The Denver Broncos lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16, but the former is still the No. 1 seed in the AFC Conference with two games to go. So, as an AFC contender, onlookers can buy or sell the Broncos. NFL.com’s Jeffri Chadiha, though, is buying Denver. Even after a 34-20 loss to the Trevor Lawrence-led Jaguars.
Jeffri Chadiha on Broncos
“This is the third time in the last four weeks that Nix has thrown for at least 300 yards (he has four total 300-yard efforts on the season). It would be easy to say Sunday’s loss was an indication of how close the Broncos are to being a one-and-done team in the playoffs. But this isn’t a year where they have to worry about competing with a powerhouse in January. They’re good enough to win a Super Bowl with what they have,” Chadiha wrote.
For reference, the Broncos’ offense is No. 9 in yards per game (352.1) — No. 8 in passing yards per game and No. 18 in rushing yards per game. And No. 13 in points per game (24.1). Let’s juxtapose that with the Broncos’ defense.
The Broncos’ defense, meanwhile, is allowing the fourth-fewest yards per game (291.6) — the 10th-fewest passing yards per game and the second-fewest rushing yards per game — and the fifth-fewest points per game (19.6).
So, Denver is effectively airing the ball out on offense, while the defense is playing lights out — outside of a two-game sample size the past two weeks (More on this later this week). That means, as long as Broncos quarterback Nix’s clutchness isn’t on a bye week, it’s going to be hard to down Denver in the playoffs.
Chadiha continued, writing, “The Jaguars created explosive passing plays (wide receiver Parker Washington had six catches for 145 yards and a touchdown) and Jacksonville scored four touchdowns in five red-zone trips. All this brought up a question that has followed the Broncos all year: What happens when that defense has a bad day? It’s a fair concern, but this also feels like a one-off.”
Elsewhere, Denver’s offense recently received praise from former Broncos general manager John Elway. The Broncos, meanwhile, will look to bounce back in Week 17 vs. the Kansas City Chiefs on a Christmas edition of “Thursday Night Football.”
