The Denver Broncos beat the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday to secure the No. 1 overall seed and homefield advantage, but Sunday’s performance didn’t inspire confidence as the team prepares for the playoffs.
Facing off against a backup Chargers defense, Bo Nix and the offense struggled most of the afternoon, prompting some questions about the offense going into the playoffs.
Denver Broncos earn first round bye, offense must play better in Divisional Round
A win is a win, and the Denver Broncos moved to 14-3 on the season after beating the Los Angeles Chargers, but this was Denver’s ugliest offensive game since their Thursday Night Football clunker against the Las Vegas Raiders. Regardless, the Broncos are the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs and will have home-field advantage and a first-round bye.
While Sean Payton has mentioned that wins don’t have to be aesthetically pleasing, Sunday’s performance by the offense didn’t inspire confidence going into the playoffs and left a lot to be desired.
After a strong first drive that took nearly nine minutes off the clock, the Broncos settled for field goals and punts the rest of the way as they struggled to sustain drives and couldn’t move the ball consistently.
Denver punted on six of their 11 offensive drives of the game, with four field goals to show for it, and if it wasn’t for Ja’Quan McMillian’s pick-six in the first quarter, it would have been 6-3 going into the fourth quarter.
Bo Nix was pressured quite a bit, and the offensive rhythm was nonexistent on a drive-to-drive basis. There wasn’t as much push from the offensive line, as the Chargers’ backup defensive front seven controlled the trenches all afternoon. While the win is great for seeding and their record this season, the Broncos cannot play this way in the playoffs, or else they will be poised for an early exit.
Nik Bonitto gave the Broncos offense great field position in the fourth quarter after he strip-sacked Trey Lance, but Denver couldn’t generate anything with it, having a -2 yard drive and settling for a field goal to extend Denver’s lead to 16-3.
The Broncos’ offense finished with 241 yards, converting 5-of-15 third-down attempts and were a concerning 0-for-3 in the red zone.
Denver’s defense and special teams units did exactly what they should have done on Sunday, sacking Lance four times, holding the Chargers to 7-of-20 on third down, 217 net yards and generating two takeaways.
Denver will host a playoff game here in two weeks’ time for the start of the Divisional round, and hopefully, when that happens, they’ll be healthier, and the offense will be drastically better than what was on the field in Week 18.
Broncos run into injuries during game
During Sunday’s win, the Broncos dealt with several injuries throughout the game. Safety P.J. Locke (leg) left the game in the second quarter and did not return.
Center Alex Forsyth (ankle) left briefly in the first quarter of Sunday’s game but returned and only missed four offensive snaps. Left tackle Garett Bolles suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter and initially went into the locker room, but he came out and continued to play in the second half.
Head to Mile High Sports’ Instagram page for more post-game coverage.
Denver Broncos earn No. 1 seed in NFL Playoffs in uninspiring win vs. Chargers Mile High Sports.
Hence then, the article about denver broncos earn no 1 seed in nfl playoffs in uninspiring win vs chargers was published today ( ) and is available on Mile High Sports ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Denver Broncos earn No. 1 seed in NFL Playoffs in uninspiring win vs. Chargers )
Also on site :