Broncos at Jets Open Thread/Live Blog | Week 4
The time has come. The Denver Broncos will have to decide tonight whether to wallow in a pity party brought on by an injury epidemic or stand up and take back a modicum of control in the 2020 season. The fellow 0-3 New York Jets are the quintessential 'get right' opponent, and if the Broncos fail to capitalize on that fact, the wheels will indeed come off the bus.
Brett Rypien gets his first career start on a short-week turnaround on East Coast time. Not the most fortuitous conditions but he's a smart quarterback, has lots of talent around him, and a couple of veteran coaches to get him ready for battle in Pat Shurmur and Mike Shula.
It's already the third quarterback to start for the Broncos this season and we're only in Week 4. It's been that type of oulier season thus far. But it's not over yet and the Broncos can begin the process of turning the ship around if they can find a way to win on Thursday Night Football.
Join us as we live-blog and discuss TBvsDEN here in our weekly Open Thread. Dive into the conversation — it's easy — by simply going to the top of the site and in the bottom right-hand corner of the Mile High Huddle logo, click the follow button.
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What to Watch For
• Tight end Noah Fant needs 54 receiving yards to become the fifth Broncos pass-catcher to reach 800 career receiving yards by his 19th game and needs one touchdown reception to match Courtland Sutton (6), Demaryius Thomas (6) & Tony Scheffler (6) for the second-most touchdown catches in team history through his first 19 games.
• Running back Melvin Gordon needs 93 receiving yards to become the eighth active running back with 2,000 receiving yards in his career and one scrimmage touchdown (rush or rec.) to become the fifth active running back with 50 combined scores.
• Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy needs 27 yards to become the third Broncos rookie WR to reach 200 receiving yards by his fourth game (Eddie Royal - 2008, 298 yds.; Rich Upchurch - 1975, 273 yds.).
Inactives
First Quarter
Broncos will kick off.
Mike Purcell blows up New York's first run for a 1-yard loss.
On 3rd-&-7, Sam Darnold shakes an Alexander Johnson sack, shucks Justin Simmons and several Broncos defenders, runs 46 yards for a touchdown. Sam. Darnold. The extra point is good.
Jets converted three third downs on that drive that went 75 yards on nine plays.
Jets 7, Broncos 0
Broncos picking up some yards on the ground with Melvin Gordon.
On third down, Brett Rypien fires high to KJ Hamler. Incomplete. The Jets flagged for pass interference, moving the chains.
On the ensuing first down, Rypien fires incomplete for Noah Fant but Jets penalized for roughing the passer. Broncos in plus-territory.
Broncos moving deep into Jets territory. On 3rd-&-2, Nick Vannett jumps early. Brings up 3rd-&-7.
On third down, Rypien throws the bubble screen to... Royce Freeman. Tackled for a loss.
Brandon McManus kicks the 40-yard field goal. It's good.
Jets 7, Broncos 3
On 3rd-&-9, Broncos allow Darnold to complete to Jamison Crowder to move the chains. Bradley Chubb had a direct line at Darnold but missed.
Alexander Johnson gets through and sacks Darnold for a 10-yard loss. Darnold slammed hard to the ground. Came up holding his right shoulder.
Jets flagged for holding on the next play, erasing a big gain on the ground. Darnold has exited the game. And is being examined in the Jets blue medical tent.
Joe Flacco enters the game.
On 3rd-&-30, Flacco completes to Jeff Smith for 11-yard gain. Well short of the sticks. Punt coming next.
Second Quarter
Broncos run into the punter but get no call. Jets penalized on the play.
Rypien starting off with a little extra field-position boost. Starts from the Denver 30-yard line.
After Jets penalized for roughing Rypien, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams calls press coverage and loads the box on first down. Rypien goes deep and Jerry Jeudy goes up and takes the ball to the house. Touchdown.
Broncos 10, Jets 7
Chubb sacks Darnold on third down. Chubb gets his first sack since suffering his torn ACL. Jets will punt. Shelby Harris is down.
On ensuing drive, Rypien tries to throw the ball away but it's picked off by Pierre Desir with a great tip-toe pick. Jets in business.
Darnold is moving the ball, connecting on two consecutive passes, picking up 27 yards.
Jets drive stalls. The field goal is wide-left. But Broncos linebacker Joe Jones penalized for unnecessary roughness, giving New York fresh life.
After another series, the ticky-tack penalty on Jones results in the Jets getting a second chance to connect on a field goal. This time, it's a chip-shot from 26 yards. Good.
Broncos 10, Jets 10
On 3rd-&-7, Rypien connects deep with Tim Patrick for a 40-yard gain.
Gordon hits paydirt on 2nd-&-Goal from the 6-inch line.
Broncos 17, Jets 10
Jets moving the ball. Chubb hurt. 3rd-&-10 from the Broncos 20-yard line. Jets bringing on the field goal unit. Field goal is good.
Broncos 17, Jets 13
Third Quarter
Broncos receive. Go three-and-out.
On 2nd-&-8, Jets go deep, targeting Michael Ojemudia and the Broncos rookie corner gets flagged for pass interference. Gives Jets half the field and in the red zone.
Broncos force Jets to attempt a field goal. Chip-shot range. It's good.
Broncos 17, Jets 16
Rypien leads a 15-play, 75-yard drive that culminates in a touchdown pass to Patrick from seven yards out. Broncos extend their lead.
Broncos 24, Jets 16.
Noah Fant is carted off the field.
Jets moving the ball into plus-territory.
Bryce Callahan with a nice pass break-up on second down.
On 3rd-&-6, Broncos blitz, with Josey Jewell getting home to sack Darnold. Punt.
Diontae Spencer returns the 46-yard punt 45 yards, setting the Broncos up on the Jets 44-yard line.
Fourth Quarter
On 3rd-&-9, Rypien fires complete to Patrick but comes up two yards short. McManus trots on.
McManus connects from 54 yards, extending Broncos lead.
Broncos 27, Jets 16
On first down, Darnold connects with Crowder for 36-yard gain. Jackson exploited in coverage.
Chubb gets his second sack of the game. Sam Ficken's 54-yard field goal is good.
Broncos 27, Jets 19
On third down, Rypien is picked off by Desir, who returns it 35 yards to the house. Jets narrow the margin to two points. Two-point try is no good.
Broncos 27, Jets 25
Rypien picked off again, giving the ball back to the Jets in plus-territory.
On third down, Darnold connects with Crowder, who is tackled short of the sticks. But the officials give New York the yardage. Vic Fangio challenges the spot of the ball.
Officials reverse the call. Brings up fourth down. In chip-shot range.
The kick is good. Jets take the lead with 6:28 to go.
Jets 28, Broncos 27
Rypien sacked on third down but Jets penalized for facemask. Gives Broncos 15 yards and a new set of downs.
Rypien connects with Patrick for 31-yard gain, getting Broncos in field-goal range.
Gordon tackled for 3-yard loss on ensuing first down.
Gordon drops an easy pass in the middle of the field, brings up 3rd-&-13.
Rypien throws it away but no receiver in the vicinity. Flagged for intentional grounding. Turns it into a 53-yard try for McManus.
It's good. Broncos retake lead.
Broncos 30, Jets 28
On 4th-&-3, Chubb sacks Darnold. Turnover on downs. Rypien gets the ball in Jets territory.
Third sack of the night for Chubb.
On first down, Gordon is bottled up, but breaks outside with Rypien as his lead blocker, takes it 43 yards to the house. Gordon's second touchdown of the game.
Broncos 37, Jets 28
Broncos Win
