Tag: Zach Allen

Broncos’ locker room dejected after ‘worst loss’ ever against Chiefs

More than one Broncos player said Sunday was the worst loss of their lives. There’s still hope for the final stretch of the season, though.

Denver Broncos players were dejected in the locker room after a 16-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen told The Denver Post‘s Parker Gabriel that it was “the worst loss I’ve ever had in my life.” Denver pass rusher Jonathon Cooper also said he had never felt a loss as painful as Sunday’s.

On the final play of the game, the Chiefs blocked Wil Lutz’s 35-yard field goal attempt to seal Denver’s fate. Lutz was close to tears in the locker room after the game.

Andrew Mason of DenverSports.com tweeted that he hadn’t seen the team’s locker room that devastated since a double-overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the 2013 playoffs.

“I told our team I was proud of how they fought,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said after the game. “I thought we outplayed them. Nonetheless, you have to beat a champion. We weren’t able to do it. It is gut-wrenching.”

The game came down to the final play, but Denver shouldn’t have let it get to that point.

“It wasn’t just one play [that cost the game],” pass rusher Nik Bonitto said after the loss. “I mean, I had plays that I could have made today. [There were] plays on defense that we all could have been better on. So I mean, everybody can look at the last play, but there’s many plays in the game that you can look at that we could have been better.”

“It felt like we outplayed them, but we didn’t finish,” Payton said. “We had an opportunity to right at the end. We controlled the ball. We have to be able to finish. That one will take a while. It will sting.”

Broncos veteran right tackle Mike McGlinchey isn’t ready to throw in the towel.

“If you’re hanging your head at this point of the season, I don’t think you belong in this league,” McGlinchey said after the game. “We’re 5-5. We’re right in the thick of it. And we kind of control our own destiny here as this goes out. We have an opportunity to go and win a lot of football games with a lot of season left. And that’s what we’re going to try to do.”

Bo Nix, Denver’s rookie quarterback said the team won’t hang their heads.

“We feel we can compete against a lot of teams in this league, all of them, really,” Nix said. “We’ve faced a lot of good teams this year and have been in one-possession games, it feels like, in every single one of them. We’re close, we just have to find ways to get over the hump, find ways to make a play when they don’t and make the play that wins it.

“In this league, that’s the line between playoff teams, championship teams and all the other guys. We’re here to fight. We don’t have a bunch of guys that are going to hang their heads and quit. We’re going to continue to fight and battle. Each week is going to have something else in store and we just have to respond.”

The Broncos will now attempt to bounce back at home when they host the Atlanta Falcons (6-4) at Empower Field at Mile High next week.

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Ravens vs. Broncos: Top photos from Baltimore’s 41-10 win in Week 9

Top photos from the Baltimore Ravens 41-10 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 9 at M&T Bank Stadium

Denver entered the game 5-3 with the NFL’s third-ranked defense, but the Baltimore offense shredded them, as Vance Joseph’s defense surrendered 396 yards and five touchdowns on the afternoon.

The Ravens are 6-3 after a 41-10 win over the emerging Broncos at M&T Bank Stadium.

Here are the top photos from the win.

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Lamar Jackson finished with perfect passer rating as Ravens demolish Broncos 41-10

Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson finished with a perfect passer rating in Week 10 as the Ravens defeated the Broncos 41-10

The Ravens spent all week talking about removing the taste of an ugly loss to the Browns in Week 8. John Harbaugh’s team responded solidly, dominating the upstart Broncos 41-10 at M&T Bank Stadium.

Denver entered the game 5-3 with the NFL’s third-ranked defense, but the Baltimore offense shredded them, as Vance Joseph’s defense surrendered 396 yards and five touchdowns on the afternoon.

With talk about Josh Allen potentially winning MVP, Jackson completed 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday, marking his fourth perfect passer rating.

Derrick Henry finished with 101 yards rushing and two touchdowns, moving past Barry Sanders for 10th on the all-time touchdowns list and going over 1,000 yards for the sixth time in his career.

Zay Flowers had another 100-yard game, finishing with 127 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

On defense, Zach Orr’s unit surrendered 319 yards, including 197 passing and, most importantly, just ten points.

Baltimore will now prepare for Cincinnati on a short week and Amazon’s Thursday Night Football.

Sean Payton compares Broncos DL Zach Allen to an 8-time Pro Bowler

Broncos coach Sean Payton said Zach Allen’s stamina reminds him of Cameron Jordan. “Those are really good traits,” Payton said.

Denver Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen is well on his way to the first Pro Bowl (and All-Pro) honors of his career.

Through seven games, Allen has recorded 32 tackles (nine behind the line), 16 quarterback hits, four sacks and one safety.

Super Bowl 50 champion Chris Harris has compared Allen to J.J. Watt, and Watt himself listed Allen among his five defensive line All-Pro candidates this season.

Allen has received praise from many pundits, including NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger. This week, Broncos coach Sean Payton compared Allen’s stamina to that of eight-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro Cameron Jordan.

“I don’t want to use the comparison, he plays a different position than Cameron Jordan, but they remind me of each other in their respective positions in that they play with really good stamina,” Payton said. “It’s hard to do. It’s like you’re wrestling. When Play 48 is the same as Play 3, just the consistency in a position where we do have a rotation, it’s important because every play is like a six-second wrestling match.

“It’s tiring. There’s discipline, and then there’s a skill set. Those are traits that remind me of Cam. Cam played more the end [position], but those are really good traits.”

Allen’s six sacks rank second at his position. He has also totaled 24 hurries, according to Pro Football Focus. The NFL’s Next Gen Stats page credits Allen with 35 pressures, most among interior defensive linemen.

Allen’s breakout year is a big reason why Denver’s defense has been so dominant this season, and he deserves all the accolades coming his way.

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Chris Harris says Broncos DL Zach Allen looks like J.J. Watt this season

“He looks kind of like J.J. Watt sometimes,” Chris Harris said of Broncos defensive lineman Zach Allen.

From 2011 to 2015, JJ Watt was the most dominant defensive player in the NFL, totaling 75.5 sacks in five years. Although the back half of his career was a mixture of injuries and bounce-back seasons, Watt made his name known.

So, if a player ever gets a comparison to Watt, it’s a prestigious honor. That’s what former Denver Broncos cornerback and Super Bowl 50 champion Chris Harris recently bestowed upon defensive lineman Zach Allen. 

Appearing on the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams, Harris praised the Denver defensive lineman and compared him to Watt, Allen’s former teammate with the Arizona Cardinals. 

Allen has four sacks and 19 total tackles so far. He also has 9.5 run stuffs and a Pro Football Focus grade of 61.5. All-Pro recognition and a Pro Bowl nod will await if he continues this pace.

Allen and his Broncos teammates have rested up following their win against the New Orleans Saints this past Thursday and the team will now prepare to face the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 27.

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Broncos DL Zach Allen is making an All-Pro impact this season

Broncos DL Zach Allen ranks No. 1 in pass rush win rate (26%) this season and No. 3 in quarterback pressures (27). Stud.

Denver Broncos defensive tackle Zach Allen has absolutely dominated this season.

Five games into the 2024 campaign, Allen has totaled 21 tackles (five behind the line of scrimmage), 12 quarterback hits and three sacks. Those numbers alone are impressive, but the advanced stats are even better.

Allen has a 26% pass rush win rate this season, according to Seth Walder of ESPN Analytics. No other defenders are higher than 20% this season.

Allen has totaled 27 quarterback pressures through five games, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That ranks first among interior defensive linemen and third overall this season, via Broncos stats guru Tyler Gorse.

Allen’s defensive impact plays over expected (DIPOE) rating on Pro Football Focus is 15.01, second-best in the league through five games.

Here are some of the highlights from Allen’s first five games this fall:

https://twitter.com/CoachBTJordan/status/1843720283569668458

“[U]p front, we [are] really confident in our four-man rush and we take a lot of pride in that,” Allen said after the team’s 10-9 win over the Jets two weeks ago. “I think today was just another day we kind of proved that if you give guys one-on-ones [we’ll] win them across the board. So, it’s a lot of fun to play with this group and hopefully we can just keep on rushing the way we are and keep playing the team defense we are.”

https://twitter.com/billbarnwell/status/1844481872849772733

Allen, 27, is on pace to have the best season of his career and he’s likely a lock to make the Pro Bowl and a strong candidate to earn an All-Pro nod. Denver’s defensive dominance has been keyed in part by Allen’s big year.

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5 Broncos players to watch in Week 6 vs. Chargers

The 3-2 Broncos are coming off three straight superb wins. In Week 6, the Chargers have several Broncos players to keep an eye on in Denver.

We’ve got a big Week 6 matchup between two AFC West opponents in the Chargers and Broncos. A month into the season, and the two squads are in the thick of the AFC Wild Card race.

This matchup could be a deciding factor in earning a playoff spot later this season. With that, here are a few Broncos players to watch for Sunday’s key contest.

RB Javonte Williams

Williams is finally looking like his old self now over two years removed from a significant knee injury. He looked mostly ineffective in the first few weeks, but the former Tar Heel has seen his burst reappear in recent weeks. He’s been able to run the ball much better for an average of 4.8 yards per carry in the last two games. Williams is still searching for his first touchdown of the season, but he’s still someone that the Chargers defense will need to contain in Week 6.

WR Troy Franklin

This one is a bit of a sleeper, as the rookie has just five catches for 29 yards this season. Franklin was just selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft out of Oregon where he played with Broncos quarterback Bo Nix. The rookie duo just barely missed on a deep ball touchdown last week, which could be a sign of things to come. Franklin has the speed that should keep the Chargers’ defense honest.

DL Zach Allen

His name still goes a bit under the radar to casual fans, but he’s quietly having an elite 2024 campaign. The six-year veteran has established himself as one of the best defensive linemen in football. The Chargers cannot allow him to take over this game or else it could be a long day. In five games this season, Allen has registered three sacks, five tackles for loss, and 12 quarterback hits.

LB Justin Strnad

Due to injuries, Strnad has stepped into the starting lineup in the last two games. He’s played awfully well, particularly in the run game. In the two starts, he has had 13 total tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack. Strnad’s impact on Sunday’s game will play a deciding factor in who wins this divisional tilt.

CB Riley Moss

Pat Surtain II gets the attention in this secondary, but Moss has been phenomenal in 2024. The two have formed arguably the best cornerback duo in the NFL through the first month of the season. The Iowa product snagged his first career interception in Week 4, and Pro Football Focus ranks him as the seventh-best cornerback in 2024. In other words, the Chargers may have some trouble throwing the ball at these Broncos cornerbacks.

Key things to know about Chargers’ Week 6 opponent: Broncos

Here are some important things to know about the Broncos ahead of the Week 6 matchup with the Chargers.

The Chargers are on the road to face the Broncos on Sunday, Oct. 13, at 1:05 p.m. PT.

To get you prepped for the Week 6 bout, here are five key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

Last 3 out

The Broncos are on a three-game winning streak, defeating the Buccaneers, Jets, and Raiders. Denver is currently 3-2 and second in the AFC West.

Checking in on the rookie

The Broncos selected former Oregon quarterback Bo Nix in the first round of this year’s draft in hopes of him being the long-term answer at the position. After a slow start, Nix has gotten more comfortable at the pro level. He’s coming off his best performance against Las Vegas. Nix completed 19 of 27 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns while running for a score.

Bottom of the barrel offense

Even though Nix showed some promise in Week 5, Denver’s offense is still a work in progress. The Broncos are 28th in the league in total offense (270.6 yards per game), tied for 22nd in scoring (19.2 points per game), 28th in passing (163.8 YPG), 21st in rushing offense (106.8 YPG).

Dominant defense

Vance Joseph is known for engineering top-tier defenses, and it’s no different this year for the Broncos. Denver ranks second in points allowed (14.6 per game), third in total yards (271.2 per game), fifth in passing yards (159.8 per game), tenth in rushing yards (111.4 per game), third in sacks (19) and seventh in interceptions (five).

Look out for…

Zach Allen. Allen should present a tough challenge for the Chargers’ interior offensive line with how he’s been playing. He has 29 quarterback pressures, tied for the second-most in the NFL, trailing only Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson. He also has the second-most run stops among all interior defenders (10).

Brian Baldinger breaks down film of Broncos’ defense from Week 4

Brian Baldinger breaks down the Broncos’ impressive defensive performance against the Jets on Sunday.

The Denver Broncos‘ defense dominated the New York Jets on Sunday, sacking quarterback Aaron Rodgers five times while adding an interception and a forced and recovered fumble in a 10-9 win.

Following that impressive performance, NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger took to Twitter/X to break down some of the team’s standout defenders.

“One great play after another,” Baldinger said in his video of defensive lineman Zach Allen dominating the line of scrimmage. “Zach Allen and this front … across the board, they were locked down all day.”

Baldinger also reviewed footage of cornerback Pat Surtain lining up against Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson.

“[Surtain said], ‘Not on my watch,'” Baldinger said of one of the cornerback’s breakups. “‘Not on my day. This is the Broncos’ day.’ And that defense was outstanding all day.”

Baldinger also broke down the defense’s goal-line stand against New York:

And the offense wasn’t overlooked — Baldinger reviewed how the run game got back on track against the Jets:

After improving to 2-2 on Sunday, the Broncos are now back in Denver preparing to host the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5.

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5 takeaways from Broncos’ 26-7 win over Bucs in Week 3

The Broncos defeated the Bucs 26-7 on Sunday. Here are five quick takeaways from the upset win.

The Denver Broncos (1-2) upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) with a 26-7 victory on the road in Week 3. Here are five quick takeaways from the win.

1. Pat Surtain continues to lock down WR1s: PS2 followed Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans for most of Sunday’s game and the receiver finished the day with just two catches for 17 yards. Surtain essentially took quarterback Baker Mayfield’s favorite target out of the game.

2. Tyler Badie needs more opportunities: Javonte Williams averaged a dismal 2.4 yards per carry and Jaleel McLaughlin was even worse with 1.4 YPC (although he did score with a really nice juke). Tyler Badie provided a huge spark in the second half with nine carries for 70 yards (including a 43-yard run). Badie averaged 7.8 YPC on Sunday and while his average might go down with more touches, he deserves more opportunities.

3. Alex Palczewski filled in well at right tackle: You didn’t hear Palczewski’s name much on Sunday, did you? That’s a great sign for the second-year lineman who is filling in for an injured Mike McGlinchey. ‘Palcho’ did not prove to be a liability as quarterback Bo Nix wasn’t sacked once and Denver’s offense finished the day with 352 net yards.

4. Denver’s defense came to play: That’s the kind of performance the Broncos’ defense is capable of when the offense builds a lead. Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield was sacked seven times and he threw an interception. The defense also forced and recovered a fumble. Traveling Denver fans also showed up and you could hear them chanting, “Defense! Defense!” in the fourth quarter. An excellent showing from the Broncos’ defense and the team’s fans in Tampa.

5. Bo Nix bounced back well: After struggling in his first two starts, Nix took a big step forward on Sunday. The rookie quarterback finished the game 25-of-36 passing for 216 yards with no sacks and no turnovers. He also rushed nine times for 47 yards and a touchdown. It was an excellent showing from Nix and a great sign of progress from the rookie quarterback.

Up next for Denver is another road game against the New York Jets in Week 4. The Broncos will practice in West Virginia leading up to that game.

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