Looking back at five key plays in the Broncos’ 27-14 defeat at Baltimore.
1. PUNT BLOCK
WHAT A 🔥 START!
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)
Situation: The Broncos’ punt block team came through with the Ravens at their own 13-yard line in the first quarter.
Denver was gifted its first offensive possession inside the Baltimore 10-yard line after linebacker Joe Jones knifed through the Ravens’ offensive front with an inside swim move on Tyus Bowser and blocked the punt of Sam Koch. “Once he went to the outside shoulder, I just ripped inside and it was clear as day,” Jones said. “It was just kind of the way it was dialed up.” The Broncos took the lead one play later with a Royce Freeman rushing touchdown.
2. FIELD GOAL BLOCK
“All game — even though at times it felt out of reach — we were still in there. … We just hurt ourselves.” –
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)
Situation: The Broncos trailed 17-14 in the second quarter as Baltimore lined up for a 43-yard field goal attempt.
Why stop at just one block? This time, safety Justin Simmons lined up over the long snapper and the left guard, and when the ball was snapped, Simmons leaped over the space between them and blocked the attempt. It was the exact momentum shift the Broncos needed. But the final result left Denver wanting more, as noted in the following key play.
3. FIELD GOAL BLOCK, PART II
Situation: Broncos cornerback Chris Harris recovered the Simmons’ blocked field goal attempt at the Denver 32-yard line.
Harris faced little resistance on his sprint to the end zone while weaving in between two linebacker Shaquil Barrett blocks. But midway through the Harris run-back, Ravens offensive lineman Bradley Bozeman (77) was brushed by blocking defensive tackle Domata Peko in the side — sending Bozeman to the turf. It drew a block in the back penalty (incorrectly applied to offensive tackle Billy Turner) and called back the touchdown. And, the Broncos’ problems snowballed from there.
4. LINDSAY PUNCHES
. Phillip Lindsay was ejected for throwing several punches in the pile.
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps)
Situation: The Broncos trailed 17-14 in the second quarter and faced second down at the Ravens’ 25-yard line.
When left tackle Garett Bolles got beat by Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs on edge pressure, it left quarterback Case Keenum’s blindside vulnerable — and Suggs took full advantage. He strip-sacked Keenum and a scramble for the football ensued. Running back Phillip Lindsay joined the pile late with a Ravens player already in possession. But the 5-foot-8 player nicknamed “The Tasmanian Devil” at CU fought for the football anyway, throwing several punches in an attempt to retrieve it. But an official stood right above the act, and following a lengthy video review, Lindsay was tossed. The offense never regained its mojo.
5. KEENUM PICK
👀
Even though it got called back… let's check that Peanut INT return.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens)
Situation: The Broncos trailed 27-14 in the fourth quarter facing second-and-goal at the Baltimore 15-yard line.
Up until this moment, the idea of a Broncos’ comeback didn’t seem out of the question. A two-possession game with nine minutes left? Keenum liked his odds. But on this snap, left guard Ron Leary allowed inside pressure that forced an awkward Keenum release stepping backward. Ravens linebacker Patrick Onwuasor took advantage of the late-arriving throw to tight end Jeff Heuerman and jumped the route. Thankfully for Denver, the following interception return touchdown was nixed with a block-in-the-back flag. But the Broncos still blew their best shot at victory with late-game mistakes such as this one.
