Don’t look now, but the Denver Broncos are in the thick of the playoff hunt.
Think about what Broncos football was just a couple short years ago. Feeble quarterback play, the fans having to count down the play clock because the Broncos suddenly forgot how to keep pre-snap rituals under 40-seconds, and ugly losses were landmarks of football in Denver.
Not any more.
When Sean Payton was hired, fans hailed him as the long-needed adult in the room that would hold players accountable and re-establish standards long abandoned in Broncos Country. It’s an exciting time to be a Broncos fan.
Offensively, Bo Nix had the greatest game of his young career while simultaneously tying the franchise records for rookie touchdowns in a season held by trailblazer Marlin Briscoe. The running game is developing. Nix is spreading the ball around to all of his receivers. The Broncos are scoring touchdowns!
Defensively, the Walton-Penner ownership cabal needs to do whatever it takes to keep Vance Joseph on-staff. Joseph’s defenses are hassling quarterbacks, forcing turnovers, and brutalizing opposing offensive lines. They are aggressive and it’s fun to watch.
Often, at this point in the season, Broncos Country has identified coaches and coordinators they’d most like to see run out of town. Hopes and dreams for great quarterback play are usually abandoned in favor of mock drafts and what might be next year. That’s not the case this year. Denver is in the heat of the playoff hunt and control their own destiny.
Is it safe to say it? Is Broncos-brand football back?
HEADLINES
Cover 4: Bo Nix posts stellar performance, defense locks down Falcons as Broncos roll to 38-6 win
These are the players and plays that led to the Broncos’ Week 11 win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Falcons to ‘Look At’ Defensive Changes After Blowout Loss at Broncos
Bo Nix throws 4 touchdown passes as Broncos clobber Falcons | 9news.com
The Denver Broncos’ rookie quarterback had an impressive performance in their 38-6 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, November 17, 2024.
Nix throws for four touchdowns as Broncos dominate Falcons – ESPN
Denver rookie quarterback Bo Nix, whom the Broncos selected No. 12 overall in April’s draft, had career bests in passing yards (307), touchdown passes (4) and completion percentage (84.8%) on Sunday in a 38-6 demolition of the Atlanta Falcons.
‘Bo is not your average rookie’: Broncos rookie Nix delivers historic performance in 300-yard, 4-touchdown performance vs. Falcons
Nix became the first rookie in NFL history to complete at least 80 percent of his passes while throwing for four touchdowns and 300 yards in a game.
‘There was no waver in the faith and confidence in this team’: Broncos respond in big way in 38-6 win vs. Falcons
Following two tough losses on the road, Denver returned home to earn a key sixth win.
‘We are trying to be an elite defense’: Broncos hold Falcons without a touchdown in standout performance
The Broncos’ fourth-ranked defense stood tall against one of its toughest tests of the season.
Falcons-Broncos game breakdown: What happened in loss to Denver
Find out the main takeaways, moments and more that determined the outcome of Sunday’s game between Falcons and Broncos.
Bo Nix throws 4 touchdown passes and the Broncos roll past the Falcons 38-6 | AP News
Bo Nix threw a season-high four touchdown passes and the Denver Broncos rolled past the Atlanta Falcons 38-6 to snap a two-game losing streak.
NFL stats and records, Week 11: Bo Nix continues his ascent; Jared Goff is perfect again in another win
NFL Research spotlights the best nuggets from each slate of games. Here are the most eye-popping statistical accomplishments from Week 11 of the 2024 NFL season.
Lions win big but lose LB Alex Anzalone (forearm) for 6-8 weeks – ESPN
Linebacker Alex Anzalone sustained a fractured forearm in the Lions’ 52-6 victory over the Jaguars and will be sidelined six to eight weeks.
Buffalo Bills hand Kansas City Chiefs first loss of season – ESPN
After winning their first nine games in not-so-dominant fashion, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs ran out of magic Sunday, losing 30-21 to the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, New York, the club’s first defeat since Dec. 25, 2023.
Chargers shake Bengals late, note difference under Jim Harbaugh – ESPN
The defense and QB Justin Herbert buoyed the Chargers as they avoided another late-game meltdown to beat the Bengals on Sunday night, a scenario that illustrated how different the team is under coach Jim Harbaugh.
49ers blow lead, suffer latest ‘infuriating’ loss to Seahawks – ESPN
The 49ers called their latest loss after a blown lead late “infuriating,” as they are left searching for answers with a 5-5 record.
Bears’ Matt Eberflus defends decision to run clock before kick – ESPN
Bears coach Matt Eberflus defended his decision to not run one final play at the end of Chicago’s Week 11 loss to the Green Bay Packers to get kicker Cairo Santos closer to the south end zone at Soldier Field.
‘Josh Allen experience’ rolls on with TD dash to sink Chiefs – ESPN
New Bills WR Amari Cooper called the Josh Allen experience “phenomenal” after the QB sealed a win vs. the Chiefs with a 26-yard dash for a touchdown.
Anthony Richardson leads Colts past Jets in return to starting role – ESPN
Anthony Richardson, in his first game since being reinstated as the Colts’ starting quarterback, had perhaps the best day of his young career while leading two fourth-quarter TD drives in a 28-27 win over the Jets.
Giants benching QB Daniel Jones amid 2-8 start to season
Daniel Jones has been benched as the New York Giants’ starting quarterback, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday morning.
NFL Week 11: What We Learned from each Sunday game
Around The NFL breaks down what you need to know from all of Sunday’s action in Week 11 of the 2024 NFL season.
Packers DL Kenny Clark: ‘We knew we were going to block’ Bears’ game-winning field goal attempt
The Green Bay Packers knew they weren’t losing Sunday to the Bears even as Chicago lined up for a game-winning 46-yard field goal, as special teams coach Rich Bisaccia had prepared them for such an occasion all week.
J.K. Dobbins: Start the MVP talks for Justin Herbert – NBC Sports
Thoughts of past failures may have been in the mind of Chargers fans when the team blew a 27-6 lead in the second half of Sunday night’s game against the Bengals, but the end result was different this time around.
Josh Allen’s Bills hand Chiefs first loss but focus remains on winning in postseason
On the heels of a 30-21 victory, Josh Allen and the Bills have now won four consecutive regular-season games against the Chiefs. But no matter how complete Sunday’s performance was, Buffalo’s focus remains on the playoffs, Judy Battista writes.
Saints’ Darren Rizzi on ‘ageless’ Taysom Hill’s three-touchdown day: ‘He certainly doesn’t look 34’
Mr. Do-it-all, Taysom Hill, did, in fact, do it all in the New Orleans Saints‘ 35-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns as he scored three touchdowns and accounted for over 200 yards of offense.
Jaguars HC Doug Pederson on job status after blowout loss to Lions: ‘I can’t control that’
Doug Pederson’s Jaguars were blown out in embarrassing fashion by the Detroit Lions, 52-6, on Sunday fewer than 24 hours after NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that a regime change could be in Jacksonville’s future following a loss in Motown.
Lamar Jackson sounds off after Ravens’ latest letdown vs. Steelers: ‘That s–t is annoying’ – CBSSports.com
Jackson is tired of his team getting in its own way
Lions defense takes another major hit as starting LB to miss significant time after suffering injury vs. Jags – CBSSports.com
Detroit lost Alex Anzalone during the blowout victory
Jaguars could retain GM Trent Baalke in an effort to land Bill Belichick as new coach, per report – CBSSports.com
The two worked together back in the 1990s
Bengals’ Evan McPherson among five 2024 kickers with career-low FG percentage after missed kicks vs. Chargers – CBSSports.com
He’s not the only big name struggling at the position
Seahawks celebrate “long overdue” win over 49ers – NBC Sports
In the days leading up to Sunday’s game against the 49ers, Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith said it was a game his team needed to win “if we want to be that type of team we say we are.”
Dan Campbell: Criticism for keeping starters in blowouts is a good problem to have – NBC Sports
The three biggest blowouts of this NFL season have been wins by the Lions: They beat the Jaguars by 46 points on Sunday, and they beat both the Cowboys and Titans by 38 points earlier this season.