Mile High Report
The Denver Broncos have a lot to be optimistic about after their performance over the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles this past Sunday. The defense held their own, the special teams performed well, and Bo Nix and the offense had a tremendous fourth quarter comeback. Sitting at three wins on the season, they are hopeful they can take care of business against the New York Jets in London to get their fourth victory of the season.
One key reason they were able to defeat the Eagles was veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton. The savvy veteran had 8 catches for 99 yards and was clutch on third down. When it mattered most, he rose to the occasion and answered the call. Over the past three games, Sutton has hauled in at least five catches and 80 yards in those contests. There is no doubt he is on a hot streak and has been a huge part of the team’s success on offense.
“He’s a fierce competitor. I think when things get tough, he gets better. Just like on Sunday, the game didn’t go how we wanted early, but he just continued to chip away, find catches as the game went on. Next thing you know, it felt like he took the game over, and he was getting better and better as the game was going on,” Nix remarked about the eighth-year pro after yesterday’s practice.
It has been impressive to see Nix and Sutton continue where they left off last year. While they struggled during the first half of the 2024 season, the QB-WR duo was one of the best in the National Football League after Denver’s bye week. Since then, Sutton’s production has been on par with some of the league’s top receivers.
Even with his one catch performance for six yards against the Indianapolis Colts, Sutton is still averaging 73 yards per game which is a career high for him. On top of that, his catch rate is hovering above 70-percent, roughly five points higher than his previous best in 2023. If he is able to continue that success over the course of the season, he will certainly achieve his best year of his career donning the orange and blue.
“All the traits you look for in a player, he has. Then let’s talk about the physical skill set, the size, catch radius. I love coaching him. The stuff that he’s accomplished and will continue to do is stuff that he works extremely hard on. You’re never surprised with him. The catches he makes, how he plays and just his approach from A to Z is fantastic,” stated Head Coach Sean Payton in glowing praise of his #1 receiver.
In order to defeat the Jets in London, the Broncos are going to need Sutton to be at his best. He draws a big challenge on Sunday going up against cornerback Sauce Gardner. But if we’ve learned anything over the past several weeks, it’s that Broncos Country can count...
