Tag: Broncos Buzz’

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.

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Broncos’ 53-man roster for ‘TNF’ game vs. Chargers

Here’s a look at the Broncos’ 53-man roster going into a ‘Thursday Night Football’ clash with the Chargers.

The Denver Broncos made no changes to their 53-man roster ahead of an AFC West showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16.

The Chargers are set to host the Broncos on Thursday Night Football this evening. If Denver wins, the Broncos will clinch their first playoff berth since the 2015 season.

Here’s a look at the active roster going into the game.

Denver Broncos 53-man roster

Position Name Number
QB Bo Nix 10
QB Jarrett Stidham 8
QB Zach Wilson 4
RB Javonte Williams 33
RB Jaleel McLaughlin 38
RB Audric Estime 23
RB Blake Watson 25
FB Michael Burton 20
FB/TE Nate Adkins 45
TE Adam Trautman 82
TE Lucas Krull 85
WR Courtland Sutton 14
WR Marvin Mims 19
WR Troy Franklin 16
WR Devaughn Vele 17
WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey 84
OT Garett Bolles 72
OT Mike McGlinchey 69
OT Frank Crum 73
OT Alex Palczewski 63
OL Matt Peart 79
G/C Quinn Meinerz 77
G Ben Powers 74
C/G Alex Forsyth 54
C/G Luke Wattenberg 60
OL Nick Gargiulo 66
DE Zach Allen 99
DE John Franklin-Myers 98
DL D.J. Jones 93
DL Malcolm Roach 97
DL Eyioma Uwazurike 96
DL Jordan Jackson 94
DL Matt Henningsen 91
OLB Jonathon Cooper 0
OLB Nik Bonitto 15
OLB Jonah Elliss 52
OLB Dondrea Tillman 92
LB Drew Sanders  41
ILB Cody Barton 55
ILB Justin Strnad 40
ILB Levelle Bailey 56
ILB Zach Cunningham 42
CB Pat Surtain 2
CB Ja’Quan McMillian 29
CB Riley Moss 21
CB Levi Wallace 39
CB Kris Abrams-Draine 31
CB Tremon Smith 1
CB Damarri Mathis 27
CB Reese Taylor 35
DB Devon Key 26
S Brandon Jones 22
S P.J. Locke 6
S JL Skinner 34
K Wil Lutz 3
P Riley Dixon 9
LS Mitchell Fraboni 48

With a 53-man roster and a 17-player practice squad, Denver has 70 players under contract, plus several players on injured reserve.

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Broncos’ final injury report gives updates on Pat Surtain and Riley Moss

Broncos CB Pat Surtain (ankle) is good to go for ‘Thursday Night Football,’ but fellow CB Riley Moss (knee) has been ruled out.

Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain (ankle) has been cleared to play in a Thursday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Chargers after fully participating in practice this week.

Fellow cornerback Riley Moss (knee) has been ruled out after being limited at practice this week. With Moss unavailable, Kris Abrams-Draine and Damarri Mathis are the candidates to replace him in the lineup.

Elsewhere on the injury front, defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers (foot) was an estimated full participant Wednesday after being listed as a non-participant on Tuesday and Monday. Denver’s backup defensive linemen are Malcolm Roach, Jordan Jackson and Eyioma Uwazurike.

With running back Jaleel McLaughlin (quad) ruled out, rookie Blake Watson will likely be a candidate to get elevated from the practice squad.

Denver’s final injury report can be seen below. Note that team held two walk-through practices, so participation reports are estimates. DNP = did not participate.

Player Mon Tue Wed Game Status
CB Pat Surtain (ankle) Full Full Full
DL John Franklin-Myers (foot) DNP DNP Full
DL D.J. Jones (finger) DNP Limited Full
RB Jaleel McLaughlin (quad) DNP Limited DNP Out
CB Riley Moss (knee) DNP Limited DNP Out

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.

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Chargers have 2 ex-Broncos set to face their old team on ‘TNF’

Chargers OL Sam Mustipher and TE Eric Tomlinson spent time with the Broncos before landing in Los Angeles.

When the Los Angeles Chargers host the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football this week, two players could face their old team.

The first is Chargers center Sam Mustipher, who signed with L.A. after he was cut by the Broncos in August. Mustipher initially joined the Chargers’ practice squad before later being promoted to the active roster. He was dressed for nine games this season, making one start.

Mustipher competed with Luke Wattenberg and Alex Forsyth for Denver’s starting center job this summer. Wattenberg ended up winning the job and Forsyth made the team as the primary backup. Mustipher then joined a division rival instead of re-signing with the Broncos’ practice squad.

L.A. also has ex-Denver tight end Eric Tomlinson on its practice squad, and the Broncos have three former Chargers on their practice squad: wide receiver Michael Bandy, pass rusher Andrew Farmer and tight end Donald Parham. None of them have appeared in a game for Denver so far this season.

Thursday’s game will be available to stream on Prime Video. The Broncos can clinch its first playoff berth since 2015 with a win in Los Angeles.

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All 32 NFL teams (including the Broncos) ranked by FPI ratings

Going into Week 16, the Broncos have a -1.2 Football Power Index (FPI) rating from ESPN, which ranks 20th in the NFL. 

Fifteen weeks into the season, the Denver Broncos (9-5) have a -1.2 Football Power Index (FPI) rating from ESPN, which ranks 20th in the NFL.

The Los Angeles Chargers (8-6), who will host the Broncos in Week 16, are ranked 17th with a -0.0 FPI rating.

FPI is “a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season,” according to ESPN.com. “FPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Projected results are based on 10,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule.”

So with that background in mind, here’s a look at how the league’s 32 teams stack up based on FPI going into Week 16 of the 2024 NFL season.

  1. Detroit Lions (12-2): 8.4
  2. Buffalo Bills (12-3): 7.3
  3. Green Bay Packers (10-4): 6.8
  4. Baltimore Ravens (9-5): 6.6
  5. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2): 5.1
  6. Minnesota Vikings (12-2): 3.5
  7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6): 2.6
  8. San Francisco 49ers (6-8): 2.6
  9. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4): 1.3
  10. Kansas City Chiefs (13-1): 1.0
  11. Washington Commanders (9-5): 0.9
  12. Houston Texans (9-5): 0.9
  13. Los Angeles Rams (8-6): 0.8
  14. Arizona Cardinals (7-7): 0.7
  15. Miami Dolphins (6-8): 0.3
  16. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8): -0.0
  17. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6): -0.0
  18. New York Jets (4-10): -0.3
  19. Seattle Seahawks (8-6): -0.9
  20. Denver Broncos (9-5): -1.2
  21. Chicago Bears (4-10): -1.7
  22. Tennessee Titans (3-11): -2.1
  23. Indianapolis Colts (6-8): -3.0
  24. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12): -3.9
  25. Atlanta Falcons (7-7): -4.4
  26. New England Patriots (3-11): -5.3
  27. Dallas Cowboys (6-8): -5.8
  28. Cleveland Browns (3-11): -5.9
  29. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11): -6.0
  30. New Orleans Saints (5-9): -6.9
  31. New York Giants (2-12): -8.5
  32. Carolina Panthers (3-11): -10.1

The Broncos will aim to improve their rating when they face the Chargers on Thursday. Denver has moved up two spots in the rankings since last week.

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Pat Surtain full, Riley Moss limited on Broncos’ injury report Tuesday

Broncos CB Pat Surtain (ankle) was a full participant and CB Riley Moss (knee) was limited at Tuesday’s practice.

The Denver Broncos held a walk-through practice on Tuesday and cornerback Pat Surtain (ankle) fully participated after previously being listed as an estimated full participant on Monday. The cornerback told Broncos Wire at a charity event on Monday that his ankle is “better.”

Meanwhile, fellow cornerback Riley Moss (knee) was limited on Tuesday after being listed as a non-participant Monday. Moss was spotted working out on the field before the team’s game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, but his Week 16 status is uncertain.

If Moss is unable to play against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football, Kris Abrams-Draine and Damarri Mathis would be the candidates to replace him in the lineup.

Assuming Surtain is able to suit up on Thursday, he would start across from one of Moss, Abrams-Draine or Mathis with Ja’Quan McMillian playing in the slot.

Denver’s complete Tuesday injury report can be seen below. DNP = did not participate.

Player Mon Tue Wed Game Status
CB Pat Surtain (ankle) Full Full
DL John Franklin-Myers (foot) DNP DNP
DL D.J. Jones (finger) DNP Limited
RB Jaleel McLaughlin (quad) DNP Limited
CB Riley Moss (knee) DNP Limited

The Broncos will release their final injury report on Wednesday.

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NFL announces Saturday flex decisions for Week 17

The Broncos’ game against the Bengals in Week 17 has been flexed to Saturday, Dec. 28. It will be nationally televised on NFL Network.

The NFL has finalized its Week 17 schedule that will feature three Saturday games on Dec. 28.

As expected, the Denver Broncos‘ game against the Cincinnati Bengals has been set for Saturday with a 2:30 p.m. MT (4:30 p.m. ET) kickoff.

Before the Broncos-Bengals showdown, the Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots game will be played at 11:00 a.m. MT. After the Denver-Cincy matchup, the Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams game will be played at 6:15 p.m.

All three Saturday games will be nationally televised on NFL Network and available to stream on FuboTV.

Two other games that were in contention for the Saturday windows — Atlanta Falcons at Washington Commanders and Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants — have now been scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 29.

After facing the Bengals on the road in Week 17, the Broncos will host the Kansas City Chiefs in their regular season finale in Week 18. Denver will wear its iconic throwback uniform against Kansas City.

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Pro Bowl fan voting update is good news for 2 Broncos players

Pat Surtain and Nik Bonitto are on pace to make the Pro Bowl, but other Broncos players need your vote.

Fan voting for the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl Games opened three weeks ago and we have received our third round of voting updates. The Denver Broncos have 11 players in the top ten at their respective positions after the third wave of voting.

  • Pat Surtain: 2nd-most votes at cornerback (2nd in AFC)
  • Nik Bonitto: 2nd-most votes at outside linebacker (2nd in AFC)
  • Riley Dixon: 5th-most votes at punter (3rd in AFC)
  • Wil Lutz: 6th-most votes at kicker (4th in AFC)
  • Michael Burton: 6th-most votes at fullback (4th in AFC)
  • Zach Allen: 8th-most votes at defensive tackle (4th-most in the AFC)
  • Marvin Mims: 10th-most votes at returner (4th in AFC)
  • Brandon Jones: 10th-most votes at strong safety (5th in AFC)
  • Bo Nix: 10th-most votes at quarterback (5th in AFC)
  • Mitchel Frabroni: 10th-most votes at long snapper (5th in AFC)
  • Tremon Smith: 10th-most votes on special teams (5th in AFC)

Snubs in the top ten include guard Quinn Meinerz and defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers. Both players could make up ground when players and coaches add their votes later this month.

Surtain and Bonitto appear to be locks to make it, but the rest of Denver’s players in the top ten might be contending for alternate spots. Allen will presumably make up ground when players and coaches vote.

Fans can vote for the Pro Bowl through Dec. 23. The 2025 Pro Bowl Games will be held at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Feb. 2.

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Monday Night Football schedule: Is there a ‘ManningCast’ tonight?

There’s no ‘ManningCast’ for the Bears-Vikings game tonight, but Peyton and Eli will return for a playoff game in January.

Peyton and Eli Manning have returned for a fourth season of the ManningCast with the two former quarterbacks set to provide commentary for 11 weeks of Monday Night Football games this fall.

The brothers released a funny 10-minute musical to promote the upcoming ManningCast season in September. The 2024 slate is now on a break as the regular season schedule has wrapped up for the ManningCast.

The program will return in the first round of the playoffs for a Wild Card game that will be televised on ESPN2, which is available to stream on fuboTV.

Peyton and Eli will welcome new guests on the program each week there is a ManningCast, and Bill Belichick will be featured on every episode this fall.

Check out the full schedule below.

ManningCast 2024 Schedule

NFL Week Date Game TV
1 Sept. 9 Jets @ 49ers ESPN2, ESPN+
2 Sept. 16 Falcons @ Eagles ESPN2
5 Oct. 7 Saints @ Chiefs ESPN2
6 Oct. 14 Bills @ Jets ESPN2
7 Oct. 21 Ravens @ Bucs ESPN2, ESPN+
8 Oct. 28 Giants @ Steelers ESPN2, ESPN+
9 Nov. 4 Bucs @ Chiefs ESPN2
11 Nov. 18 Texans @ Cowboys ESPN2
12 Nov. 25 Ravens @ Chargers ESPN2
14 Dec. 9 Bengals @ Cowboys ESPN2, ESPN+
Wild Card Jan. 13 TBD ESPN2, ESPN+

The ManningCast is televised on ESPN2. The primary MNF broadcast will continue to feature Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters on ESPN.

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Broncos PFF grades: Best, worst players from 31-13 win vs. Colts

Broncos OLB Nik Bonitto (92.2) did it again and CB Kris Abrams-Draine (79.4) looks like a gem. View more PFF grades here.

Following the Denver Broncos‘ 31-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Pro Football Focus has released grades for each player’s Week 15 performance.

PFF grades players on a 0 (worst) to 100 (best) scale. Check out the best and worst of Week 15 below.

Best Offensive Players 

  • TE/FB Nate Adkins: 85.9
  • OT Mike McGlinchey: 81.3
  • G Ben Powers: 78.1
  • G Quinn Meinerz: 77.6
  • OL Matt Peart: 75.3

A brilliant performance from the offensive line. Peart only played five snaps, but the sixth- and seventh-best players on offense were WR Marvin Mims (71.3) and tackle Garett Bolles (70.8).

Best Defensive Players 

  • OLB Nik Bonitto: 92.2
  • DB Brandon Jones: 92.0
  • CB Kris Abrams-Draine: 79.4
  • DB P.J. Locke: 78.7
  • CB Pat Surtain: 76.0

Another Defensive Player of the Year performance from Bonitto. Meanwhile, Abrams-Draine looks like another cornerback gem uncovered by Denver’s staff.

Worst Offensive Players 

  • WR Devaughn Vele: 45.2
  • WR Troy Franklin: 45.8
  • WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey: 49.4
  • WR Courtland Sutton: 49.9
  • RB Javonte Williams: 51.5

The sixth-worst player on offense was running back Jaleel McLaughlin (53.9). Adding weapons for QB Bo Nix should be a top priority in 2025.

Worst Defensive Players 

  • DL Jordan Jackson: 45.0
  • CB Ja’Quan McMillian: 53.7
  • DL Zach Allen: 55.9
  • CB Damarri Mathis: 56.0
  • ILB Cody Barton: 57.0

Watching the game live, it didn’t seem like McMillian played as poorly as his grade indicates. Broncos coach Sean Payton also praised Mathis, so these harsh grades on defense should perhaps be taken with a grain of salt.

Special Teams 

  • ST Jonah Elliss: 70.4
  • LS Mitchell Fraboni: 73.0
  • R Marvin Mims: 86.2
  • K Wil Lutz: 70.3 (FG) 60.0 (KO)
  • P Riley Dixon: 62.9

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

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