Stock up
CB Ja’Quan McMillian
What more can you say about this guy? He’s unheralded – undrafted out of East Carolina last year – and he’s not very big. But he just keeps making plays since Vance Joseph made him the starting nickel five weeks ago. McMillian had five tackles for loss across two games against Kansas City and started this one by stripping James Cook on the first snap of the game. He’s feisty, he’s tough and he just keeps making plays.
WR Courtland Sutton
Sutton’s going to need a couple of big games in order to hit 1,000 yards this season, but make no mistake about it: He’s having a good year. Sutton’s ridiculous toe-drag touchdown against Buffalo was his seventh already this season, a career best. In four years besides 2019, his best as a pro, Sutton totaled eight touchdown grabs. He made a couple of other big plays in this game, including a 30-yarder that jump-started a field goal drive late in the first half.
QB Russell Wilson
It hasn’t always been pretty, but Wilson really played well against Buffalo. He’s still getting sacked too often – four more against the Bills – but he threw two touchdowns and didn’t turn the ball over on 33 drop-backs and nine rushing attempts. He made a couple of vintage plays with flips to Samaje Perine for 18 and 9 yards in the second half, including to start Denver’s go-ahead touchdown drive. He’s got 18 touchdown passes against four interceptions for the season. And a passer rating well north of 100.
S Justin Simmons
Simmons’ interception of Josh Allen early in the game was the 30th. That broke a tie with Xavien Howard for the NFL lead since Simmons entered the league in 2016. Simmons missed a bunch of camp with a groin/hip injury and didn’t look quite right the first two games. Then he missed the next two. Since he returned, the veteran has been back to playing like one of the NFL’s best. Itap no surprise Denver’s rebound defensively has followed his return to health. SImmons has three interceptions so far this season and also a fumble recovery.
Stock down
P Riley Dixon
Anything but a smooth day at the office for Dixon. As the holder, he dropped a snap on an extra point that cost the Broncos. He had two punts sail into the end zone, netting just 38 and 26 yards on those attempts. He did straighten out four other punts, pinning Buffalo at its own 11 twice. The Broncos have been looking for consistency out of Dixon, who has a big leg. This game will leave the coaching staff wanting more in that department.
TE Adam Trautman
Trautman is Denver’s de facto No. 1 tight end, but his playing time has decreased some and Monday he gave up playing time to practice squad-er Lucas Krull. Trautman had a pair of grabs and is sure-handed, he’s just not very fast. Trautman caught an out route late in the game designed to get out of bounds and stop the clock, but he was tackled in bounds and forced coach Sean Payton to take a timeout. It’ll be interesting to see if Krull’s role expands at all.
Rookie skill players
Jaleel McLaughlin and Marvin Mims Jr. (offensive version) each had rookie-type outings on Monday Night Football. McLaughlin had six carries for eight yards and two catches for four, totaling 12 yards on eight touches. Mims was targeted once and didn’t catch a pass. He’s got two catches for four yards on four targets over the past five games. Mims the return man remains dynamic, though. He had 75 total return yards on three chances (44 punt, 31 kick) vs. Buffalo.
C Lloyd Cushenberry
The Broncos center has played well so far this season, but he had his hands full against Buffalo’s Ed Oliver and others up front. Cushenberry, the fourth-year player, committed three penalties on the day and of three different types – a false start, holding and venturing too far downfield on a passing play. Denver’s offensive line in general had a lot of penalties and Cushenberry’s been reliable, but the Bills gave the Broncos’ front line all it could handle.
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