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They commit too many penalties. They stink in the red zone. They have a coaching staff that needs a crash course in clock/situation/personnel management. And they are continuing to lose key players to injury.
But at least the Broncos aren’t winless.
In a game that was as aesthetically pleasing as watching paint peel, quarterback Russell Wilson’s 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Eric Saubert with 12:37 remaining was the go-ahead score in a 16-9 win/snoozer over the Houston Texans on Sunday afternoon. Be relieved the Broncos aren’t 0-2 like Las Vegas and Cincinnati in the ultra-competitive AFC and be optimistic the defense allowed no touchdowns, suggesting they will be able to carry the spinning-their-wheels offense.
Be concerned, though. Nothing on display in the home opener extinguished the concerns created by the loss in Seattle six nights earlier. Is this team playing at the level of division rivals Kansas City and the Los Angeles Chargers? No. Are they showing some early quality form like Miami? Hardly.
But …
“It’s our first win and we’ll always celebrate our wins because these are hard to get in the NFL,” center Lloyd Cushenberry said. “We know there’s a lot to clean up, but that’s what this whole week is for.”
There is much to clean up. The Broncos aren’t talented enough to consistently win games while struggling in the red zone and committing double-digit penalties. And the coaching staff should not be absolved. They need to be better, too.
The Broncos are playing a maddening brand of football, a style that was costly in Week 1, and will be penal when they punch up in class starting Sunday night against San Francisco.
And the fans let the Broncos hear about it — often and loudly. This is a fan base equal parts spoiled by the Manning Era success and fed up with the last six years.
“I don’t blame them,” coach Nathaniel Hackett said. “Heck, I would be booing myself.”
The fans had plenty to boo about.
* Penalties. The Broncos had 13 for 100 yards. The offense had six, the defense and special teams three apiece. On their home field the offense had three false starts. The field goal unit had two delay-of-game flags.
“We’ll have to look at all of those and put them all up (on the big screen) in front of the guys and make sure they understand why they were penalties and what they’re doing wrong,” Hackett said. “This has to stop. We’re not going to win a lot of games when we have that many penalties.”
Said running back Melvin Gordon, who had two penalties: “We just have to be sharper. It’s just mental focus and the details at the line of scrimmage. We know what to do, but guys are antsy to make plays.”
* Red zone. Yuck. Period. The Broncos are 0 for 6 from inside the opponent’s 20-yard line in two games.
In the first quarter, the Broncos drove to the Houston 2. On first down, receiver Courtland Sutton nearly hauled in a fade pass from Wilson but was called out of bounds. On second down, one player said Hackett called a run play, but Wilson changed it at the line of scrimmage to take advantage of Sutton 1-on-1 against rookie cornerback Derek Stingley, who broke up the pass. Wilson also threw incomplete on third down.
In the second quarter, the Broncos reached the Texans’ 1-yard line, but Wilson threw incomplete on third down.
Through two games, the Broncos have gained 51 yards on 22 red zone plays.
“We get down there and we need to have a sense of urgency,” Cushenberry said. “I keep using the word, ‘finish’ — but that’s it. There is no need to overcomplicate it. When we get that close, we need to get seven, no excuses.”
Said Hackett: “To get down to the red zone and not get the touchdown, unbelievably frustrating.”
* Game management. Speaking of being unbelievably frustrated, what the heck is going on with the Broncos’ operation?
The defense was called for too many men on the field. The special teams was called for two delay-of-game penalties, the second that put the Broncos out of field-goal range in the third quarter. And Hackett was out of timeouts with 7:38 remaining.
Hackett needs to do a deep-dive early in the week to figure out the many issues.
But the Broncos managed to escape, taking a 13-9 lead when Saubert ran down the right seam and out-fought linebacker Christian Kirksey for his second career touchdown in 59 games.
“It was kind of a trust throw and I went up and got it,” Saubert said.
The Broncos’ defense, playing without inside linebacker Josey Jewell, safety Justin Simmons and, for the final three quarters, cornerback Pat Surtain II, made it stand. The Texans finished the game punt, punt, failed fourth down and failed fourth down.
Say it together, everybody: A win is a win is a win.
“We have to keep grinding and working on the little things,” left tackle Garett Bolles said. “But overall, I’m very proud of our team, our defense and the way we’re moving the ball on offense. It’s going to click one of these days and when it does, it’s going to be scary (for opponents).”
Feeling at home
In a testament to the Broncos’ home field advantage, first-year head coaches have made a habit of winning their home debuts. In fact, of the last 10 coaches hired to lead the Broncos, eight of them won their first game at Mile High. Here’s a look at each:
| Coach | Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Miller | Sept. 18, 1977 | St. Louis | W, 7-0 |
| Dan Reeves | Sept. 6, 1981 | Oakland | W, 9-7 |
| Wade Phillips | Sept. 12, 1993 | San Diego | W, 34-17 |
| Mike Shanahan | Sept. 3, 1995 | Buffalo | W, 22-7 |
| Josh McDaniels | Sept. 13, 2009 | Cleveland | W, 27-6 |
| John Fox | Sept. 12, 2011 | Oakland | L, 23-20 |
| Gary Kubiak | Sept. 13, 2015 | Baltimore | W, 19-13 |
| Vance Joseph | Sept. 11, 2017 | L.A. Chargers | W, 24-21 |
| Vic Fangio | Sept. 15, 2019 | Chicago | L, 16-14 |
| Nathaniel Hackett | Sept. 18, 2022 | Houston | W, 16-9 |
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