Broncos vs Texans preview: Denver looks to strengthen playoff hopes
3 HRS AGO - Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images
The Broncos enter Sunday’s game as the hottest team in Expand
3 HRS AGO - Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images
The Broncos enter Sunday’s game as the hottest team in the NFL. What will it take to keep the streak going? The Denver Broncos keep winning games.
And doing so against some of the best teams in the NFL.
Now, the Broncos enter Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans on a five-game winning streak as the hottest team in the league. The Broncos will also look to strengthen their playoff hopes as both teams are 6-5.
DraftKings Sportsbook has Denver has the road underdog. The Broncos are currently a +3.5-point undergo to Houston. That number seems high and will probably come down over the course of the week as the game gets closer. The total sits at 47.5. That number seems high too. The under has definitely been the safe bet for Denver over this winning streak.
Offensive Rankings
Denver: Twenty-third in overall offense (300.5 yards per game), 12th in rushing offense (115.5 YPG), 25th in passing offense (185.0 YPG), 13th in scoring Collapse
Horse Tracks: Russell Wilson is a lot more than just a game manager
7 HRS AGO - Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images
Calling Russell Wilson a game manager is a cop out Expand
7 HRS AGO - Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images
Calling Russell Wilson a game manager is a cop out of the lowest order. Let’s dig into why he’s bouncing back in his second season with the Denver Broncos One of the biggest areas of nonsense I read about in the NFL is opinions on quarterbacks. Here are some quick examples:
First-round quarterbacks are what you need to rejuvenate your franchise
[Insert favorite player here] is the GOAT!
Running quarterbacks don’t win Super Bowls
Russell Wilson is a game manager
I expect more because I see more than the black-and-white landscape of the average NFL hot-take.
Russell Wilson was never broke.
Wilson has always been a quarterback that needs a really good head coach putting him in a position to succeed. He’s not a guy like Peyton Manning or Aaron Rodgers who can basically coordinate his own offense. He’s never been that guy.
His strength has never been that of a pocket passer in a West Coast offense picking defenses apart. If you don’t Collapse
Broncos sign S Dallin Leavitt to practice squad
20 HRS AGO - A sixth-year player, Leavitt most recently played for the Green Bay Packers. He appeared in 10 Expand
20 HRS AGO - A sixth-year player, Leavitt most recently played for the Green Bay Packers. He appeared in 10 games this season for Green Bay, playing 74 percent of the Packers’ special teams snaps during that stretch. Collapse
Stat’s the way, uhuh uhuh, I like it! Denver Broncos stat review for Week 12
1 DAY AGO - Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Some interesting stats for the Denver Broncos who have now won Expand
1 DAY AGO - Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Some interesting stats for the Denver Broncos who have now won five straight for the first time since the 2015 season. The Denver Broncos have won five straight games for the first time since the 2015 season when they won the Super Bowl. The Broncos also won five straight games in the 2013, 2012 and 2011 seasons. Oddly enough they didn’t in the 2014 season, despite winning 12 games that year.
The last four times the Broncos have won five (or more) straight games, the season has ended this way:
2011 - Wild Card loss
2012 - Divisional round loss
2013 - Super Bowl loss
2015 - Super Bowl win
Call me a “downer” but this season has too many similarities to the 2011 season to not see a potential similar end in the future (loss in the WC round). That 2011 team had a bad offense (finished 25th in points scored) and a bad, but opportunistic defense (finished 25th in points allowed). That defense only forced 18 turnovers during that season, but many of Collapse
AFC West Roundup, Week 12: Broncos remain second in the division
1 DAY AGO - Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The division is still up for grabs in the AFC West, but it is Expand
1 DAY AGO - Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The division is still up for grabs in the AFC West, but it is becoming just a two-team race After twelve weeks of football, the Denver Broncos now have a winning record, the Kansas City Chiefs are leading the division by just two games, and the Los Angeles Chargers are the only last-place team in the league that has a positive point differential.
Let’s take a look at what went down in the AFC West.
Cleveland Browns @ Denver Broncos
Final score: 12-29
Recap: After taking down the Browns at home, the Broncos now ride a five-game winning streak and are just one game out of the wild card. Sean Payton should be a leading candidate for Coach of the Year, and Vance Joseph is running one of the top defenses in the league over the five-game span.
Denver started the game off strong with the defense forcing a three-and-out and the offense and then driving down 80 yards in nine plays, which was capped off by a Samaje Perine 3-yard rushing touchdown. The Collapse
Horse Tracks: How about that O-line?
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images
Broncos’ offense put up 29 points on the NFL’s No. 1 Expand
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images
Broncos’ offense put up 29 points on the NFL’s No. 1 defense. That’s impressive. And that’s due to great O-line play. Of all the stats important to the Denver Broncos’ win on Sunday, none may be more important than the ones belonging to Myles Garrett.
Because the standout edge rusher having a career year and being mentioned in the DPOY conversations had ZERO sacks, ZERO QB hits and just one batted ball. Not to mention only two tackles.
Give credit where it’s due - the Broncos’ offensive line.
Garett Bolles took Myles Garrett from the left side of the offensive line ALL THE WAY past the right tackle.Absolutely controlled him. pic.twitter.com/TAAbBO85ii— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) November 27, 2023
“Obviously, they have one of the best guys in the world over there in Myles Garrett,” said the guy who benefited the most from great o-line play, Russell Wilson. “I thought Garett Bolles played great. The whole line played great across the Collapse
Broncos Notebook: Surging Broncos not looking ahead, focused solely on matchup vs. Texans
1 DAY AGO - “I’m just focused on what do we have to do to win this game,” Head Coach Sean Payton said.
Broncos vs Browns: The No Bull Review
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images
The Denver Broncos won their 5th game in a row at home Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images
The Denver Broncos won their 5th game in a row at home against the 7-3 Browns. Here are my thoughts, opinions, and analysis on the game, players, and coaching. This Denver Broncos team has now won 5 straight games. To add context, these haven’t been the gimme games either (they lost most of those games at the start of the season). With wins against the Chiefs, Bills, Vikings, and now Browns, it is time to start taking this team seriously.
I don’t think there’s a team left of the schedule that is going to take their game against the Broncos lightly. This 2023 Broncos team is one that is well-coached all the way around. They play sound, productive offense. They play opportunistic defense that will turn the ball over at a rate rarely seen in the NFL.
As a Broncos fan I’m absolutely loving it. It was also good to see this team comfortably put a team away in the 2nd half of a game without needing a nail-biting ending.
Defense
This defense is Collapse
NFL Playoff Picture: Broncos firmly in the hunt in AFC
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images
Don’t look now, but the Denver Broncos are in the Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images
Don’t look now, but the Denver Broncos are in the conversation and could be in the seeding for reals if they can pull off a road win over the Houston Texans in Week 13. From 1-5 to 5-0, the Denver Broncos have done a complete 180 degree turnaround on their season. After thoroughly dismantling the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in an NFL Scorigami 29-12 victory, the Broncos moved to 6-5 on the season and are tied with two other teams for that seventh seed. And they play one of those teams next week in the Houston Texans.
As it stands, they are technically in the ninth seed behind both the Indianapolis Colts and those Texans.
#Broncos are firmly in the AFC postseason conversation after their 5th straight win that moved them to 6-5.They still need some help ahead of them but if they keep winning, it won't matter. pic.twitter.com/wRT5jHvpxx— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) November 27, 2023
However, there is a good chance a win over the Collapse
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Denver Bronco snap counts and analysis for the win over the Browns
4 HRS AGO - Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Who played and who didn’t during the Denver Broncos Expand
4 HRS AGO - Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Who played and who didn’t during the Denver Broncos 29-12 win over the Cleveland Browns? The Denver Broncos have won five straight games for the first time since the 2015 season. The team is remarkably healthy considering how injured the roster was last season (knock on wood). Health and improved coaching across the board (or almost the board) are the main reasons for the year over year improvement. Here’s who played and who didn’t against the Cleveland Browns last week.
Offense
Player
Pos
Num
Pct
Mike McGlinchey
T
67
100%
Garett Bolles
T
67
100%
Quinn Meinerz
G
67
100%
Lloyd Cushenberry III
C
67
100%
Ben Powers
G
67
100%
Russell Wilson
QB
67
100%
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Broncos sign safety Dallin Leavitt to their practice squad
17 HRS AGO - Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images
The Broncos added some safety depth to their roster Expand
17 HRS AGO - Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images
The Broncos added some safety depth to their roster when they signed Dallin Leavitt to their practice squad. The Denver Broncos announced that they have signed veteran safety Dallin Leavitt to their practice squad. He is a 5-10, 195-pound safety who played his college ball at Utah and is playing his sixth year in the league. Now, he will join the Broncos roster and provide some much-needed safety depth for them moving forward.
We signed S Dallin Leavitt to the practice squad. » https://t.co/4Ey3kPNmAX pic.twitter.com/m72A7TTpe8— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 28, 2023
Leavitt is in the midst of his sixth season in the NFL after going undrafted during the 2018 NFL Draft. During his NFL career, he has had stints with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders and the Green Bay Packers and now will join the Broncos. During those stints, he has played primarily special teams but does have some experience on the defensive side of the ball as Collapse
Win Column: The key plays behind the Broncos' 29-12 win vs. the Browns
23 HRS AGO - Here’s a deep dive into seven of the plays that powered Denver to its fifth consecutive victory.
Mile High Morning: NBC Sports' Peter King selects Garett Bolles as an offensive player of the week
1 DAY AGO - Bolles was one of four players selected for the Week 12 honor after holding Cleveland’s Myles Expand
1 DAY AGO - Bolles was one of four players selected for the Week 12 honor after holding Cleveland’s Myles Garrett without a sack. Collapse
ESPN Analytics fades Broncos chances of winning remaining games on schedule
1 DAY AGO - Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN loves them some Los Angeles Chargers and believes the Expand
1 DAY AGO - Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN loves them some Los Angeles Chargers and believes the Denver Broncos shouldn’t win more than two games from here on out. The Denver Broncos are riding high on a five-game win streak and are poised to make a late season playoff push in the AFC. However, if you were watching Get Up on ESPN on Monday, you may have noticed this graphic below from ESPN Analytics that suggests they are due to flop in their remaining six games.
Get Up on ESPN
While I get the less than 50% chance on the road against an impressive Houston Texans team, I could not fathom how ESPN Analytics considers the Los Angeles Chargers the toughest team left on the Broncos schedule. Did they forget to update their spreadsheets from their offseason power rankings?
The Chargers have lost five of their last seven with their only two wins coming against the Chicago Bears and New York Jets. This was their stadium last night against a hapless effort against the Collapse
DJ Jones a big part of #Broncos’ defensive resurgence
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images
In his first career Expand
1 DAY AGO - Photo by Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images
In his first career fumble recovery, the Broncos’ 305-pound lineman was mad he didn’t get a “scoop and score.” On the stat sheet, D.J. Jones had a decent game Sunday.
On game-changing plays, he had an outstanding day.
Blowing up the Browns’ backfield, Jones scooped a bobbled hand off and landed on the ball at Cleveland’s 20-yard line.
D.J. Jones recovers a fumble after a terrible roughing the passer call.pic.twitter.com/LftS7VVjK8— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) November 26, 2023
It was a fantastic defensive effort in its own right. It was even more important as it came soon after a highly questionable roughing the passer call against Barron Browning that moved the Browns to midfield to start the fourth quarter.
Down only five points, the Browns would have only needed one touchdown to go up at the start of the 4th quarter.
But Jones made sure that was never going to happen.
Ironically, Jones was Collapse
Broncos GIFCap: Week 12 edition
1 DAY AGO - Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Broncos inch a little bit closer to a playoffs Expand
1 DAY AGO - Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Broncos inch a little bit closer to a playoffs reality with a convincing 29-12 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Let’s remember it in the form of GIFs. Talk about flipping a script... in six weeks, the Denver Broncos have now gone from a 1-5 who surrendered 70 points in one game to a 6-5 formidable team on both sides of the field and a playoff contender.
Following a commanding win over the Cleveland Browns and their number one defense, perhaps the team’s most complete performance of the season, the Broncos have the whole NFL world talking...and for the first time in a good while, that’s a good thing.
Let’s now express our feelings about the matchup and feelings of optimism in GIFs.
Pre-game vibes
We’ve gone from “let’s get this over with”, to mild optimism, to “don’t you tease me” to real, genuine confidence. This is nice.
Three-and-out and a TD! That’s setting the tone!
The defense dominated the first series, forcing the Browns to Collapse
Mile High Morning: DT D.J. Jones emerges as key contributor during Broncos' win streak
2 DAYS AGO - A week after recording his first forced fumble of the season, Jones made a key fumble recovery Expand
2 DAYS AGO - A week after recording his first forced fumble of the season, Jones made a key fumble recovery against Cleveland. Collapse
Broncos five game win streak has been impressive
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images
The Broncos five game win streak has been Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images
The Broncos five game win streak has been impressive because of the teams they have beat. Let’s flashback real quick. It’s week six, the Denver Broncos fell to a 1-5 record after losing to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday Night Football. This loss comes a few weeks removed from them losing by 50 to the Miami Dolphins in a game where they allowed 50 points. Media and fans were calling for Vance Joseph to be fired and Sean Payton’s reputation was being dragged through the mud.
Things were rough and we all began looking towards 2024 and potentially “tanking” for Caleb Williams or Drake Maye in the draft. We as a fan base hit rock bottom and it appeared we were in the midst of yet another lost season.
Then it all changed.
The following week, they hosted the Green Bay Packers and came out victorious in a close game that came down to the final minutes. Something that would become a theme for this Broncos team moving Collapse
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Power Rankings Around The Web: Broncos creeping into the top 10
5 HRS AGO - Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images
After their fifth straight victory, the Denver Expand
5 HRS AGO - Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images
After their fifth straight victory, the Denver Broncos are on the rise once again in the power rankings. The Denver Broncos did it again! They won their fifth straight game, this time, defeating the Cleveland Browns by the score of 29-12. This was their best all-around performance of the year and moved the team above .500 and firmly in the AFC postseason conversation.
New teams rising into the top ten ⬆️ pic.twitter.com/DNFhdXe8Os— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) November 28, 2023
As for the power rankings, the Broncos have gone from the basement when they were 1-5 to creeping into the top 10 of some rankings at their current 6-5 record. So, here is where the Denver Broncos rank in the power rankings around the web according to the experts.
NFL.com - 15th
The Broncos forced only one turnover in their first three outings — and now, incredibly, they lead the NFL in takeaways with 22. Twenty-one of them have come in their Collapse
Broncos Reacts Week 13: What will Denver’s final regular season record be?
20 HRS AGO - Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Will they run the table, lose out, or somewhere in between? Expand
20 HRS AGO - Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Will they run the table, lose out, or somewhere in between? Vote in our weekly Denver Broncos Reacts survey and let us know! After a five game win streak, the Denver Broncos have positioned themselves with a great opportunity to close out the season with a strong playoff push. They’ll need to make it six straight, however, to gain a tiebreaker advantage over a Houston Texans team that is also looking to make a late season push into the playoffs.
Given those facts, I figured it would be interesting to see where Broncos fans are landing on the final record projections. I listed out all of the possibilities below, so pick which one you think will end up being Denver’s final 2023 regular season record and share in the comments why you think that.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Denver Broncos fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the Collapse
Broncos players, staff and ownership to participate in 2023 'My Cause My Cleats' to raise awareness for causes and non-profit organizations
1 DAY AGO - This year, Broncos players are set to participate in My Cause My Cleats by wearing custom cleats Expand
1 DAY AGO - This year, Broncos players are set to participate in My Cause My Cleats by wearing custom cleats for Sunday’s game at Houston (11 a.m. MST kickoff). Collapse
The Broncos are starting to play complementary football again
1 DAY AGO - Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Denver’s offense shares excitement about playing as a cohesive Expand
1 DAY AGO - Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Denver’s offense shares excitement about playing as a cohesive team and finishing well the last five games. Complementary football — when each phase is contributing and capitalizing on opportunities given to them by the other phases — is what the Denver Broncos have struggled to accomplish for... a while now.
Yet, for the last five games, we have seen each team member’s skills complementing one another’s. We’ve seen one unit rather than defense, offense, and special teams living separate lives on the field.
“We always talk about [the defense] playing off of us and us playing off of them. With special teams doing what they do for both sides, I think it has been really fun to be able to watch.” Courtland Sutton
WR Courtland Sutton, who’s lately doing an absolute bang-up job collecting yards and turning them into touchdowns, spoke on the teamwork he’s seen, and how “fun” it’s been to witness.
“We always talk about [the defense] playing off of us and Collapse
Sean Payton isn’t focused on the playoff picture right now
1 DAY AGO - Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Broncos head coach breaks down his ‘one game at a Expand
1 DAY AGO - Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Broncos head coach breaks down his ‘one game at a time’ mentality. Following a win (and scorigami) on Sunday afternoon, the Denver Broncos are now 6-5. They have a winning record, coupled with a five-game victory streak. It almost feels unreal for Broncos Country.
Starting our week off on a high note. #DubDay » https://t.co/13PZadNixK pic.twitter.com/np9AVaDMoa— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 27, 2023
This drastic turnaround wasn’t foreseen by many. Not even Sean Payton himself planned on a five-win streak specifically; but the team kept their heads up while working to change the narrative of who the 2023 Denver Broncos are.
“I think at 1-5 it’s not, ‘Well, we can get to 6-5.’ It’s getting the second win, and then maybe draw on some examples of what we have to do to begin to [win],” the head coach shared regarding the shift in performance, adding, “I don’t think you’re looking that far ahead.”
Payton was certain about one Collapse
Monday Night Football Week 12: Bears at Vikings
1 DAY AGO - David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings will host the Chicago Bears in Week Expand
1 DAY AGO - David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings will host the Chicago Bears in Week 12 on Monday Night Football. Join us in the comments section to talk football during the game! In a classic AFC North matchup, the Minnesota Vikings will be looking to get things right after a tough road loss to the Denver Broncos last week. The Chicago Bears are nothing special, but with Justin Fields they could get on a good run at times. They will need elite-Fields in this game to come out with a victory on Monday Night Football.
MNF Week 12
Chicago Bears (3-8) at Minnesota Vikings (6-5)Kickoff: 6:15 PM MT on November 27, 2023Location: U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota
My Prediction
In partnership with DraftKings Sportsbook, we will get to do a lot of picks this year. Straight-up, against the spread, and over/under picks. Once again, I am behind the ball on picks against the rest of the group. My risk taking resulted in more losses than gains against the Mile High Report Collapse
Fan voting begins for 2024 Pro Bowl Games
2 DAYS AGO - Voting for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games opened Monday and will continue through Monday, Dec. 25.
Game balls for the Broncos 29-12 win over the Browns
2 DAYS AGO - Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Broncos dominated the Cleveland Browns late to win Expand
2 DAYS AGO - Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Broncos dominated the Cleveland Browns late to win in Week 12. Here are Mile High Report’s game balls for this game! What a win for the Denver Broncos. In recent weeks, they had kept their win streak alive by the skin of their teeth winning their last two games by a combined three points. Against the Cleveland Browns, however, they slammed the door on a potential comeback and won in decisive fashion.
Now at 6-5, the Broncos are in a three-way tie for that seventh seed in the AFC and have an opportunity to take it outright with a win over the Houston Texans next week and a little help from the Los Angeles Rams too. But enough of next week, here are our game balls for the Broncos fifth-straight win.
P.J. Locke
There was no doubt that the return of P.J. Locke to the lineup was critical for the Broncos defense with Kareem Jackson serving the first of a four-game suspension. Locke delivered from the very first drive until the last and was a Collapse
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