Tag: Thursday Night Football

Ex-Broncos players blame Sean Payton for ‘TNF’ loss to Chargers

Former Broncos players Tyler Polumbus and Nate Jackson have criticized coach Sean Payton following the Broncos’ loss to the Chargers.

Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton is facing heavy criticism following the team’s 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football.

The Broncos squandered a 21-10 lead that was established primary off success in the run game, and Payton is taking heat for easing up on the ground. His decision to throw instead of running out the clock just before halftime played a role in the Chargers scoring three points before halftime.

Later, in the fourth quarter, Payton opted to punt instead of going for it on 4th-and-6 near midfield while trailing by a field goal. Following a 34-27 loss, two former Broncos players took to Twitter/X with criticism of the coach.

This is what former lineman Tyler Polumbus wrote:

“When you can’t find a player that blew it, when you can’t point to a play or two that blew it, when one team started out physical in the run game, yet the other team is the one that finished with the run game there is really only one place to point the finger…. We got out coached mid game. Simple as that. Chargers adjusted. We did not.”

Polumbus later co-signed on a tweet that said Denver abandoned what was working in the first half against Los Angeles.

Another ex-Bronco, retired receiver/tight end Nate Jackson, chimed in with this tweet on Friday:

The game was certainly mismanaged by Payton starting with the team’s final drive in the first half, and the criticism is deserved. Denver is still just one win away from a playoff berth, though, and Payton has already clinched the team’s first winning season since 2016. Payton has the Broncos trending in the right direction, but Thursday was a poor showing from the coach.

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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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Broncos WR Troy Franklin was in a walking boot after ‘TNF’ loss

Broncos WR Troy Franklin was spotted wearing a walking boot after a ‘Thursday Night Football’ loss to the Chargers.

Following the Denver Broncos‘ 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football, rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin was spotted wearing a walking boot on his left foot, according to a report from the Denver Post‘s Ryan McFadden.

Franklin was not given an injury designation during the game and the Broncos will not practice again until next week, so it might be several days until we get an update on Franklin’s status.

The 21-year-old receiver hauled in two receptions for 25 yards on three targets against the Chargers. Franklin now has 25 catches for 252 yards and two touchdowns through his first 14 games in the NFL.

Denver released veteran wide receiver Josh Reynolds earlier this month, so if Franklin misses any time, the team’s remaining WRs would be Courtland Sutton, Devaughn Vele, Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Marvin Mims. The Broncos also have Michael Bandy, David Sills and A.T. Perry available on the practice squad.

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Explaining the NFL’s fair catch kick rule from the Chargers-Broncos game

The Chargers took advantage of an obscure NFL rule with a fair catch kick against the Broncos on ‘Thursday Night Football.’

Just before halftime of a Thursday Night Football clash between the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos in Week 16, Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker put his name in the NFL history books with a rare feat.

Dicker converted a 57-yard fair catch kick, a scenario that has not happened in the NFL since 1976. Los Angeles took advantage of an obscure rule after Denver cornerback Tremon Smith made contact with the Chargers’ returner after he had called for a fair catch on a punt.

By rule, NFL teams can attempt a field goal after a fair catch without facing a rush from the opposing team. Usually, punts are fielded too deep to make attempting a kick a feasible option. Thanks to a 15-yard penalty from the Broncos, however, L.A. was put in range for a fair catch free kick on Thursday.

The sequence happened after Denver opted to not run out the clock with an 11-point lead at its own 18-yard line. The Broncos ran two pass plays and then punted after being stuffed on a third-down run.

“Look, I think 40 or 41 seconds to start the drive,” coach Sean Payton explained after the game. “We try to see, typically, you’d be pretty conservative. We were going to have the ball. We ran a screen and then when the clock got low enough, we didn’t get any momentum going there. We just ran the ball and punted it.

“A penalty puts them in a position and then basically anytime you catch a punt, you have the ability to place it right there and get a free kick. Doesn’t happen much. We practice it all the time. Well, in that situation the penalty put them in field goal position, so it’s disappointing.”

So the Broncos were part of NFL history on Thursday night. Unfortunately, they were on the wrong side of history in an eventual 34-27 loss.

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Justin Strnad, Tremon Smith plead their cases after ‘TNF’ penalties

“I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do,” Broncos LB Justin Strnad said when asked about the Justin Herbert slide.

The Denver Broncos were penalized seven times for 61 yards in a 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football in Week 16.

One of the most crucial fouls came from linebacker Justin Strnad, who was penalized for “barely” hitting sliding Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert on a third down in the third quarter. Instead of facing 4th-and-6 from Denver’s 11-yard line, L.A. was gifted a 1st-and-goal from the five-yard line.

The Chargers went on to score a touchdown. Assuming they would have kicked a field goal on fourth down if not for the penalty, that foul was a four-point swing.

After the game, Strnad initially said he had “no comment” on the play before later saying, “I don’t think it was a penalty.”

When asked if he made contact with Herbert, the linebacker had this response: “I think I like barely hit him. I mean, he’s a huge quarterback, I’m getting ready to tackle him, he slides last second. I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do.”

This is the play in question:

Broncos cornerback Tremon Smith also had a crucial penalty that cost the team points. Just before halftime, Smith made contact with a returner who had called fair catch. The resulting 15-yard penalty gifted the Chargers a fair catch free kick, a three-point swing.

Smith admitted it was a “dumb penalty,” but he also implied that the returner manipulated the situation.

“The returner did a good job of selling it, just running into me even though he wasn’t going to catch the ball,” Smith said. “Like I said, dumb penalties.”

Strnad and Smith will look to bounce back when the Broncos face the Cincinnati Bengals on the road in Week 17.

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5 takeaways from the Broncos’ 34-27 loss to Chargers on ‘TNF’

The Broncos lost to the Chargers on Thursday night. Here are five takeaways from the defeat.

The Denver Broncos lost to the Los Angeles Chargers 34-27 on Thursday Night Football in Week 16. Here are five quick takeaways from the defeat.

1. Denver’s penalties killed them: The Broncos were penalized seven times for 61 yards. Two of the most costly penalties came from cornerback Tremon Smith and linebacker Justin Strnad. Smith committed a 15-yard penalty on a punt fair catch that spotted L.A. a free field goal just before halftime. Strnad’s hit on a sliding Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert turned a fourth down into a first down and L.A. later scored a touchdown. Those two penalties cost seven points in a game that ended up being decided by a touchdown.

2. Sean Payton had a bad game: Perhaps the coach can be forgiven for attempting to score again with 41 seconds left before halftime, a decision that resulted in a Denver punt and the penalty that led to a Chargers field goal. Had it worked, Payton would have been praised for aggressiveness and the Broncos could have put the game out of reach. The coach isn’t off the hook for his decision to punt in the fourth quarter, though. Trailing by three points, Payton opted to punt on 4th-and-6 just one yard shy of midfield with 4:35 remaining in the game. Following that decision, L.A. essentially put the game out of reach on their ensuing drive.

3. The pass interference no-call should have been a moot point: Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still definitely got away with pass interference against Broncos receiver Marvin Mims in the fourth quarter, but that sequence never would have happened if quarterback Bo Nix threw a better pass. Mims was open by several yards and Nix underthrew him, allowing Still to catch up. Had Nix led the receiver, Mims could have scored a touchdown to give the Broncos a four-point lead. Yes, it should have been DPI. But Nix needs to throw a better ball.

4. The defense came up short: Denver’s offense only managed two field goals after halftime, but they are not alone in the blame for Thursday’s loss as Vance Joseph’s unit allowed three touchdowns in the second half. The defense was undisciplined with several crucial penalties and countless missed tackles.

5. The sky is not falling just yet: With two games remaining, the Broncos can still make the NFL playoffs. Denver would clinch a spot with one more win, and they can clinch even earlier with help from three other teams. If the Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts all lose or tie on Sunday, the Broncos would clinch a Wild Card spot. That’s unlikely to happen, though, so Denver’s game against the Bengals in Week 17 could have massive playoff implications. The path remains simple for the Broncos — win and you’re in.

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Watch highlights from Chargers’ comeback win over Broncos

If you missed the Chargers’ win over the Broncos or just want to relive it, here are the highlights.

The Chargers completed a double-digit comeback on Thursday night, defeating the Broncos, 34-27.

Justin Herbert threw for nearly 300 yards and two touchdowns. Jesse Minter’s defense held Denver to six points in the second half after allowing three TDs in the first half.

If you missed the game or want to relive it, the entire highlight reel can be seen below.

Pat Surtain’s dad was not happy with Broncos during ‘Thursday Night Football’

“Sean [Payton] run the ball. Man,” Pat Surtain’s dad tweeted during ‘Thursday Night Football.’

The Denver Broncos had a wild sequence just before halftime against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football in Week 16. The team’s mismanagement of the game left fans — and Pat Surtain’s dad — frustrated.

Following a Kris Abrams-Draine interception, the Broncos took over at their own 18-yard line with 41 second remaining until halftime while leading 21-10. Instead of attempting to run out the clock, Denver coach Sean Payton called pass plays on first and second down.

The first pass to running back Javonte Williams went for negative-three yards. The second pass fell incomplete, stopping the clock. Williams then rushed for one yard on third down and the Broncos were forced to punt.

Surtain’s dad — Patrick Surtain Sr. — then chimed in on Twitter/X: “Bad clock management on both sides. [Jim] Harbaugh use your timeouts, Sean [Payton] run the ball. Man.”

On the ensuing punt, Denver cornerback Tremon Smith was penalized for kick catch interference. After that 15-yard penalty spotted the ball at the Broncos’ 47-yard line, L.A. elected to kick a rare fair catch free kick to cut the deficit to 21-13 going into halftime.

Surtain Sr.’s response to the sequence: “Just DUMB…smh.”

Denver went on to lose the game 34-27. Surtain’s dad final tweet after the game was an emoji: “🤷🏾‍♂️.”

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

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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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Playoffs will wait: Broncos fall to 9-6 following 34-27 loss to Chargers

The Broncos fell to the Chargers 34-27 on Thursday, delaying Denver’s bid to make the 2024 NFL playoffs.

The Denver Broncos (9-6) lost to the Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) 34-27 on Thursday Night Football in Week 16, delaying the team’s bid to clinch a spot in the NFL playoffs.

Denver can still clinch a playoff berth in Week 16 if the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins all lose or tie on Sunday.

After the defense forced a three-and-out on L.A.’s opening drive, the Broncos’ offense marched 72 yards — with 43 yards on the ground — before taking a 7-0 lead after Audric Estime scored his first touchdown in the NFL.

The Chargers later matched that score with a one-yard touchdown run from Gus Edwards to tie the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter. Denver then went 70 yards on 12 plays and retook a 14-7 lead after quarterback Bo Nix connected with fullback Michael Burton on a one-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.

L.A. kicked a field goal on its next drive to make it 14-10, marking four-straight drives with a score. Following a 54-yard catch-and-run by Marvin Mims on Denver’s next possession, Nix threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Devaughn Vele to extend the lead to 21-10.

L.A. appeared to be on the verge of scoring just before halftime before rookie cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine intercepted a Justin Herbert pass at the one-yard line. That prevented a touchdown, but after the Broncos committed a foul on their ensuing punt, the Chargers converted a 57-yard fair catch free kick to make it 21-13 going into halftime. It marked the first time since 1976 that such a kick was attempted in an NFL game:

The Broncos opened the third quarter with a 41-yard Wil Lutz field goal to extend the lead to 24-13. L.A. then went 70 yards on 10 plays and scored on a five-yard Edwards touchdown run. The drive was extended by a 15-yard foul after linebacker Justin Strnad hit a sliding Herbert on third down. Following the Edwards score, the Chargers failed a two-point attempt, making it 24-19.

L.A. took the lead in the fourth quarter when Herbert threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Derius Davis. After a successful two-point conversion, the Chargers made it 27-24. They later extended that lead to 34-24 following Herbert’s 34-yard touchdown pass to Hassan Haskins.

Denver converted a 55-yard Lutz field goal on its next drive to cut the deficit to 34-27. After a failed onside kick, L.A. ran out the clock to seal the game.

After playing on TNF, the Broncos now have nine days until their next game, a Saturday afternoon special against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17.

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