards.
Fletcher Cox makes another appearance in the PFF Team of the Week!
For the full team click below
⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ https://t.co/YXWiKpX2MZ
(via @PFF_Gordon) pic.twitter.com/4fZfhe9rXI
— PFF (@PFF) September 25, 2018
On the other side of the ball, guard Connor McGovern was named to the Team of the Week, as well. McGovern earned an 88.7 rating by Pro Football Focus despite a pair of holding tackles in the loss. McGovern has allowed only four pressures in 124 passing snaps (3.2%) and his 78.6 run blocking rating is the highest among Broncos’ linemen.
Jared Goff leads the PFF Team of the Week at quarterback with just Monday Night Football to go.
(via @PFF_Gordon)https://t.co/YXWiKpX2MZ pic.twitter.com/T7Mvux5eop
— PFF (@PFF) September 24, 2018