[ad_1]
Offense — D
The Broncos put together a 92-yard scoring drive on their first possession. Instead of a harbinger of things to come, though, that was the high-water mark. With quarterbacks coach Klint Kubiak calling plays for the first time, the Denver offense felt like it found a rhythm more frequently, especially in the first half, but at the end of the day the results looked the same. Sixteen points and a loss. That would have been more had Melvin Gordon not fumbled at the 1-yard line and Brandon McManus not had a field goal attempt blocked. All the same, second-half troubles and another bad day on third down (3-of-12) was too much to overcome.
Defense — C
By most NFL defensive standards, the Broncos did a pretty good job in regulation. By this group’s lofty performance this year? This was underwhelming. No matter the coordinator or personnel, Denver cannot figure out how to slow down Las Vegas running back Josh Jacobs (24 carries for 109 yards). On this day, they also couldn’t slow All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams (seven catches, 141 yards, two touchdowns). This unit has done so much good work this season and did more Sunday, but has also developed a knack for not getting the big stop when it really needs one. Las Vegas went 71 yards in seven plays over 1:27 at the end of regulation to tie the game, won the overtime coin toss and ended the game three plays later with a 35-yard touchdown to Adams.
Special teams — D
Denver’s special teams have never been a particular strength this year, but they’ve really flagged in the past couple of weeks. Brandon McManus had a field goal blocked, punter Corliss Waitman underwhelmed for a second straight game and Montrell Washington dropped a kick return that pinned the Broncos deep. Washington did have an 18-yard punt return in the third quarter, and McManus did have field goals from 48, 52 and 48 yards, the last of which put Denver up 16-13 with 3:30 to go.
Coaching — F
Denver dialed up a pass play on third-and-10 after the two-minute warning nursing a three-point lead despite the fact that the Raiders were out of timeouts. The result? Just seven seconds came off the clock and it stopped on a Wilson incompletion. A run would have run 40-plus seconds off the clock. Las Vegas drove down for the tying field goal before the end of regulation.
The big move, of course, was Hackett handing play-calling duties to Klint Kubiak. That looked like it was going to pay off early in the game when Denver scored on its first two possessions, but by the end the offensive numbers looked just as they have all season.
[ad_2]
Source link