The Bills came into Denver on Sunday and thrashed the Broncos in every which way 48-19. The loss sends Denver to a 5-9 record and a fourth straight losing season. The Broncos had no answer for Bills QB Josh Allen and the Broncos offense couldn't do much at all against the Bills defense. It was close at halftime, but the Bills broke it open in the 3rd quarter and the game was over by the 4th quarter. The Broncos are officially eliminated from playoff contention. It was a disappointing day all around for the Broncos and it just reaffirms how far off this franchise is from becoming a playoff caliber team. Here are my thoughts and observations.........
1) The Bills and Josh Allen did anything they wanted to the Broncos defense. Denver couldn't stop or contain Allen, who was more impressive in this game than the two games Denver played Pat Mahomes this year, and Stephon Diggs and Cole Beasley killed them in the passing game. The Broncos defense is undermanned and it showed on Saturday.
2) The Broncos offense did not do much in this game. Drew Lock was again inconsistent. He made some nice throws including a TD pass to Noah Fant right before halftime to cut the lead to 21-13. He also had two surefire interceptions dropped and his fumble was returned for a TD in the 3rd quarter. He wasn't terrible, but he wasn't good either. In a game like this, he was going to have to go shot for shot Allen and produce points, but he wasn't up to the task. The jury still remains out on Lock and he has two more games to help cement his status as the starter in Denver next season.
3) The key in this game was the fact that Buffalo went right down the field to start the second half and got a TD to make it 28-13 and then the next series Lock fumbled and Buffalo returned it for a TD to make it 35-13. That was the ballgame right there. Denver even gave up a late 51 yard TD run as the Bills were trying to run out the clock to make it 48-13. Melvin Gordon added a garbage time TD to give Denver its' last score of the day.
4) The Broncos really have been screwed by Covid this year. Brandon McManus couldn't play because he was on the Covid list due to being a close contact to someone who tested positive. He tested negative all week but couldn't play due to the timeframe and number of days he has to be away. If this game was on Sunday, he would have been cleared. Instead, it was on Saturday and he wasn't allowed to play. In his place Tyler Russolino, formerly of the XFL, was the kicker and he promptly missed a field goal on the first drive and two extra points. The Broncos really got screwed in every way this year with Covid.
5) The Bills were simply too much for the Broncos and they are a legitimate Super Bowl contender. This game reminded me of the blowout loss to the Chiefs earlier in the season. The Broncos are not there yet, but maybe they can look to the Bills and see how they were patient with Josh Allen and it paid off.
6) The Broncos still have two games left and they head to LA to take on Justin Herbert and the Chargers. It will be tough to stop Herbert-especially with the Broncos banged up secondary. It is still an important game for the Broncos and Drew Lock. He needs to put two good games together the next two weeks, and I would still like to see them win the last two games and finish 7-9.
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