Broncos-Redskins recap: Instant Reactions

The Denver Broncos started out efficient and devolved into the kind of offensive ineptitude we’ve become accustomed to in 2017. Once the Washington Redskins grabbed a lead it was all over as they coasted to a 27-3 victory over the hapless Broncos.

At 5-10, the Broncos will be back in the hunt for one of the top picks in the 2018 NFL Draft. Here’s some of the quick observations during the game.

On Offense

• Early on, Brock Osweiler and the Broncos offense was efficient. They controlled field position and moved the ball fairly effectively. Then turnovers happened and the wheels came off.
• C.J. Anderson came to play. He smells that 1,000 yard season and is running like he wants it. Unfortunately, he had like three carries after the first quarter and whatever momentum he had in the game evaporated.
• Speaking of 1,000 yard seasons, Demaryius Thomas is also sniffing at extending his streak to six seasons. He too started out strong then disappeared from the game plan for the rest of the game.
• Isaiah McKenzie should never see the football field in a Broncos uniform again.
• Garett Bolles is having a poor rookie season. His tendency to hold defenders is killing drives. He needs to be moved to the right tackle position and the Broncos need to draft a legitimate left tackle.

On Defense/ST

• If the defense thinks they can win a game, their play is dominant. Clearly what had been lacking is the belief they can win a game.
• Von Miller is a Hall of Famer. He doesn’t even need to play another down for me to believe that.
• Once Kirk Cousins figured out the Broncos defense struggles to cover from their linebacker positions, he exploited that for most of their successful drives.
• This defense goes into ‘try hard’ mode once the team is down two scores, which leads to miscommunication and errors.
• This defense needs a franchise quarterback even more than the offense needs one.

On Kirk Cousins

• Behind a porous offensive line, Kirk Cousins struggled mightily early in this game. He didn’t get his first completion until the first quarter was coming to an end.
• After a really rough start, Cousins began to figure out how to attack the Broncos defense and led his team to a lead in the first half after ending the first quarter 1/8 for 6 yards.
• When Cousins turns the ball over, he responds with a scoring drive. How refreshing that would be to have on the Broncos side of the ball.
• Cousins torched the No Fly Zone. Enough said. I hope John Elway arrives at his home with a dump truck full of cash in March.