Broncos Game Grades: Greg Dulcich is back!

The Broncos dropped another game on Sunday, this time losing a 10-9 nail-biter to the Ravens in Baltimore. Denver has lost eight of its last nine games and is sitting second-to-last in the AFC with a 3-9 record.

Here’s how the Broncos graded out on Sunday:

Offense

QB Russell Wilson – C+

Russell Wilson posted the second-best quarterback rating of his Broncos tenure but it’s tough to give him a better-than-average grade.

Wilson was in game manager mode. He completed 17 of his 22 pass attempts for 189 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He had two good runs on the final drive of the game, which totaled 21 yards.

It’s tough to blame Wilson for his low usage—he can’t put up big numbers without more opportunities to throw the ball—but there were other mistakes. He missed Courtland Sutton on a rollout early in the game. Four of his completions were third-down balls that didn’t move the sticks.

Sunday wasn’t a bad game for Wilson by any means, but there wasn’t much pop despite an efficient performance.

RB Latavius Murray – C-

The Broncos’ 32-year-old back didn’t break off another 50-yard run this week. Instead, he picked up 47 yards on 17 carries with a long of seven yards. It isn’t his fault there aren’t any holes but a 2.8 yards per carry average is never a good thing. Sunday was the fifth time in seven games that he has averaged between 2.7 and 3.3 yards per carry.

WR Courtland Sutton – D+

Courtland Sutton left Sunday’s game at halftime with a hamstring injury but his first-half play left plenty to be desired. He didn’t catch a ball, despite being on the field for 43% of the team’s offensive snaps. The closest he game was on a Russell Wilson rollout that should have picked up seven or eight yards, but instead the ball was left too far behind Sutton to be caught.

WR Jerry Jeudy – A

The Broncos’ third-year receiver picked up 65 yards on four catches in his return from an ankle injury. Those numbers aren’t spectacular at first glance, but Jeudy was only on the field for 38% of the Broncos offensive snaps as he eased back in. The big play was a 40-yard gain on an over route.

WR Kendall Hinton – D

The 25-year-old spent more time on the field than any other receiver but didn’t have much to show for it. He caught one ball for 11 yards, while playing 77% of the team’s offensive snaps. Hinton isn’t supposed to be a standout but his time in an expanded role was lackluster.

TE Greg Dulcich – A

The Broncos’ rookie tight end had the best receiving game of his career… in the first half. He finished as the Broncos leading receiver with 85 yards on six catches, including a 30-yard grab over the middle on third down. We aren’t going to knock him too much for a missed block or two.

LT Calvin Anderson – C-

As a pass blocker, Calvin Anderson was at the top of his game. He only gave up one pressure and held down his edge consistently.

But the Broncos couldn’t get anything going when they ran to the edges, especially on Anderson’s side. They ran to the left edge nine times and picked up 23 yards, but 18 of those yards came after contact.

LG Dalton Risner – C-

Outside of one pressure that forced an incompletion, it was an uneventful day for Dalton Risner. He lacked push though and that knocks him down slightly.

C Graham Glasgow – D

Pressure. A weak running game in the A gaps. It was a tough day for Graham Glasgow.

RG Quinn Meinerz – C

The Broncos ran the ball much more successfully to the right side than the left and Quinn Meinerz was a key piece of that effort. Meinerz allowed a pressure that forced an incompletion.

RT Cam Fleming – B-

The Broncos averaged four yards per carry when running to Cameron Fleming’s left and three-and-a-half yards per carry when they ran to his right. By those numbers, the Broncos’ running game was at its best when running off of Fleming.

Defense

DL Dre’Mont Jones – C

Dre’Mont Jones wasn’t bad on Sunday—much of what he does doesn’t show up in the stat sheet—but there wasn’t much pop to his game. Jones recorded one tackle but nothing else. He hasn’t recorded a sack or a tackle for loss since Bradley Chubb was traded away. There just hasn’t been much to point to since his hot start.

DL D.J. Jones – C

Copy and paste the Dre’Mont Jones section. D.J. Jones held the middle of the field down, but he also continued a seven-game run without a tackle for loss or sack.

DL DeShawn Williams – A+

DeShawn Williams has been a key piece of the Broncos defensive front and he finally broke through on Sunday. He registered his first two sacks of the season and a tackle for loss. That’s a good enough for a perfect grade.

OLB Baron Browning – B+

Baron Browning got back in the sack column after no recording one in November. He only had one other tackle but we’ll let that slide.

The sack celebration was… interesting.

Baron Browning sack cellys >>>#BudLightCelly x @budlight pic.twitter.com/5MTiY7kmlh

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 4, 2022

OLB Jonathan Cooper – B+

Like Deshawn Williams, Jonathan Cooper notched his first sack of the season on Sunday. He was the second man in the outside linebacker rotation and played more than half of the game.

LB Josey Jewell – A

17 tackles. That’s an easy A.

LB Alex Singleton – A

Also, 17 tackles. Once again, an A.

CB Pat Surtain II – B

Pat Surtain was targeted seven times on Sunday, the second-most of the season. He gave up four catches, the fourth-most. And he only gave up 20 yards.

There was a major mistake though: Surtain was called for a third-down pass interference with two minutes left in the game, that cost 17 yards and moved the Ravens closer to the end zone on their game-winning drive.

CB Damarri Mathis – B

The Broncos’ rookie cornerback just keeps getting better. He didn’t totally lock up his opponent on Sunday but he looked, once again, like a starting-caliber cornerback in the NFL. He gave up five catches but the longest went for 10 yards. He also ended a four-game missed-tackle streak.

FS Justin Simmons – A+

Two interceptions, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble. There’s no debate here.

SS Kareem Jackson – D+

Once again, Kareem Jackson struggled in coverage on Sunday. He didn’t give up a touchdown but the 44 yards he surrendered were the most he’s given up in either of the past two seasons. He was important as a tackler but the coverage continues to leave some to be desired.

Special Teams

K Brandon McManus – B-

The Broncos’ kicker hit his first three kicks. The longest was 52 yards. But then he missed the 63-yard potential game-winner at the buzzer. Can’t expect him to make that. We’ll call this an average day.

P Corliss Waitman – D

Corliss Waitman averaged 41 yards per kick on Sunday. Two of his seven pinned the Ravens inside their own 20. He also booted a 34-yarder that didn’t get to the red zone. Another tough day for the Broncos’ punter.