Denver Broncos power rankings around the web for Week 11

The Denver Broncos extended their win streak to seven games on Thursday Night Football with a sloppy 10-7 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The overreaction to that performance feels extreme after watching last night’s equally sloppy 10-7 prime time game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers. The fact remains that Denver is winning and until that trend is broken, they are clearly a good football team.

Good football teams have issues to clean up, however, and the main issue is with Bo Nix and the passing game. Sean Payton must figure out how to settle Nix down in his second season and call a game that helps him succeed and play with confidence. That needs to happen this week, because they have a must-win game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Here is where the Broncos rank heading into Week 11:

NFL.com: 9th

I’ve been hearing it from Broncos fans who believe I have their team ranked too low, but Thursday’s ugly win reaffirmed the feeling that slow-playing Denver a bit is the right call. This defense obviously is championship-quality when Patrick Surtain II is in the lineup, and it’s still pretty darned good without him. The Broncos undoubtedly have their eyes on the 1984 Bears’ single-season sack record of 72, needing 27 in the final seven games to break it. But expecting the D to cover for the offense most weeks when the lulls kick in just isn’t a foolproof formula. Bo Nix and Co. have shown enough flashes all season to keep me interested and ready to bump up the Broncos when they show some sustained offensive success, especially early in games. And the penalties have to stop at some point, right?

Yahoo Sports: 6th

The Broncos are winning games, but that will not continue if the offense doesn’t get better. And after 10 weeks, is that really going to happen? Bo Nix’s regression in his second season has been undeniable. Denver hosts Kansas City this week. The offense needs to show up.

CBS Sports: 9th

Where is the offense? Bo Nix just isn’t playing well right now. It’s up to Sean Payton to fix him.

ESPN: 9th

Bonitto is putting together a formidable Defensive Player of the Year campaign, but he is surrounded by defensive players who are producing Pro Bowl seasons. And in reality, much like when a coach gives game balls to the entire defense after a win, the Broncos’ MVP is really coordinator Vance Joseph’s swirling, aggressive, bring-it-on, man-to-man coverage scheme. Bonitto and Zach Allen lead the league in quarterback hits, Bonitto’s quick pressure rate leads the league, the Broncos lead the league in defensive EPA and 30 of the team’s league-leading 46 sacks have come with four or fewer rushers. At times this season, Bonitto and the Broncos have presented a front that can’t be blocked.

Pro Football Talk: 3rd

They won’t get far in the playoffs if their...