Broncos Improve to 3-6 with Win over Browns

The Broncos got to 3-6 with a 24-19 win over the Browns in Denver on Sunday. It was the first career start for Brandon Allen, who was subbing for the injured Joe Flacco. Allen played well and gave the Broncos a chance to win the game. A late 4th down stop and a first down sealed the victory for the Broncos. Here are my thoughts and observations on the game....

1) Denver looked good early with Allen hitting Courtland Sutton and Noah Fant on two touchdown passes. Fant's TD was really impressive because it was a 75 yard catch and run in which he broke three tackles along the way. It was only one game but it is amazing what a different QB can do for your team. Allen is mobile enough to avoid pressure and he can run the bootlegs that are a staple of this system. It was refreshing to watch a QB other than Flacco run this offense.

2) The defense played great in the redzone. They limited the Browns to only 1 TD in five appearances. They were able to make the key stops when they had to and frustrated Baker Mayfield all day long.

3) The key drive of the game was when the Broncos were backed up inside their own 10 in the third quarter and drove down for a touchdown to extend the lead to 24-12. That was a huge sequence in the game. Allen made some big throws and Philip Lindsay scored the touchdown to finish off the drive.

4) This game was more of a reflection of the Browns and their shitshow of a team and season. At 2-6, they face long odds to make a run for the playoffs. Their head coach, Freddie Kitchens, is lost and in over his head. Baker Mayfield has regressed from last season, and Odell Beckham doesn't really do much. They are about as overrated as a team that I have seen in a long time. Their whole program is a disaster.

5) The Broncos are now 3-6 and headed into their bye week. It is nice to win and head into the bye, and it will be interesting to see how their QB situation plays out after the bye when they return to action in Minnesota. I still think we need to see Drew Lock sooner rather than later, but I don't think it will be until after the Bills game on November 24th.