Go big or go home: What’s the best way to make up for an injury-riddled offensive line missing both of its preferred starting tackles? Get more big bodies on the field. Broncos play-caller Klint Kubiak appeared to embrace that idea early on, going with multiple tight end sets on 8 of 10 snaps on the opening drive of the game. The result: A solid 10-play, 49-yard march that included completions of 8 and 19 yards to Greg Dulcich, who’d gone dark the previous three weeks with six receptions for 52 yards combined. More of this. Less of what followed the rest of the game.
To the sticks, fellas: Of course, you can have all the tight ends on the field that you want. If they don’t run their third-down routes to the first-down marker, it isn’t worth a whole heck of a lot. In play calls reminiscent of the days of former offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, the Broncos have called out routes to tight ends short of the sticks in back-to-back weeks. And just like those halcyon days with Dr. Pencil calling the shots, and Dulcich playing the role of since-departed Noah Fant, neither worked. This is how a team finishes 2 of 12 on third down. And doesn’t score a single touchdown.
High pressure: The Broncos’ pass rush had been MIA prior to Sunday, with two sacks combined since Bradley Chubb was traded to Miami. On Sunday, however, the Denver defensive front swarmed. Defensive tackle DeShawn Williams got things started with a sack of Lamar Jackson on Baltimore’s second drive of the game, and Jonathon Cooper followed with another sack of his own on the Ravens’ next possession, knocking Jackson out of the game (knee). Backup Tyler Huntley then spent much of the game running for his life as well (he was sacked twice), with Cooper’s pressure off the edge goading him into a throw that was picked off by safety Justin Simmons at the Ravens’ 40 in the third quarter.
Another opportunity squandered.: Of course, the Denver offense did the same thing with that short field that it’s done too many times before this season — produce just three points — as the Broncos once again refused to take a win their opponent was more than happy to give them. An ill-timed unnecessary roughness penalty from linebacker Alex Singleton opened the door on Baltimore’s game-winning 91-yard drive. Two fourth-and-short conversions and a pass interference against Pat Surtain II kept it ajar. Then, after Huntley’s 2-yard TD plunge gave the Ravens their first lead of the game with 28 seconds left, we got a callback to Week 1 in Seattle: A ridiculously long Brandon McManus field goal attempt (63 yards) that failed to connect. Add it all up, and you have the Broncos’ sixth consecutive losing season.
