Tag: Broncos Buzz’

Broncos PFF grades: Best, worst players from 34-27 loss to Chargers

Broncos CB Kris Abrams-Draine (75.6) impressed again while LB Justin Strnad (28.7) had a night to forget. View more PFF grades here.

Following the Denver Broncos‘ 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football, Pro Football Focus has released grades for each player’s Week 16 performance.

PFF grades players on a 0 (worst) to 100 (best) scale. Check out the best and worst of Week 16 below.

Best Offensive Players 

  • TE/FB Nate Adkins: 79.7
  • FB Michael Burton: 75.3
  • RB Audric Estime: 74.1
  • G Quinn Meinerz: 73. 6
  • RB Blake Watson: 70.6

Adkins and Burton did a good job opening up running lanes and Estime impressed, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. RB Javonte Williams (67.3) received the sixth-best grade on offense after averaging 6.0 yards per tote. Denver should have been more committed to the run.

Best Defensive Players 

  • DL Malcolm Roach 84.9
  • CB Kris Abrams-Draine: 75.6
  • DL Eyioma Uwazurike: 75.5
  • DL D.J. Jones: 74.6
  • LB Drew Sanders: 73.4

One defensive snap, one sack for Sanders. Perhaps we’ll see more of him in the final two games of the regular season. Abrams-Draine, meanwhile, continues to look like a fifth-round gem.

Worst Offensive Players 

  • G Ben Powers: 42.3
  • OT Mike McGlinchey: 47.2
  • OL Matt Peart: 50.3
  • TE Adam Trautman: 52.2
  • WR Troy Franklin: 56.1

Franklin continues to struggle to make an impact. QB Bo Nix (62.6) ranked 11th among Denver’s 19 graded players on offense.

Worst Defensive Players 

  • LB Justin Strnad: 28.7
  • LB Cody Barton: 34.6
  • DB P.J. Locke: 43.7
  • DL John Franklin-Myers: 45.4
  • OLB Jonathan Cooper: 47.5

Strnad had a night to forget. In addition to his foul against a sliding Justin Herbert, the linebacker also allowed seven catches for 103 yards on eight coverage targets. The Broncos will need to make upgrading the inside linebacker position a priority in 2025.

Special Teams 

  • ST JL Skinner: 71.9
  • LS Mitchell Fraboni: 64.8
  • R Marvin Mims: 61.2
  • K Wil Lutz: 73.5 (FG) 60.0 (KO)
  • P Riley Dixon: 67.5

You can view grades for every player on the paid version of PFF’s website.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

8 players did not play in Broncos’ loss to Chargers

Eight Broncos did not play against the Chargers on Sunday, including injured CB Riley Moss and injured RB Jaleel McLaughlin.

Eight members of the 53-man roster did not play in the Denver Broncos‘ 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football in Week 16.

Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson*, cornerback Riley Moss (knee), running back Jaleel McLaughlin (quad), cornerback Levi Wallace, linebacker Levelle Bailey, offensive tackle Frank Crum and defensive lineman Matt Henningsen were inactive on Thursday.

*Wilson was inactive but still dressed as an emergency third quarterback. Jarrett Stidham, Denver’s primary backup quarterback, Jarrett Stidham, also did not play as Bo Nix took every snap on offense, giving the Broncos eight total players who did not see the field. Stidham has only appeared in two games this season.

Broncos who did not play in Week 16

  1. QB Zach Wilson (*emergency third QB)
  2. CB Riley Moss (knee)
  3. RB Jaleel McLaughlin (quad)
  4. CB Levi Wallace 
  5. LB Levelle Bailey 
  6. OT Frank Crum
  7. DL Matt Henningsen
  8. QB Jarrett Stidham (active)

Following Thursday’s loss, Nix and the Broncos will look to bounce back when they go on the road to face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos inactives: 7 players won’t play on ‘TNF’

Broncos inactives: Zach Wilson, CB Riley Moss, RB Jaleel McLaughlin, CB Levi Wallace, LB Levelle Bailey, OT Frank Crum, DL Matt Henningsen.

The Denver Broncos have announced their list of seven inactive players for a Thursday Night Football clash with the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season.

The Broncos’ inactive players today are quarterback Zach Wilson*, cornerback Riley Moss (knee), running back Jaleel McLaughlin (quad), cornerback Levi Wallace, linebacker Levelle Bailey, offensive tackle Frank Crum and defensive lineman Matt Henningsen.

*Technically, Wilson is still available to play as the team’s emergency third-string quarterback behind starter Bo Nix and primary backup Jarrett Stidham, but he’s on the inactive list and does not count against the game-day roster. Wilson can play if both Nix and Stidham are injured.

With the exception of Wilson, these inactive players are members of the 53-man roster who are not eligible to play against the Chargers. They will be reactivated on Monday.

Broncos inactives vs. Chargers

  1. QB Zach Wilson (*emergency third QB)
  2. CB Riley Moss (knee)
  3. RB Jaleel McLaughlin (quad)
  4. CB Levi Wallace 
  5. LB Levelle Bailey 
  6. OT Frank Crum
  7. DL Matt Henningsen

Thursday’s game will be available to stream on Prime. The Broncos are one win away from clinching a spot in the 2024 NFL playoffs.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos announce uniform combo for ‘TNF’ vs. Chargers

The Broncos will wear white jerseys and blue pants against the Chargers on ‘Thursday Night Football’ in Week 16.

The Denver Broncos will wear white jerseys and blue pants on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football, the team announced ahead of the Week 16 matchup.

This marks the eighth time the Broncos have worn their white jersey this season. They are 3-4 in their last seven games wearing white tops.

Denver previously announced the team’s jersey color for all 17 games earlier this year, but players pick the color of their pants each week. The Broncos’ home games this fall will feature jersey colors white (once), blue (once), throwback (twice) and orange (four times).

On the road, Denver had one orange jersey game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3. Besides that Bucs contest, the Broncos’ eight other road games will all feature white jerseys.

After making its debut in Week 5 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Denver’s popular 1977-inspired throwback uniform will return when the Broncos host the Kansas City Chiefs in their season finale in Week 18.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos elevate 2 players from practice squad to game-day roster

The Broncos are elevating RB Blake Watson and DL Matt Henningsen from the practice squad ahead of TNF.

The Denver Broncos are calling up reinforcements from the practice squad ahead of their Week 16 showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Broncos elevated running back Blake Watson and defensive lineman Matt Henningsen from the practice squad to the game-day roster, the team announced Thursday. They will revert back to the practice squad on Friday.

Players can be elevated up to three times during the season without having to clear waivers to return to the practice squad. This marks the first elevations of the season for both Watson and Henningsen.

The Broncos are turning to Watson after losing Jaleel McLaughlin to a quad injury. Watson will serve as the team’s No. 3 running back in L.A. behind Javonte Williams and Audric Estime (wide receiver Marvin Mims might get some snaps at running back as well).

Watson dressed for one game earlier this season, playing one snap on offense and one snap on special teams. He was bumped from the active roster down to the practice squad in October.

Thursday’s game will be available to stream on Prime. The Broncos are one win away from clinching a spot in the 2024 NFL playoffs.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Is Riley Moss playing today? Injury updates for Broncos CB

Broncos cornerback Riley Moss (knee) won’t play against the Chargers on ‘Thursday Night Football.’

Denver Broncos second-year cornerback Riley Moss went down with a knee injury against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12 and he did not play against the Cleveland Browns in Week 13 or against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15 after Denver’s bye week. Here are the latest on Moss’ MCL status going into Week 16.

Riley Moss injury update

Moss has been ruled out for Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, so he won’t suit up today. The Broncos held two walk-through practices this week and Moss was listed as an estimated limited participant on Tuesday, which is a step in the right direction after he did not participate in practice two weeks ago.

How long will Riley Moss be out?

After the Raiders game, Broncos coach Sean Payton said the injury “wasn’t really serious,” but the cornerback has now missed three games. Perhaps the coach meant it wasn’t as serious as it could have been. After facing the Chargers on Thursday, Denver will have nine days before their next game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17, a Saturday afternoon game. With extra rest following a TNF game, Moss might be a candidate to return to action against the Bengals.

Broncos cornerback depth chart

Last week, rookie Kris Abrams-Draine filled in for Moss with Damarri Mathis getting rotational snaps. Abrams-Draine will likely start across from Pat Surtaon on Thursday with Ja’Quan McMillian playing in the slot. The Broncos also have special teams ace Tremon Smith and veteran Levi Wallace providing additional depth at cornerback.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos vs. Chargers: Will the game be on TV today?

The Broncos’ game against the Chargers today will be available to stream on Prime Video.

The Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) are set to host the Denver Broncos (9-5) on Thursday Night Football in Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season on Dec. 19. The AFC West showdown at SoFi Stadium is scheduled to kick off at 6:15 p.m. MT (8:15 p.m. ET).

The Broncos-Chargers game will be available to stream on television exclusively on Amazon’s Prime Video. Football fans who watch on mobile devices can stream the game for free on Twitch (here’s how).

Al Michaels (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) will call the game for Prime with Kaylee Hartung reporting from the sideline.

On the radio, the game will be nationally broadcast on Westwood One and broadcast locally on KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM.

Fans in the orange areas on the map below can stream the game on Prime Video on Thursday:

The Broncos lead the all-time series against the Chargers 73-56-1, but Denver is considered a road underdog this week. The Broncos can clinch their first playoff berth since 2015 with an upset win on Thursday night.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Denver Broncos schedule: How many games are left this season?

The Broncos have three games remaining this season.

The Denver Broncos are set to face the Los Angeles Chargers in a Thursday Night Football showdown in Week 16. After that, the Broncos will have two more games remaining in the regular season.

Denver will play eight home games at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium this year and nine games on the road. Because the league has an unbalanced 17-game schedule, the NFC and AFC rotate between having an extra home game. This year, the NFC gets a ninth home game.

The Broncos are led by head coach Sean Payton with rookie Bo Nix serving as their starting quarterback this fall.

View the team’s complete 2024 schedule below.

Denver Broncos 2024 Schedule

Week Date TV Opponent Time (MT) Broncos Tickets
1 9/8 CBS @ Seattle Seahawks 26-20 L
2 9/15 CBS  vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 13-6 L
3 9/22 FOX @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-7 W
4 9/29 CBS @ New York Jets 10-9 W
5 10/6 FOX vs. Las Vegas Raiders 34-18 W
6 10/13 CBS vs. Los Angeles Chargers 23-16 L
7 10/17 Amazon Prime Video @ New Orleans Saints 33-10 W
8 10/27 CBS vs. Carolina Panthers 28-14 W
9 11/3 CBS @ Baltimore Ravens 41-10 L
10 11/10 CBS @ Kansas City Chiefs 16-14 L
11 11/17 FOX vs. Atlanta Falcons 38-6 W
12 11/24 CBS @ Las Vegas Raiders 29-19 W
13 12/2 ESPN vs. Cleveland Browns 41-32 W
14 12/8 BYE
15 12/15 CBS vs. Indianapolis Colts 31-13 W
16 12/19 Prime @ Los Angeles Chargers 6:15 PM Tickets
17 12/28 NFL Network @ Cincinnati Bengals 2:30 PM Tickets
18 1/4 or 1/5 TBD vs. Kansas City Chiefs TBD Tickets

The Broncos have not returned to the playoffs since their Super Bowl-winning season in 2015. Now entering his second season on the job, Payton will aim to snap the club’s eight-year playoff drought this fall.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Broncos’ depth chart for ‘TNF’ clash with Chargers

Levi Wallace is still listed above Damarri Mathis and Kris Abrams-Draine on the Broncos’ “unofficial” depth chart.

The Denver Broncos are set to face the Los Angeles Chargers in a Thursday Night Football showdown in Week 16.

The Broncos did not make any official changes to their published depth chart this week, but Damarri Mathis and Kris Abrams-Draine have clearly jumped Levi Wallace, who was a healthy scratch on Sunday. Wallace is still listed above them on the depth chart, though.

With that caveat in mind, here’s a look at Denver calls the “unofficial” depth chart going into Thursday’s game.

Broncos offensive depth chart

WR Marvin Mims Troy Franklin
LT Garett Bolles Matt Peart
LG Ben Powers
C Luke Wattenberg Alex Forsyth
RG Quinn Meinerz Alex Palczewski
RT Mike McGlinchey Frank Crum
TE Adam Trautman Lucas Krull
WR Courtland Sutton Lil’Jordan Humphrey Devaughn Vele
RB Javonte Williams Jaleel McLaughlin Audric Estime Blake Watson
FB Michael Burton Nate Adkins
QB Bo Nix Jarrett Stidham Zach Wilson

Broncos defensive depth chart

DE Zach Allen Jordan Jackson
NT D.J. Jones Malcolm Roach
DE John Franklin-Myers Eyioma Uwazurike Matt Henningsen
SLB Jonathon Cooper Jonah Elliss Drew Sanders
WLB Nik Bonitto Dondrea Tillman
ILB Justin Strnad Zach Cunningham
ILB Cody Barton Levelle Bailey
LCB Pat Surtain Levi Wallace Tremon Smith
RCB Riley Moss Damarri Mathis Kris Abrams-Draine
NCB Ja’Quan McMillian
S P.J. Locke JL Skinner
S Brandon Jones Devon Key

Broncos special teams depth chart

PK Wil Lutz
KO Wil Lutz
P Riley Dixon
H Riley Dixon
LS Mitchell Fraboni
KR Marvin Mims Tremon Smith Jaleel McLaughlin
PR Marvin Mims Tremon Smith

Thursday’s game will be available to stream on Prime. The Broncos are one win away from clinching a spot in the 2024 NFL playoffs.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

All 32 NFL quarterbacks (including Bo Nix) ranked by Total QBR

Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix has a Total QBR rating of 52.2 through 15 weeks. He ranks 21st in the NFL.

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix posted a Total QBR rating of 15.2 in the team’s 31-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15, bringing his season-long Total QBR average to 52.2.

Nix’s season-long rating has dropped since last week (56.2) and his overall rank (No. 21) among starters is also down since last week (No. 19).

Nix’s traditional passer rating this season is 86.1, which ranks 24th.

Unlike a traditional passer rating, the Total QBR “incorporates all of a quarterback’s contributions to winning, including how he impacts the game on passes, rushes, turnovers and penalties,” according to ESPN.

The metric takes into account scenarios that a traditional passer rating overlooks and considers “a team’s level of success or failure on every play to provide the proper context and then allocates credit to the quarterback and his teammate to produce a clearer measure of quarterback efficiency.”

With that context in mind, here’s a look at how Nix stacks up against the NFL’s other starting quarterbacks this fall.

NFL QBs ranked by Total QBR after Week 15

  1. Michael Penix: 95.3
  2. Josh Allen: 79.3
  3. Lamar Jackson: 76.0
  4. Joe Burrow: 74.0
  5. Kyler Murray: 68.3
  6. Jayden Daniels: 67.9
  7. Matthew Stafford: 66.4
  8. Jordan Love: 66.3
  9. Jared Goff: 65.6
  10. Jalen Hurts: 65.4
  11. Brock Purdy: 65.2
  12. Patrick Mahomes: 64.6
  13. Tua Tagovailoa: 61.2
  14. Sam Darnold: 60.2
  15. Drake Maye: 58.7
  16. Justin Herbert: 56.5
  17. Baker Mayfield: 56.1
  18. Russell Wilson: 55.3
  19. Aaron Rodgers: 53.9
  20. Mason Rudolph: 53.4
  21. Bo Nix: 52.2
  22. Geno Smith: 52.1
  23. C.J. Stroud: 49.8
  24. Caleb Williams: 48.1
  25. Anthony Richardson: 46.5
  26. Drew Lock: 45.3
  27. Bryce Young: 44.0
  28. Spencer Rattler: 42.0
  29. Aidan O’Connell: 40.7
  30. Cooper Rush: 36.3
  31. Mac Jones: 34.1
  32. Dorian Thompson-Robinson: 16.4

Nix will look to improve his Total QBR rating when the Broncos take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football in Week 16.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]