The Broncos survived and advanced on Sunday in a game that they trailed for the entire time until Brandon McManus nailed a 36 yard field goal to win the game 20-19. The Broncos trailed 12-0 at halftime and 19-7 in the 4th quarter, but Case Keenum rallied the Broncos once again and the Broncos won a thriller to go to 2-0. The Broncos still have some issues, but we'll take 2-0 at this point. There is something to be said about their ability to rally the last two weeks and anyone would take this start with this team. Here are my thoughts and observations on the win....
1) The Broncos offense couldn't do anything in the first half and Case Keenum struggled throughout, and he threw a killer interception near the Raiders goal line in the second quarter when they were down 6-0. Keenum has thrown 4 interceptions so far this year, and it has become an issue.
2) The most underrated play of the game was Shaq Barrett blocking the extra point attempt after Marshawn Lynch scored to make it 12-0 going into the half instead of 13-0. That block was a key moment in the game and it came back to haunt the Raiders later on.
3) Philip Lindsay and Royce Freeman continue to be a solid 1-2 punch. Lindsay finished with 107 yards and Freeman added 28 yards and a big third quarter 1 yard TD run to make it 12-7 and get the Broncos on the board.
4) The defense had trouble with Derek Carr and passing game and Carr wasted no time in getting the Raiders back on the board with a 20 yard TD pass to Seth Roberts to make it 19-7. I am worried about the big plays that the Broncos defense has given up in the first two weeks. They let Carr slice and dice them, and they is something that have to get figured out. I thought the Broncos were done at that point after going down 19-7.
5) Give Keenum credit because he didn't play well and he put it together in the late 3rd quarter and in the 4th quarter. He led three scoring drives. It thought it was ballsy of Vance Joseph to go for it down 19-10 on a 4th and goal from the 1 with about six minutes to go in the 4th quarter, but Keenum delivered with a TD run on QB draw to make it 19-17. He was cool as ice on the final drive and had big throws to Emmanuel Sanders, Jake Butt, and Tim Patrick. Patrick's catch and run set up the game-winning field goal by McManus. Keenum has to improve, but you have to like his moxie and his ability to lead this team to a victory once again in the 4th quarter.
6) The Broncos are 2-0 and now they have a huge test on the road in Week 3 at Baltimore. This will be tough because it will be the Broncos first road game of the year, against a good defense, in the early window on Sunday afternoon, and as a big underdog. Let's see what this team is made of in this spot. Last year, they were 2-0 and lost a bad game at Buffalo in Week 3. Now, if they can get to 3-0, they might be on their way to a good year.
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