Tag: Marvin Mims

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.

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Twitter reacts to missed pass interference penalty on ‘TNF’

Tarheeb Still appeared to get away with pass interference against Marvin Mims on Thursday. Here’s how Twitter/X reacted to the no-call.

In the fourth quarter of a Thursday Night Football game at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles Chargers defensive back Tarheeb Still got away with a blatant pass interference penalty against Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims.

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix underthrew a deep pass to Mims and Still caught up to the receiver and grabbed his arm and made contact before the ball arrived without turning around to look for or defend the ball. It appeared to be textbook pass interference.

No flag was thrown, though, and the Broncos went on to punt while trailing by three points. A completion would have put Denver within field goal range to potentially tie the game (or take the lead with a touchdown).

Here’s a sampling of how Twitter/X reacted to the missed call.

The Broncos went on to lose the game 34-27, so that non-penalty proved to be a crucial play. Of course, no the no-call for DPI would have been a moot point if Nix led Mims. A better pass likely would have resulted in a touchdown.

Up next for Denver is a road game against the Cincinnati Bengals (6-8) next Saturday (Dec. 28). With two games remaining, the Broncos need to win one game to clinch a spot in the NFL playoffs.

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Karl Mecklenburg: Nik Bonitto’s fumble-6 was a thing of beauty

“The interception/fumble recovery for a touchdown by Nik Bonitto was a thing of beauty,” Karl Mecklenburg wrote.

There were many big plays in the Broncos victory over the Colts on Sunday, but I’ll focus on three of them.

Marvin Mims had a great day as a punt returner. He ended up earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors with 97 yards on punt returns including a 4th quarter return of 61-yards that included some great moves.

The interception/fumble recovery for a touchdown by Nik Bonitto was a thing of beauty from a defensive standpoint. It was a backwards pass so technically it was a fumble recovery for a touchdown. The Broncos had a corner blitz from Nik’s side, so he is supposed to occupy both the tackle and guard to let Pat Surtain come unblocked. Bonitto did his job, then the linemen started releasing away from the ball. The quarterback started drifting his way and Nik knew something was up. He read the double pass play and made a great break on the ball, intercepted it, and ran to the end zone.

In the third quarter with a 13-7 lead, Colts running back Jonathan Taylor took a handoff for 41 yards to the house, but he dropped the ball right before he crossed the goal line. No one was around him. There was no reason to drop it other than he thought he was across the goal line, and he was planning his celebration dance. The ball rolled into the endzone and out of bounds, which is a touchback by rule with the Broncos ball on the 20-yard line.

When I think back on my career, many of the plays I remember most vividly are plays I didn’t make. I’m sure Jonathan Taylor will carry the ball 5 yards into the endzone before giving it up from now on. Acknowledging failure and learning from it is an important part of success. My mentor Barney Chavous used to ask, “What you wooda did?” Not good English, but a great question for anyone scoring a touchdown, finishing a project, or finalizing a sale. Make sure your i’s are dotted and your t’s are crossed before you celebrate. Go Broncos!

Karl Mecklenburg originally shared this post on his social media pages and it was re-shared here with permission. Mecklenburg played for the Denver Broncos from 1983-1994, earning six Pro Bowl nods and five All-Pro selections during his decorated career in the NFL. Mecklenburg is now a motivational keynote speaker. You can book Mecklenburg on his website. 

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5 things to watch for when Broncos face Chargers on ‘TNF’

Here are five storylines to watch for when the Broncos face the Chargers on ‘Thursday Night Football’ in Week 16.

The Denver Broncos (9-5) are set to face the Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) on Thursday Night Football in Week 16. Here are five quick storylines to watch for going into Thursday’s game.

1. Broncos running back rotation: Jaleel McLaughlin has been the team’s best running back in recent weeks, but he was ruled out with a quad injury on Wednesday. That will leave Javonte Williams and rookie Audric Estime as the next men up, and Denver will likely elevate Blake Watson from the practice squad. We could see Marvin Mims mix in at running back as well, something he did leading up to the team’s bye week.

2. Denver’s cornerback depth: Riley Moss (knee) has been ruled out again, marking the third game he has missed. Fortunately, Pat Surtain (ankle) was able to practice this week and he was not given an injury designation for Thursday. Kris Abrams-Draine will likely start across from Surtain with Ja’Quan McMillian playing in the slot and Damarri Mathis getting rotational snaps like last week. When these teams met earlier this season, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert went 21-of-34 for 237 yards and a touchdown in a game that Surtain left with a concussion.

3. Broncos’ defense against Herbert and Co.: J.K. Dobbins rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown against the Broncos earlier this season, but he’s now on injured reserve. Denver pass rusher Nik Bonitto has scored a touchdown in each of the team’s last two games and he’s just one sack away from tying the NFL leader (Trey Hendrickson has 12.5 sacks). The Broncos, Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles have a three-way tie for the fewest points allowed per game (17.6), so Thursday night could be a defensive struggle.

4. Bo Nix bouncing back from three turnovers: Nix struggled against the Indianapolis Colts last week, throwing a career-high three interceptions. He had a bit of an in-game bounce back with three touchdown passes in a 31-13 win over Indy, but now Nix will have a fresh game to put those mistakes behind him. Nix will face an L.A. defense that allows the 10th-fewest passing yards per game (211.6), a unit that has totaled the seventh-most interceptions (14) and the eighth-most sacks (40) in the league this season.

5. Denver’s potential return to the postseason: The Broncos have already secured their first winning season since 2016. With one more win, Denver will clinch its first playoff berth since winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.

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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Broncos returner Marvin Mims wins much-deserved AFC award

Congrats to Broncos receiver/returner Marvin Mims for being named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week!

Denver Broncos wide receiver and returner Marvin Mims was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after he totaled 97 punt-return yards in a 31-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15.

Mims’ 61-yard punt return in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game set up a go-ahead touchdown for the Broncos, and the team never looked back from there. After Sunday’s win, the receiver deflected praise to his blocking teammates.

“I think the punt returners, we know how good we are and how we’re at the top of the league at it and we have a lot of confidence in that unit,” Mims said. “To be able to get that opportunity, it’s goes good for us almost every time. Those guys are really into it, they clean it up a lot for me to make a play.”

The receiver has made an impact for Denver both on offense and on special teams this year, playing as a receiver, running back and returner.

“I think Marvin has had an unbelievable year,” offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey said. “Especially the second half of this year, we’re using him a lot on offense. He’s been in the backfield, the slot, out wide, and obviously his calling card has always been in the return game.

“He’s been so vital for us not only this year, but last year making the Pro Bowl as a rookie for returning. That gave us a spark tonight and we needed it. Our defense and special teams gave us a lot of help. Marvin had two or three returns that really changed the game.”

This is the second time Mims has won a Special Teams Player of the Week award after he previously took home the honor as a rookie in Week 10 last season.

“I tell him all the time — those plays, those hidden yards, somebody that didn’t watch the game, they’re not going to see that highlight, but anybody that’s tapped into the game and really watches it and wants to understand what’s going on in the game will understand him doing that,” receiver Courtland Sutton said. “Even if it’s 10 yards, it’s such a big momentum change for us.

“Just to see him running with the ball — he’s an exciting guy with the ball in his hands — and watching him go down the sidelines a couple times today, it’s exciting because at any moment you know that he could take it to the crib. It gives us that switch; we were kind of struggling moving the ball consistently and for him to go and get us those hidden yards and for us to be able to capitalize on them is huge.”

Mims, 22, has totaled 902 all-purpose yards and scored two touchdowns so far this season. He’s an underrated part of the team’s success, but this award will help put Mims in the spotlight where he belongs.

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5 Broncos players to watch in Week 16 vs. Chargers

This Week 16 primetime matchup will have huge implications on the AFC playoffs, as the Chargers beat the Broncos in their first meeting.

The stakes don’t get much bigger than this in Week 16. The Chargers host the Broncos on Thursday night with a chance to improve to 9-6.

Los Angeles won in Denver back in Week 6, so a potential sweep could have huge implications on playoff seeding. Here are five Broncos players to watch for this week’s primetime matchup:

Marvin Mims

Mims hasn’t broken out in the way that some thought he would in his sophomore campaign. He was a non-factor for the first two months of the season, but has stepped up recently. The former Oklahoma product didn’t have a game over 20 receiving yards in the team’s first 10 games, but has now topped that mark in four straight. His big play ability is something to be watched, as evidenced by his 93-yard touchdown against the Browns a few weeks ago.

Garett Bolles

Bolles caught a lot of flak early in his career for the amount of holding calls that he racked up. Nowadays, he looks like a much different player. Bolles has been superb for the Broncos in 2024, particularly in pass protection. Pro Football Focus ranks him as the fourth-best pass protector amongst OTs in 2024. His matchup against the Chargers’ edge rushers will be key in this primetime game.

Nik Bonitto

It seems to be a bit under the radar still, but Bonitto has been elite this season. The third-year linebacker is tied for third in sacks (11.5), which is already the best mark of his career. Bonitto has wrecked havoc in other ways too with 41 total tackles, three pass deflections, and two forced fumbles. The Defensive Player of the Year candidate has scored a defensive touchdown in each of his last two games as well.

Brandon Jones

Jones has tremendously helped make up for the loss of star safety Justin Simmons this season. The veteran leads the team with 91 total tackles and has been a playmaker all over the field. Jones has three interceptions, nine pass deflections, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Herbert and the Chargers offense will need to keep an eye on Jones at all times on Thursday night.

Kris Abrams-Draine

Riley Moss has established himself as an elite No. 2 cornerback for Denver this season, but he’s still a huge question mark for Thursday night. If Moss is unable to go, keep an eye on Abrams-Draine. The rookie fifth-rounder made his first career start in Week 15 and played quite well. Still, expect Herbert to target Abrams-Draine often in this one and make the rookie earn it.

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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Broncos inch closer to playoffs with 31-13 win over Colts

Following Sunday’s win over the Colts, the Broncos are now just one win away from clinching a spot in the NFL playoffs.

With Peyton Manning in attendance, Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix bounced back from three turnovers in a 31-13 comeback win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday afternoon.

The Broncos improved to 9-5 with the victory and Denver now has a 91% chance of reaching the playoffs, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. The Colts dropped to 6-8 and Indy now has a 6% chance of reaching the postseason.

Denver has now clinched its first winning season since 2016.

Indianapolis took an early 7-0 lead on Sunday after quarterback Anthony Richardson rushed for a 23-yard score on the game’s opening drive. Nix then threw an interception on the Broncos’ opening drive, giving the Colts the ball back at their own 30-yard line. Indy capitalized off that takeaway by later kicking a 37-yard field goal to make it 10-0 early in the second quarter.

Later in the second quarter, Nix threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Adam Trautman to cut the deficit to 10-7.

Denver then got the ball back when safety Brandon Jones intercepted an Anthony pass, but the Broncos failed to capitalize on the takeaway and punted the ball back to Indy. The Colts later kicked a field goal to take a 13-7 lead into halftime.

Nix threw a second interception on Denver’s opening drive of the second half and Indy appeared to capitalize with a 41-yard Jonathan Taylor touchdown run, but the running back dropped the ball before the end zone and it rolled out of the endzone for a touchback to give the ball back to the Broncos.

Following the Taylor turnover, Nix threw a third interception, but the Colts gave it back one play later when P.J. Locke forced a fumble that was recovered by defensive lineman D.J. Jones. After that takeaway, Denver settled for a 44-yard Wil Lutz field goal to cut the deficit to 13-10.

The Broncos pulled ahead in the fourth quarter when Nix threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end/fullback Nate Adkins to make it 17-13.

The score was set up by a 60-yard punt return by wide receiver Marvin Mims:

Later, Denver pass rusher Nik Bonitto blew the game open with a 50-yard fumble-six to give the Broncos a commanding 24-13 lead.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Denver cornerback Pat Surtain intercepted a Richardson pass to set the Broncos up at Indy’s 35-yard line. The team initially settled for a 47-yard field goal but a Colts penalty gave Denver a first down, extending the drive. Nix then threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Courtland Sutton to make it 31-13, which ended up being the final score.

The Broncos came out of the game banged up — running back Jaleel McLaughlin left the game in the third quarter with a quad injury and guard Quinn Meinerz left with a shoulder injury. Meinerz returned in the fourth quarter. Defensive lineman D.J. Jones left in the fourth quarter with a finger injury and cornerback Pat Surtain suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter.

Up next for the Broncos is a road game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football to kick off Week 16 on Dec. 19. Following a Miami Dolphins loss on Sunday, Denver needs to win just one more game to clinch a playoff spot. The Broncos have not returned to the postseason since winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.

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Brian Baldinger breaks down Broncos’ best players vs. Browns

Brian Baldinger broke down film of the Broncos’ top performers against the Browns on Monday.

The Denver Broncos defeated the Cleveland Browns 41-32 in a complete team effort on Monday Night Football earlier this week.

NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger recently took to Twitter/X to review the film of some of the team’s biggest contributors in Monday’s win. Up first is Baldinger’s review of quarterback Bo Nix’s 93-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marvin Mims:

Up next is Baldinger reacting to Nix going right back to Courtland Sutton after the receiver dropped a pass:

Baldinger then reviewed Jaleel McLaughlin’s impressive performance:

Up next is praise for guard Quinn Meinerz, tackle Mike McGlinchey and tight end Adam Trautman on Javonte Williams’ touchdown run:

Baldinger also praised cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian, who has been one of his favorite players all season:

And last but certainly not least, Baldinger broke down Nik Bonitto’s big game:

Denver now has a bye this week before hosting the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15.

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Broncos have found a perfect role for WR/RB/PR Marvin Mims

One and a half seasons into his pro career, Marvin Mims has settled into a perfect role with the Broncos.

The Denver Broncos appear to have finally unlocked the potential of Marvin Mims.

Broncos coach Sean Payton started giving Mims reps as a running back in Week 10, but the speedster still plays primarily as a receiver and he hauled in a 93-yard touchdown catch on Monday.

That score was a gutsy call from Payton. Facing 3rd-and-11, Payton had Nix stand in the end zone and launch a deep pass to Mims. It worked.

“I think it says a lot about our offense,” wide receiver Courtland Sutton said after a 41-32 win. “For Coach to have the trust that Bo is going to see what we’ve seen all week, and then have the faith to give Marvin a chance to go make that play. Like I said, Marvin works really hard. He’s a really quiet guy. He doesn’t say a whole bunch, and just does the work he’s supposed to do. That’s all you can ask for.

“He’s been waiting for his opportunity to go out there and let it shine, and he did that. We talked about it at half time that there was going to be a play. We didn’t know exactly when or what play it was going to be, but there was going to be a play that we would capitalize on. We just had to make sure that we capitalized on it when it happened, and he did.”

Over the last four weeks, Mims has 21 touches for 234 and two touchdowns on offense plus six punt returns for 117 yards. That’s an average of about seven touches for 88 yards a game with a score every other game. Payton has finally found a perfect role for the dynamic receiver, and Mims is making the most of it.

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