Denver Broncos 10, New York Jets 9: Three takeaways

For the second time in a row, the… Denver Broncos surprised the NFL with an impressive away win. This week’s triumph came in the form of a 10-9 win over the New York Jets in rainy and wet conditions in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Instead of blowing the doors off their opponent like they did against the Bucs in Week 3, the Broncos were forced to endure an ugly game filled with offensive inconsistency. For die-hard old-school football fans of yesteryear, this game was an entertaining defensive duel that saw Jets head coach and defensive guru Robert Saleh engage in a low-scoring rock battle with Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

For others, this game was a story of atrocious offensive performances from both teams, as this matchup only saw a single offensive touchdown (by the Broncos’ offense) in the entire game. I prefer the “glass half full” perspective, as Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix and a developing offense were able to persevere through a tough game with help from the defense and special teams in another team win.

Broncos Country has finally dealt with Nathaniel Hackett and villain Aaron Rodgers as Sean Payton’s team returns to Denver at 2-2 full of optimism and pride. What did we learn from Sunday’s tough win on the East Coast?

Here are my top three takeaways from the Broncos’ second straight upset win on the road this season.

Joseph’s defense is trending towards elite after an impressive performance that limited the Jets’ offense to just three field goals the entire game. The Broncos’ pass-rushing corps, which included Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Jonah Elliss, Malcolm Roach, John Franklin-Myers, Justin Strnad and PJ Locke, recorded five sacks and 14 hits against Rodgers.

Denver’s defensive dominance limited the Jets to just 248 total yards on 70 offensive plays, even though New York had the football for about three minutes longer than the Broncos.

Rodgers finished the game 24-for-42 with 225 passing yards and 26 rushing yards. The Broncos defense’s relentless physicality and pursuit eventually took its toll on the Jets’ 40-year-old quarterback, as Rodgers was limping and limping by the end of the contest.

To add insult to injury, the Broncos held the Jets to just 4 of 17 (24%) on third down attempts and stuffed them in the red zone (0-2) on fourth down (0-1). ) and goal to go (0-on-1).

After losing inside linebacker Alex Singleton (team captain) to a season-ending injury last week, his teammates stepped up this week with Cody Barton wearing the green dot and leading the team with 10 tackles.

Fellow linebacker Justin Strnad was also very active, with two tackles for a loss in addition to his effective pass rush. Meanwhile, cornerback Patrick Surtain II limited Jets wideout Garrett Wilson to just five receptions for 41 yards on eight targets. PS2 was credited with two tackles and a pass deflection, proving to be the best shutdown corner in the NFL not allowing a touchdown all season.

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Broncos Country can finally breathe a sigh of relief after Nix threw the first passing touchdown of his NFL career, an eight-yard strike to Courtland Sutton late in the third quarter. Nix’s touchdown pass to Sutton gave the Broncos a one-point lead in a closely contested, low-scoring game and was the only end zone score of the day for either team.

Nix finished the day 12 of 25 with just 60 passing yards and the aforementioned touchdown, along with a paltry three yards rushing. The rainy weather made for a slippery pitch and terrible ball handling conditions for both teams, making for an unattractive result for spectators. Even the great Aaron Rodgers, despite all his career success, struggled to control the football as a passer and when handing the ball off to his running backs.

In the first half, the television commentators were spot on in their assessment when they described Nix’s “shot-push” method of passing the smooth ball to his teammates. The conditions contributed significantly to the Broncos gaining 186 total yards in 56 plays.

The Broncos went 3 of 14 on third down, although they converted on their only attempt in the red zone. In the second half, the rain eased and Nix found better footing and rhythm as he made passes through the air to seven different receivers.

This was also the second straight game in which the Broncos’ offensive line held Nix up without allowing a single sack. It was remarkable to accomplish the feat against such a ferocious and aggressive Jets defense.

New York limited Sutton to just three receptions for 60 yards and the only touchdown of the day despite being targeted nine times. It took some time to get there, but Nix continues to prove that he is capable of scoring enough points and winning football games for the Broncos no matter what.

Special teams captain and kicker Wil Lutz was worth every bit of the 2024 seventh-round pick the Broncos traded to New Orleans last year to land Payton’s former specialist. The former Pro Bowler was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month in his first season in Denver and continued his glowing success into the 2024 season.

In Week 3, Lutz was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after hitting on all four field goal attempts and both extra points. Lutz was a perfect 9 of 9 on field goal attempts and perfect on extra point attempts to start the season.

The ugly streetscape and atmosphere on Sunday reared their ugly head as Lutz’s perfect record was shattered. After hitting a 47-yarder with about four minutes left in the fourth quarter to give the Broncos a 10-9 lead over the Jets, he missed a 50-yard attempt to extend Denver’s lead.

The miss gave Rodgers the football back on a short field with just 1:27 remaining. But to continue the irony of the football gods, the Jets failed because of the Broncos’ relentless defense, and it was New York kicker Greg Zuerlein who missed from exactly the same distance, likely winning the game with just 0:47 remaining.

Instead, Nix and the offense took the lead and enjoyed kneeling on the ball from victory formation for the second week in a row. Zuerlein went from hero to zero when Rodgers folded his towel over his head on the Jets’ bench, in complete disbelief that his team was upset at home by Payton’s Broncos.

Lutz can celebrate with his teammates as the Broncos enjoy the return from a trip that resulted in two wins against two tough away opponents. Perfection is for fantasy football and the stat sheets; Victories are for football teams that work hard and stick together even in the toughest circumstances.

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