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Defense buying Broncos offense time to figure it out

This defense is good.


No bones about it, this Denver Broncos defense is good. Geno Smith, Davis Mills, and Jimmy Garoppolo are far from elite, but they are starting NFL quarterbacks and all of them have struggled to put points on the scoreboard. With just 17-points against Seattle, 9 against Houston, and 10 against San Francisco on Sunday night, you can’t deny that this defense is looking more and more stout.

Which is good, because Nathaniel Hackett’s offense has taken longer for Russell Wilson to grasp. You can’t deny that Wilson just doesn’t look like himself out there. The footballs aren’t getting out quick enough and when they do, far too many are off-target. We have seen flashes of old school Russ, and those flashes were the difference-maker on Sunday. It looks like it’s going to take a little time for things to click.

As Tim pointed out on our post-game Horse Tracks on Sunday, the defense is buying time for Wilson, Hackett, and the rest of the Broncos offense to figure it out. We need a little more patience in Broncos Country for this to happen. I believe it will. There’s too much talent on this team for there not to be some growth and success on that side of the ball. It’s Russell Wilson!

Lastly, looking at the headlines and hearing the talking heads, a lot of people are saying that the Broncos squeaked and eeked out a win. That’s not true. As we pointed out on the post-game podcast, the Broncos defense grabbed this game and took it game away from the 49ers. It wasn’t a passive holding them off kind-of-thing. It was two forced turnovers when it mattered to vanquish the 49ers. No sweaking or eeking here. That was defensive might on display on Sunday.

Hang in there Broncos Country, it will get better.

Headlines

Sunday Night Football: Broncos do just enough to eek out 11-10 win over 49ers - ProFootballTalk

Broncos vs. 49ers score, takeaways: Defense saves sloppy night for Russell Wilson as Denver rallies late - CBSSports.com
Neither team's offense did much of anything for much of 'SNF'

49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo pulls a Dan Orlovsky, accidentally steps out of back of end zone vs. Broncos - CBSSports.com
Save this one for the career highlight reel

Raiders vs Broncos opening odds week 4: Las Vegas favorite over Denver - Silver And Black Pride
Las Vegas continues to believe in Las Vegas, despite 0-3 start.

Cover 4: Broncos earn 11-10 come-from-behind prime-time win over 49ers
These are the players and plays that led to the Broncos' Week 3 win over the 49ers.

Niners LT Trent Williams likely suffered a high ankle sprain Sunday night
San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams left Sunday night’s game against the Denver Broncos with an ankle injury.

Chaos reigns supreme in AFC after wild Week 3 of 2022 NFL season
Have the Jaguars become the squad no one wants to play? Who is the team to beat in the AFC? Jim Trotter examines the state of the conference after a chaotic weekend of NFL action.

NFL Betting Week 2: Are the Saints still Tom Brady's kryptonite?
Fantasy football analyst Scott Pianowski reveals his top bets for Week 2.

2022 NFL season, Week 3: What We Learned from Sunday's games
Around The NFL breaks down what you need to know from all of Sunday's Week 3 action.

Buccaneers looking like their own worst enemy after loss to Packers
Judy Battista reports from Tampa, where she sees troubling early season signals for Tom Brady and Co. even though the Buccaneers remain on top in the NFC South after Sunday's loss to the Packers.

NFLPA to investigate handling of Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa concussion evaluation during game vs. Bills
The NFL Players Association is initiating an investigation into the handling of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's concussion evaluation during Sunday's game against the Bills, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Sunday.

Patrick Mahomes appears to get in heated argument with Chiefs offensive coordinator just before end of half - CBSSports.com
Mahomes was apparently happy with Eric Bieniemy

Patriots' Mac Jones believed to have suffered high-ankle sprain in Week 3 loss vs. Ravens, per report - CBSSports.com
Jones was unable to put any weight on his left leg after being brought down in the fourth quarter

Jimmy Garoppolo takes a safety, Trent Williams limps off afterward - ProFootballTalk

Rams move to 2-1 with 20-12 victory over Cardinals - ProFootballTalk

Lamar Jackson records 14th career double-triple with 218 passing yards, 107 rushing yards - ProFootballTalk

What did Chris Jones say to Matt Ryan? No one is saying - ProFootballTalk

Chargers HC Brandon Staley on Justin Herbert playing entire game vs. Jaguars: 'He wanted to finish the game'
Chargers QB Justin Herbert decided to play versus the Jaguars on Sunday despite suffering fractured rib cartilage last week, and said his decision to play was based on the knowledge that he was cleared and his desire to put the team ahead of his own goals

Patriots QB Mac Jones believed to have suffered high ankle sprain, likely to miss some time
Mac Jones is believed to have suffered a high ankle sprain in Sunday's 37-26 loss to the Ravens and will undergo an MRI on Monday, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported.

Rams' Aaron Donald records 100th sack, becomes just second DT to hit milestone mark
Aaron Donald recorded the landmark 100th sack of his career on Sunday against the Cardinals, becoming just the second player with triple-digit sacks to have primarily played as a defensive tackle, per NFL Research.

Source - NFLPA wants review of concussion protocols after Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa's quick return to game
The NFLPA has told the NFL that it wants to initiate a review of the concussion protocols in light of Tua Tagovailoa's return to Sunday's game in Miami, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Patrick Mahomes says Kansas City Chiefs offense needs to clean up little things, starting with own play
Patrick Mahomes declined to use his new-look receiver group as an excuse for the Chiefs scoring just 20 points on offense last week against the Chargers and then 17 against the Colts.

Chicago Bears' Justin Fields acknowledges 'terrible' performance after posting career-worst 27.7 passer rating in win
Bears QB Justin Fields says he plans to begin the process of correcting his mistakes immediately. "I'm going to go see the film tonight. ... See what I could have done better and get better."

OC Ken Dorsey slams headset, tablet after Buffalo Bills drop first game
Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was shown on the CBS broadcast slamming his headset, hat and tablet into the desk and crumpling the papers around him when the Bills lost their first game of the season.

'We all have to play better': New Orleans Saints not considering change at QB despite 1-2 start
New Orleans coach Dennis Allen said Sunday that the 1-2 Saints are not considering a quarterback change despite the team's offensive struggles and inconsistency with veteran Jameis Winston under center.