Week 6: The Denver Broncos finally getting respect in NFL power rankings
Week 6: The Denver Broncos finally getting respect in NFL power rankings
Despite winning two straight, the Denver Broncos didn’t see much of a rise in the weekly NFL power rankings last week. However, now they are on a three-game win streak that will be hard for even the most biased national pundit to ignore. Are they finally getting respect? Let’s find out.
In this week’s power rankings, the consensus has shifted slightly upward. Still mostly outside of true contender status. Last week, they would put the Broncos behind the Las Vegas Raiders and now they put them behind the Los Angeles Chargers. So, at the very least, they can keep proving those haters wrong with another win at home this week. If Denver wins that game, they’ll be 4-2 and plenty hard to write off as a middle of the pack squad.
Here is where the Broncos are ranking around the NFL.
ESPN – 19th
Week 5 ranking: 22
Biggest issue on offense: Consistency against the run
Coach Sean Payton has repeatedly said that Denver needs to find more opportunities for Mims, but the receiver has played 59 snaps over five games (18% of the team’s offensive snaps). He was expected to slide into the WR2 role vacated by Jerry Jeudy and become a fantasy contributor. Mims has only three catches on five targets. He’s explosive and showed his potential boost to a balky offense with his 17-yard run in Sunday’s win over the Raiders — but it was one of just two touches in that game. — Jeff Legwold
NY Times – 19th
Last week: 25
This feels like a good place to talk about how good Denver’s defense is. The Broncos are tied for second in the league in points allowed (14.6) and third in defensive success rate (64.6 percent), sack percentage (10.8) and defensive EPA per 100 snaps. Pat Surtain II had two interceptions Sunday and returned one 100 yards for a touchdown. The defense is the reason this team is 3-2 even though its highest-rated fantasy player is rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who is 69th in scoring (13.71).
CBS Sports – 17th
Sean Payton has this team at 3-2 and in the AFC playoff race. They are playing outstanding defense and Bo Nix is playing better each week.
ProFootballTalk – 15th
Broncos (No. 15; 3-2): Can we permanently turn the clock back to 1977 for the Broncos’ uniforms?
NFL.com – 14th
Pat Surtain II intercepted both Raiders quarterbacks on Sunday, running the first pick back 100 yards for a touchdown when the Broncos’ offense was still stuck in a rut. That tied the game at 10 apiece, and the Broncos found their groove soon after. Denver’s defense and special teams really set things up nicely with field position in the second half. There’s the potential for things to go awry with a banged-up offensive line heading into a big divisional game against the Chargers, but I wasn’t worried after seeing the Bo Nix-Sean Payton sideline discussion or hearing Payton’s Ferris Bueller quote after the game. First of all, it was funny. Secondly, this is how Payton shows love, I think. He knows that things have turned around to the point where this could be one of the more interesting Broncos seasons in years. If Nix responds, we’ll know he is the right guy for this team. It’s hard not to already think he’s that guy, with the rookie boasting mostly solid play through five games.
Fox Sports – 18th
I’m not willing to say Bo Nix has been great, but he’s doing what’s asked of him — and he hasn’t turned the ball over since Week 2. With what we’re seeing from this nasty Denver defense, that’s more than good enough. Hopefully, by this point we’re talking about Patrick Surtain II as a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
Sporting News – 17th
The Broncos aren’t doing much to win games — just playing sound defense with the occasional big play, running well as much as they can, and having Bo Nix grind it out. Sean Payton’s formula is working well vs. equal and lesser teams.
USA Today – 17th
Only the Chargers are allowing fewer points per game than the 14.6 of the Broncos, who also have 19 sacks and eight takeaways.
Where do you think the Broncos should be ranked after a three-game win streak? Share in the comments section below.
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