Mile High Report
For whatever reason, the Denver Broncos continue to play up or down to their competition in almost every game this season. I’ll chalk it up to them being a young, inexperience team, but boy is it frustrating to watch as a fan. This week was the week that the defense finally struggled for an entire game. They still kept points off the board in key areas, but in a close game the Washington Commanders were able to move the ball at will late in the fourth quarter to tie things up and send the game into overtime.
The defense was just too gassed to make any stops when it mattered late. Yet, when the Commanders lined up for the win they had a wide open guy for the completion, but Nik Bonitto made the play of the game to deflect the pass and send the Broncos to 10-2. This may have been the Broncos wildest finish yet in 2025.
The Broncos offense had a nice first drive, but outside of that they did nothing as is typical of their offensive inefficiencies in 2025. The defense, however, continued a streak of games of holding teams to no touchdowns on their opening drive — extended the NFL-best streak to 15 consecutive games.
However, the Commanders offense looked pretty good to start the game. They focused on the short, quick passing game to keep the Broncos defense off-balance and it was working in the first quarter despite the lack of points.
Broncos 3, Commands 0. Full first quarter recap.
The Broncos’ defense struggled throughout the first half being gashed for 10+ yard plays early and often. However, a timely interception inside the five yard line and third down stops just outside of field goal range kept the Commanders off the scoreboard for much of the first half.
That gave the Broncos offense a chance to put more points on the board with another scoring drive in the second quarter. The points would come after a fourth down conversion throw from Nix to Adam Trautman to get them into field goal range where they would ultimately kick a field goal.
Then the Commanders offense finally got the breaks they would need against the Broncos defense to march down the field for a touchdown aided by a very questionable penalty on Nik Bonitto who was shoved to the ground by an offensive lineman after pulling a guy off his guy. It seemed a bit ticky tack, so instead of a 2nd and forever it became a first and goal that turned into the game’s first touchdown.
Bo Nix and the Broncos offense, responded, though. On a drive that featured a lot of Evan Engram who caught several passes for first downs. The drive was capped by one heck of a throw by Nix to Courtland Sutton to retake the lead before halftime.
With all of the momentum against Denver, having Nix steal some...
