Broncos, Bo Nix finally make statement, stun Super Bowl champs

Preliminary ideas from the Broncos’ 21-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5 at Lincoln Monetary Area:

1. Bo Nix will get his assertion victory: Wish to be the Tremendous Bowl champs? You’ve bought to beat the champs. And Bo Nix, Sean Payton and firm simply did it on the street. The Broncos have a signature win, one which’s going to have speaking heads and followers exterior the Entrance Vary buzzing. After a pair of irritating, last-second away losses on the Colts and on the Chargers, Denver was due for a bit of soccer luck. Payton made his personal — sticking with the run sport late, getting large catches from Courtland Sutton within the clutch, and electing to go for 2 on the street after scoring a pair of fast TDs to stun the Philly crowd. Can the Broncos shut out a sport? Heck, yeah, they’ll.

Broncos report card: Bo Nix, Sean Payton’s offense full miraculous 180-degree flip in comeback win

2. Too many flags early: Zach Baun bailed the Broncos out with a late hit — which is ironic, given how a lot Denver’s self-inflicted wounds at Philadelphia felt like killers early. The Broncos dedicated eight penalties for 83 yards of infractions by way of the primary three quarters. And it wasn’t simply the amount, it was the timing. Of Denver’s first seven drives, three of them noticed the Broncos referred to as for a penalty on second down, flags that turned a second-and-short right into a second-and-7 yards or extra. In opposition to a great crew? With a tiny margin for error? That is a system for residing dangerously.

3. Sutton’s drop, Hufanga’s tip? Pure ache: The foremost factor lacking from The Bo Nix Expertise — nonetheless — is hitting on the house run ball. As a result of in Philadelphia (or Kansas Metropolis, or Buffalo, and many others.), these pictures do not come round typically. On the Broncos’ opening drive of the sport, Courtland Sutton had a step on his defender on a third-and-4 deep ball up the correct boundary. The throw was good. Sutton wasn’t. The toss appeared to go proper by way of Sutton’s palms, Nix-ing a completion that may’ve given Denver the ball at concerning the Philly 29. “Almosts” are how the soccer gods torture Broncomaniacs. Security Talanoa Hufanga’s tipped, “close to” pick-6 within the third quarter? Identical factor. They add up.

Broncos Evaluation: In dominating trenches vs. Philly, Sean Payton’s crew lastly has street map to loftier objectives

4. Dang 2-minute blues: NFL math is not onerous — it is a possession sport. As a normal rule, when you’ve got extra turns with the ball, you are inclined to win. However not for those who do not take critical benefit of these possibilities. The Broncos got here into the weekend ranked third within the NFL in factors scored over the ultimate two minutes of a half. Denver bought the ball twice with 2:18 left within the second quarter, as soon as at its personal 20, then — once more — its personal 44. One drawback? They got here away with nada to point out for it. Cannot have that on the street. Or towards the defending champs.