Throughout the entire 2019-20 season, BSN Denver will be giving you game grades from every Denver Broncos contest. Evaluating all the starters and beyond to give you a better look at the team’s strengths and weaknesses on a game-to-game basis.

The Denver Broncos didn’t have the debut everyone hoped for in Week 1, getting throughly outplayed by the Oakland Raiders in every phase of the game.

Here’s how it all went down.

Standouts from the game:

Isaac Yiadom: F

Isolated outside, over the middle and deep, Yiadom was picked on all game long, including on the final first-down of the game where he got blocked out on a quick bubble screen. Yiadom allowed eight grabs for 120 yards—110 coming in the first half. A tough start to the year.

Courtland Sutton: A

Sutton had a strong game catching everything over the middle and showing his YAC ability. His frame makes him a man among boys, and he did a better job getting open over the middle, showing he’s more than just an outside contested-catch specialist.

Joe Flacco: C-

The flashes were there with lasers over the middle, and tight-window throws the likes of which we haven’t seen in Orange & Blue for a while. However, Flacco’s ball placement and touch have to improve. The same can be said about the execution in the red zone and on third down but make no mistake, this loss isn’t on him.

Kareem Jackson: B+

Jackson was targeted a decent amount on quick hitters underneath and did a solid job of tackling and closing down plays in a hurry, making some strong plays on the ball with two consecutive deflections in one stretch. He allowed only 4.7 yards on average the seven times he was targeted. A strong debut.

Defense

Adam Gotsis: D+

Gotsis had a flash play, penetrating the line and snagging a shoe-string tackle for a loss. His impact was lacking otherwise as Denver’s front three got pushed around all night. 

Shelby Harris: D

Harris wasn’t the best gap stuffer and even whiffed a tackle late, but he did disrupt a couple of run plays in an up and down performance.

Derek Wolfe: D

Wolfe was impactful as a gap stuffer early on, only to tire out and eventually get pushed around down on the goal line on Josh Jacobs’ second touchdown. The defensive front struggled as Wolfe looked one dimensional, with zero impact as a pass rusher, and worn down.

Von Miller: D+

Von’s pursuit and motor stood out against the run but the pass-rushing flashes weren’t there. Oakland’s quick throws and Trent Brown’s length kept him at bay all day.

Josey Jewell: B-

Jewell did his job, cleaning up the trash with a team-high 14 tackles. When the action was funneled towards him, he proved strong defending the run and reliable in shallow zones against the pass. A lack of high-impact plays limits his grade here.

Corey Nelson: F

While Alexander Johnson didn’t start the game, it was Nelson who saw the most snaps next to Jewell. Sadly, his impact came as he was burned twice on dump-offs that turned into big gains. A sluggish return.

Bradley Chubb: D

Chubb started off strong against the run but just couldn’t break into the opposing backfield in a far-too-quiet game. 

Chris Harris Jr.: C-

With Derek Carr feasting on Yiadom early and often, No. 25 wasn’t targeted until the fourth quarter where he was beat inside by Tyrell Williams for a crucial 24-yard gain that set Oakland up for a score.

Justin Simmons: C+

Simmons was beat on a touchdown by Williams while playing perfect coverage, just a better throw. Aside from that play, he was a reliable last line of defense.

Other noteworthy defensive performances:

Will Parks had a great open-field tackle and a couple of other positive plays. He probably should’ve played more allowing Jackson to slot in at corner. 

Mike Purcell flashed towards the end of the game, penetrating the line and even producing a nice run stuff.

Offense

Garett Bolles: D

Bolles struggled in pass protection early and was even flagged on an unnecessary hold after he was bull-rushed into oblivion and out of the play. He was shaky as a run blocker as well. 72 did have his flashes, but it wasn’t enough in a game where the entire line was underwhelming.

Dalton Risner: B-

The rookie was the cleanest of the big uglies. While he didn’t maul in the run game, he sealed off any would-be penetrators and did a nice job working in unison with his center in pass protection. He was impressive getting to the second level with consistency.

Connor McGovern: C

McGovern wasn’t quite as clean as Risner, allowing a run stop up the middle, and wasn’t super agile getting to his spots. However, he was reliable in pass pro and clean snapping the ball.

Ron Leary: D-

Leary was flagged for a false start and a hold, while also struggling to create push for the run. In a game where the line was shaky at best, he was the least reliable starter on the night.

Elijah Wilkinson: F

Thrust into the lineup as Ja’Wuan James was knocked out early, Wilkinson started off poorly, conceding a strip-sack by getting overpowered off his inside shoulder. Denver’s few big runs came behind him as he mauled at times, but he also kept allowing pressure. He had the best and worst plays of any offensive lineman.

Noah Fant: F

Fant had a terrible debut, struggling mightly as a blocker—allowing a TFL and two more run stuffs—while also getting penalized multiple times. His impact as a mismatch in the passing game wasn’t there either in a night to forget. 

Emmanuel Sanders: B

Sanders finally got going late with a big catch deep. He then started to use his quickness to wiggle free underneath and hauled in a fine back-shoulder touchdown.

Royce Freeman: B-

Freeman ran the ball with power between the tackles and showed off his quick feet on his run of the game up the right sideline. An encouraging, if far from perfect, start.

Phillip Lindsay: B

Phil flashed his burst and dynamic athleticism in one-on-one situations. He was targeted more in the passing game (six times) and even flexed outside at times. A promising start, though he was never quite able to muster a game-breaking play.

Other noteworthy offensive performances:

DaeSean Hamilton might’ve made an incredible catch on a bobble from Sutton, but his dropped 3rd-and-goal touchdown defined his disappointing performance.

Jeff Heuerman had a great block to open up the edge on Freeman’s big run and looked like the best option at tight end on the night.

Special Teams: D

Brandon McManus missing a prayer from 64-yards out doesn’t hurt the grade much here, a stupid penalty on a fair-caught punt and poor coverage on a big Dwayne Harris kick return, do. 

Coaching: F

In his head coaching debut, Vic Fangio was outcoached and looked too much like his predecessors. The defense looked far too vanilla, the adjustments were few and far between, and the level of play was sloppy, especially in the trenches.

Game-management wise, there were no missteps, but the play calling and personnel packages were uninspiring.