3 Scathing Takeaways From Broncos' Shocking 35-33 Loss to Commanders
Denver, CO. — Football has reached an unprecedented level of popularity in Colorado, and Broncos Country is part of that palpable energy. After Saturday night’s thrilling double overtime Rocky Mountain Showdown’ between Colorado and Colorado State, all the attention shifted squarely to the Denver Broncos, who hosted the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
The Broncos' Week 2 tilt featured plenty of drama between the two historic franchises, who met for the 16th time since first squaring off in 1970. Broncos Country can hardly forget the 42-10 blowout by Washington in Super Bowl XXII, and the last time both teams played each other was in 2021 when Denver won 17-10 at home.
But they say history tends to repeat itself, and that was the case today as Sean Payton's squad lost its second straight home game to begin the season, falling to Washington, 35-33. Traditionally, teams that start 0-2 have an approximately 10% chance to make the postseason.
What did we learn from Denver's shocking loss to Washington? Here are three scathing takeaways from the Broncos blowing a 21-3 first-half lead in a disastrous beginning to the 2023 season.
Where'd the Productive Pass Rush Go?
The Broncos failed to log a single sack in their 17-16 opening loss to the Las Vegas Raiders last week, which is why pummeling Commanders QB Sam Howell was one of my keys to victory against Washington this week.
Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph made sure that wasn’t the case in Week 2, as his group of talented pass rushers made their way to Howell early in the game. On a pivotal third down on Washington’s first offensive series, Randy Gregory sacked Howell for a six-yard loss.
Just one series later, Nik Bonitto joined the pass-rushing barrage and sacked the 23-year-old QB for an eight-yard loss on the Commanders' second offensive possession. Jonathon Cooper also sacked Howell on Washington's next possession early in the second quarter, which totaled three sacks from three separate defenders on the opponent's first three offensive series. Cooper would later sack Howell for a second time in the third quarter.
Denver’s defense finished the game with four total sacks against Howell, who made just his third career start against the Broncos. But when it was crunch time, the young Commanders signal-caller eluded Denver’s defensive pass rush, finishing the game 27-of-39 with 299 yards and two touchdowns.
Sunday revealed the bitter veracity of the old NFL cliche that 'it takes all four quarters to win a football game.'
Veteran Playmakers M.I.A.
When Payton talks about utilizing players to the best of their ability regardless of their pedigree or draft position, he means it. On Denver’s opening seven-play, 61-yard offensive drive, Payton put the football in undrafted rookie RB Jaleel McLaughlin’s hands, where the preseason darling punched it in for a five-yard score.
This was the second straight game that the Broncos scored a touchdown on their opening drive, something this fan base can finally celebrate. Then on Denver's second offensive series, Russell Wilson completed a 60-yard touchdown pass to rookie WR Marvin Mims early in the second quarter. ‘Marvelous’ Mims was also a key to victory in my previous article based on the talent and intelligence of the young playmaker.
Mims finished the day with two receptions for 113 yards and that score. These back-to-back huge plays meant that the Broncos had two separate rookies score their first career touchdowns in the first half of the game.
On Wilson’s 175th career start, he also found third-year WR Brandon Johnson for a 16-yard touchdown, punctuating a nine-play, 90-yard drive in the second quarter. Johnson may seem like an unsuspecting playmaker, but he is stepping up to fill the hole created by Tim Patrick's season-ending injury, as I previously reported for Mile High Huddle in training camp.
Later in the fourth quarter, Johnson also caught a deflected last-second Hail Mary from Wilson, resulting in a 50-yard touchdown that would set up a controversial two-point attempt with time expired. Wilson couldn't connect with Courtland Sutton on the ensuing two-point try, which would have tied the game and sent it to overtime, due to a no-call pass interference on Washington.
Wilson finished the day 18-of-32 with 308 yards, three touchdowns, an interception, and a fumble lost. He also rushed the ball six times for 56 yards with a long run of 15 yards, becoming the first NFL QB to rush for 5,000 yards and pass for 40,000.
Wilson also became the 15th-fastest player ever to reach 41,000 passing yards. His box-score stats were nice, and he carved himself out a piece of NFL history, but his second-quarter fumble allowed the Commanders back into the game.
As the Broncos worked to retake a modicum of control, the team needed its veteran playmakers to rise up and lead by example. It never materialized.
It was mystifying, but it was also refreshing to see some new talent answer that bell that the veterans seemed deaf to. The silver lining is this: if defenses are preoccupied with blockbuster playmakers like Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and Javonte Williams, more unsuspecting Broncos players are showing themselves to be capable of unraveling the opposition.
It was nice to see new playmakers emerge, but it’s pivotal for the veterans that make up this team's nucleus to also score points and make the key plays in critical situations that will flip the script for this winless squad. They were few and far between on Sunday, especially when the chips were down.
Kareem Jackson's Reckless Performance was Costly
There’s no doubt that Jackson's wealth of experience is a boon to the Broncos' talented secondary unit. But what happens when the former first-rounder from Alabama refuses to change his style of hitting and tackling in his 15th season?
For a second straight week, the Broncos' defensive captain was flagged for a vicious hit on a defenseless receiver, with more fines from the league offices on their way. On Sunday, Jackson targeted Commanders TE Logan Thomas with a devastating hit to the head as the Washington playmaker hauled in a touchdown before he was evaluated for a concussion and ruled out.
Jackson was subsequently ejected from the game, ushering in Delarrin Turner-Yell, since Caden Sterns was placed on injured reserve last week. In the fourth quarter, Turner-Yell also exited the game, which forced Essang Bassey to play safety.
Against the Raiders last Sunday, Jackson knocked out WR Jakobi Meyers with a similar hit to the head that resulted in a 15-yard penalty, a $14,819 fine from the NFL, and cemented the Broncos' opening loss. While it can be argued that the controversial Week 1 penalty was ticky-tack and that Jackson led with his shoulder, it’s obvious that league officials will not give the Broncos' safety the benefit of the doubt.
As much as I can appreciate Jackson’s intensity and passion for this game, professional football is not played like it was 20 or 30 years ago. The days of Steve Atwater, John Lynch, and Brian Dawkins’ snot-rattling upper-body hits are now taboo, and the NFL refuses to secede ground in its push to limit head injuries.
Jackson has earned a reputation for leading with his head when delivering punishing blows to ball-carriers. I refuse to designate him as a dirty player who tries to inflict injury on others, but I’m also tired of his reckless habit of harming his football team.
That play not only resulted in a touchdown, but it allowed Washington to completely wrest momentum away from the Broncos, never to relinquish it, and it left Jackson's defense with a massive hole that none could fill. As a player, you’re either an asset or a liability, and it's time for Kareem to quit ‘jacking’ around and adjust his level of play while he still can.
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