Initial thoughts from the Denver Broncos’ win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 17 at Empower Field:
1. What spark?: It’s not that Sean Payton thinks reporters are dumb. (We are.) It’s that he presumes apountry is, too. So much for that “spark” offensively that he claimed was the reason for the benching of Russell Wilson in the lead-up to Sunday’s home finale. Against a Chargers defense that checked out weeks ago and had given up an average of 44.5 points, 242 passing yards and 356.5 total yards over its last two tilts, the Jarrett Stidham-led Denver offense managed all of 16 points, 212 yards through the air and 313 yards overall. In other words, pretty close to what Big Russ had managed over the last month or so, give or take. Payton might be the best coach the franchise has seen since Peyton Manning retired. But the man’s a lousy liar.
2. Humphrey rolls: Three months later, Marvin Mims Jr. is still untouched for the season’s longest reception — at 60 yards. But No. 2 on the list going into the season finale next weekend is now occupied by a surprise name: Lil’Jordan Humphrey. And he earned every inch. Humphrey’s 54-yard catch-and-run for a score midway through the second quarter snapped a 3-3 tie and became the second-longest reception of a yardage-starved season. Before the 2-minute warning, the former Saints wideout had amassed 13 catches on the year, tying his season-high with a game left to play.
3. Kicker comps: Wil Lutz didn’t endear himself to the locals after missing another field goal to end the first half, this time a 48-yarder. However, since the start of the ’22 season, the incumbent Broncos kicker actually has a better make percentage on attempts within the final two minutes of a half than the man he succeeded, Brandon McManus — just not by much. At halftime, Lutz had connected on 19 of his last 25 to end a half (76% conversion rate), while McManus was 11 for his last 15 (73%).
4. Historic lows?: If you were wondering where a Backup Bowl matchup of Stidham vs. Stick ranks in recent Broncos history, join the club. Since 2018, Empower Field has hosted eight games before Sunday’s in which neither opponent threw for at least 200 yards. Payton, ironically, has been involved with three of those contests — two as Broncos coach and one (the 2020 “No QBs” game) with New Orleans. The five-year low heading into Sunday for combined passing yards at Empower in a game with actual starting QBs happened a month ago: 287 vs. Cleveland on Nov. 26, in a 29-12 Broncos win.
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