After a strong win over the Panthers on the road in Week 14, the Broncos followed it up with their most-lopsided loss of the year.
Denver was blown out by the visiting Buffalo Bills, 48-19, on Sunday. The loss dropped the Broncos to 5-9 and secured the team’s fifth-straight losing season.
Next up: Head out west to take on the 5-9 Chargers.
Here’s a look at how various national experts rated the Broncos in their power rankings entering Week 16:
Bleacher Report (No. 22) | Last week: No. 19
“After getting waxed at home on Saturday by the Buffalo Bills, the Broncos are assured of a fourth straight losing season, which hasn’t happened in Denver since the AFL-NFL merger. If they lose either of their last two games, they will amass double-digit losses for the third time in the last four years. And as another disappointing season winds down for the Broncos, something is becoming painfully evident: Drew Lock isn’t “the guy.” .
CBS Sports (No. 22) | Last week: No. 22
“The defense has regressed in a big way. But there is a lot to like for next season,” Pete Prisco writes. .
ESPN (No. 24) | Last week: No. 22
“In a season in which the Broncos have four defensive starters on injured reserve, including Pro Bowl players such as Von Miller and Jurrell Casey, and a fifth defensive starter who has been suspended for the remainder of the season in A.J. Bouye, Harris has had to be a little of everything for the Broncos. He is tied for fourth among the league’s defensive linemen in batted passes, with five, he is fourth on the team in sacks, with 2.5, and he is third in quarterback hits. That’s all despite his missing three games because of COVID-19. Harris signed a one-year deal last offseason to return to the team and will be an unrestricted free agent in March,” Jeff Legwold writes. .
NFL.com (No. 25) | Last week: No. 20
“The hope was that Drew Lock would build off his four-touchdown explosion in Week 14 against the Panthers and roll into the offseason with a strong finish to his second NFL campaign. Those hopes were deflated some in a 48-19 blowout by the Bills, who had their way with Lock for most of the afternoon. Lock lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown and fired two passes into the hands of Buffalo defenders that were dropped. His final numbers were OK, but Lock was far from good. Of course, quarterback isn’t the only issue facing Broncos GM John Elway this offseason: Denver’s defense allowed more than 500 yards to the Bills. Another disappointing day in a disappointing season,” Dan Hanzus writes. .
Sporting News (No. 25) | Last week: No. 23
“The Broncos’ defense has become a shell of what it could have been with Vic Fangio and coupled with inconsistent offense, this is why they are this low,” Vinnie Iyer writes. .
Sports Illustrated (No. 25) | Last week: No.
“Last weekend gave the Broncos a glimpse of how much building is left to go–and it does make me wonder if John Elway is going to get restless soon, and take a big swing at something or someone,” Albert Breer writes. .
USA Today (No. 25) | Last week: No. 24
“His turnover streak extended to a league-worst 10 consecutive games, QB Drew Lock may be playing himself out of a starting job in 2021,” Nate Davis writes. .
Yahoo Sports (No. 23) | Last week: No. 21
“It was an ugly performance against the Bills, getting outgained 534-255. Vic Fangio doesn’t seem to be on the hot seat, but two more games like that could cause the Broncos to have a long discussion about their coaching situation,” Frank Schwab writes. .
