Initial thoughts from the Broncos’ 13-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2 at Empower Field in rookie quarterback Bo Nix’s first home game in Denver.
RussFest denied: Alas, we did not get the Russell Wilson Revenge Game we were promised when the schedule was released in May — robbing Broncos fans of perhaps the only cathartic moment they’ll get all season. The only time Russ stepped out onto the field on Sunday afternoon was for the coin toss (he was booed). The Steelers won (and deferred), so it can be claimed that he had some impact on the proceedings — sort of. Given the way Justin Fields has performed guiding the Steelers to a 2-0 start, he might have to get used to that ceremonial role.
Double dare: Sean Payton looked content to play field position near the end of the second quarter. With the Broncos facing fourth-and-7 at the Steelers’ 39-yard line, the Broncos coach sent out the punt team. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin called timeout, seemingly daring Payton to send his offense back out. Payton did, Bo Nix’s fourth-down pass (intended for Troy Franklin short of the sticks) was batted down at the line, and the Steelers turned the turnover on downs into three points the other way to end the half. If ever there was a sequence that summed up the first two weeks of this seemingly dead-on-arrival season, that’s it. Except maybe this …
Open book: It took six Broncos possessions, and a Wildcat formation with Javonte Williams in shotgun, to uncork a play worthy of bringing Empower Field to its feet: a fake reverse run that ended with Bo Nix throwing deep to Josh Reynolds for a 49-yard gain. One play before that, Courtland Sutton caught his lone reception of the game (on his first target) for a 26-yard gain. And those were the two longest plays of the season for the Broncos offense up to that point. Why did it take this long for Payton to open up the playbook? Perhaps Nix’s ill-advised interception in the end zone two plays later offered a clue. Right now, there’s just not enough trust.
Show me the money: At what point does the Broncos’ massive investment in the offensive line start to pay off? Two weeks into 2024, we’re still waiting for the returns. Denver ran the ball seven times in the first half, gained 5.4 yards per run, then couldn’t pick up third-and-inches with Javonte Williams on the Broncos’ first drive of the second half. Bookend offensive tackles Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey, with a combined $27.7 million cap hit this season, took turns getting beat for sacks off the edge in the first half. They followed it up with twin holding flags in the second half. Your final rushing tally: 19 carries, 64 yards. Not. Good. Enough.
Extra Point
Sean’s September swoon: The Broncos have now played five games in September under Sean Payton. They are 0-5. With his old quarterback watching from the opposite sideline, his new one didn’t look much better — if at all. Whatever fixes to the offense were made in the offseason have not taken root, or simply haven’t worked. If it wasn’t apparent before this loss, it’s crystal clear now: Not only is this a rebuild with a rookie quarterback at the helm, it’s a total teardown.
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