7 Things we learned from Broncos comeback win vs Chargers
· Yahoo Sports
Another week, another comeback win for the Denver Broncos.
And another game where, through the first three quarters, Bo Nix and the Broncos looked completely incompetent. Yet, as has become the norm with Nix and this team, they just find a way to win. The 23-17 victory over the hapless Los Angeles Chargers is the latest chapter in this story.
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Denver improves to 3-2 on the young season and keeps Justin Herbert and the Chargers winless at 0-5.
Here’s what we learned from Sunday’s win for the Broncos.
Denver is a fourth-quarter team
If it wasn’t obvious over the last season and five games, Denver is never out of any game. That’s a helluva thing for a team to possess. No matter what the Broncos encounter, no matter how bad they play, they have a shot.
It’s what this team is – good and bad. Thankfully, Denver survived on Sunday.
It really is amazing how the Broncos just look like a completely different team in the final quarter. The same is true for Nix.
Defense showed up when needed
After the Kimani Vidal 42-yard touchdown at the end of the third quarter, it didn’t look great for the defense or the Broncos. Denver’s defense had more whiffs than a kid who picked up a baseball bat for the first time and tried to hit a ball off a tee.
But after the play, something clicked in the Broncos defense. They finally realized LA was playing four rookies on the offensive line and had no receivers.
But from that point on, Denver completely ransacked Herbert and the Chargers offense. Four of the Broncos’ five sacks came in the fourth quarter, and they forced three turnovers.
Casa Bonitto is open for business
Nik Bonitto showed up and showed out on Sunday. The Denver edge rusher led the team with two sacks. Bonitto also finished with four tackles (three solo), three tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits. Helluva game for Bonitto.
But it wasn’t just Bonitto, especially in the fourth quarter. Zach Allen had a huge strip-sack of Herbert, and the pass rush got home.
For the game, the Broncos defense had five sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and six quarterback hits.
Nix and the offense have to get better earlier
Nix and the offense finally got going in the fourth quarter, but this can’t continue. There must be some semblance of consistency from the quarterback and this unit earlier in the game.
On Sunday, it was downright atrocious in the first three quarters.
It starts with running the ball better. It’s no coincidence that Nix and the Denver offense started to play better when the running game was effective. Whatever the Broncos do in the fourth quarter would be nice to see earlier in games. But how many times has that been said since last season?
Running game comes alive in fourth quarter
As just noted, it’s no coincidence Denver’s offense found life in the fourth quarter when the running game got going. It was led by J.K. Dobbins, who finally looked like the running back from a season ago.
Now just find a way to do this earlier in the game, please and thank you.
Dobbins led the Broncos in rushing with 68 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown.
Evan Engram and Courtland Sutton live
Engram led Denver with four receptions for 55 yards, and Sutton caught a massive 13-yard touchdown.
Getting both of these guys involved is a positive sign for the Broncos. For the offense to take the next step or two, both Engram and Sutton will play a big role.
Special teams showed up
There was a punt by Jeremy Crawshaw that was a freaking beauty in the third quarter. It was then that the Broncos punter blasted a 58-yard punt and pinned the Chargers at their 3-yard line. If that wasn’t enough, Crawshaw had five punts, three inside the LA 20-yard line for an average of 45.6 per punt.
Marvin Mims Jr. had a fantastic punt return after an LA penalty forced a rekick due to a penalty. It made up for an earlier questionable fair-catch decision by Mims.