Throughout the entire 2017-18 season, BSN Denver will be giving you game grades from every Denver Broncos contest. Evaluating all of 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 battled to the bitter end but ultimately fell short in a 20-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. While six in a row hurts, there are plenty of things to take from this one and not all bad.

Defense

Domata Peko: B+

Peko, facing his old team, played with lots of heart and tenacity. He might not have had a consistently impactful game for four quarters as he’s had in other contests, but still created plenty of flashes.

Early on he was flying around closing down on screens, while at the end of the game he came up big stuffing the run on two separate occasions on Cincy’s final drive, flexing his muscles towards the Bengals sideline.

Derek Wolfe: A+

If there’s anyone who proved that they’re definitely not “soft” it was Wolfe, who harassed the Bengals line all game, coming up with some big plays.

Against the run, he made tons of plays, ending up with two run-stops behind the line and two more for small gains. He then had a true man’s sack, overwhelming the Bengals on the interior and wrapping up Andy Dalton while he still had his direct blocker in front of him. He penetrated, didn’t get flushed out from the line movement and was all over. If Wolfe plays this way, the defense almost always plays great. They did Sunday.

Adam Gotsis: B-

Gotsis is really starting to get the pass deflections at the line down, looking like another No. 99. Problem is, aside from the two swats at the line – which were very good plays – Gotsis’ impact on pass protection has been lacking. He seems slow in all honesty, or at least not nearly as explosive or limber coming off the line as he did to start the year. As a result, he’s not in opposing backfields as often.

He did combine with Peko for a crucial tackle for a loss against the run on Cincy’s final drive and got another penetration up the middle affecting the ground game. He’s not playing poorly, and with more Nascar formations, seems to be on the field less often on third-down lessening his opportunities – he only appeared in 26 snaps.

Von Miller: B

Von created pressure on a few separate occasions, most importantly on a handful of third downs. One, in particular, led Dalton right into the pocket to get sacked from Wolfe. Von also deflected a pass that came out of Dalton’s hands sideways on a play that was a fraction of an inch away from being a strip sack in the end zone. He also had a nice run stop and combined with Brandon Marshall to sniff out a screen and stop it in its tracks.

The one negative play Von had was a costly one, as on 3rd-and-3 he jumped on the running back on a read-option only for Dalton to keep it and run by uncontested for an easy conversion. That play came with 4:07 left as the Broncos had just called a timeout, prolonging Cincinnati’s final drive. Not No. 58’s best game, even if he only had one error, he just wasn’t super impactful.

Todd Davis: C+

Davis was just a couple steps away from getting an interception on a blind Dalton throw the Miller affected. He was also very close to another pick that was dropped by Bengals tight end Tyler Kroft. Against the run, he added five tackles though all in clean-up duty.

Brandon Marshall: C+

Marshall was good in coverage and unspectacular against the run, though he did his job and took care of his assignments. He didn’t miss any plays and got a little chippy but had a limited impact.

Shane Ray: B-

Ray had a sack on a crucial 3rd-and-6 coming off the blindside and getting the hustle closeout from the backside with good coverage downfield. He also ran down a run from the backside limiting it to a four-yard gain. A much better game for him as he seems to be improving every outing though he’s still not at his best.

Darian Stewart: C+

Stewart did fine as the deep safety, he wasn’t really tested much in coverage and played deep enough that he didn’t impact the run much at all. He’s not the same special player we saw the last two years, but it wasn’t a bad game.

Justin Simmons: C-

Simmons was okay, though he stood out for two bad plays. First, he couldn’t close down in time while playing deep on a Brandon LaFell reception over the middle, he then missed the tackle on LaFell allowing a big gain that could’ve been a TD if not for the WR stepping out of bounds. He then allowed another completion to A.J. Green over the middle on a comeback route, he was tested rarely but allowed two crucial receptions.

He had five tackles against the run, helping a good performance from the run ‘D.’

Chris Harris Jr.: B+

Harris was, as always, close to flawless and had to battle with Green, holding his own. He locked down the NFL star on 3rd-and-7 on a deep target and then had a spectacular tackle in space on No. 18, holding him to a two-yard gain that could’ve been much worse.

He’ll have to buy Gotsis a drink for his second pass deflection, as it seemed like Green managed to create separation on a crosser, and was then flagged for holding to give the Bengals a first down with only five minutes left in the game.

Aqib Talib: A-

Talib made some big-time plays on the ball and was truly a few inches away from possibly creating two massive turnovers. First, he stripped the ball out of Alex Erickson’s hands only to have him land back on the ball. Then, he jumped a LaFell slant right at the end of the game that could’ve easily been intercepted.

It wasn’t all perfect, as he did allow one Green reception while in great coverage on a tough contested grab. More costly, on a tackle short of the sticks, he got overpowered by LaFell who gained the crucial three yards for a third down conversion. The grade would be even higher if he did get one of those turnovers but he still played great.

Other noteworthy defensive performances: 

Bradley Roby had himself a miserable game as he was beaten in coverage on both touchdowns, and then was called for a pass interference on Green with three minutes left to play on 3rd-and-6. Those three plays are as big as any in Denver getting an ‘L.’ Roby just seemed overly aggressive trying to jump underneath routes and getting burned over the top as a result.

Shaq Barrett had a very positive game, creating pressure on a couple occasions and then getting a tackle for a loss pinning the Bengals back three yards. He also had a big special teams play that you’ll be reminded of below.

Offense

Garett Bolles: D+

Bolles continues his rookie inconsistencies and wasn’t all that great in pass protection allowing a good amount of pressure from his side.

You could see him getting yelled at in the first half by Virgil Green after a tackle for a loss on the run where it looked like he picked up the wrong defender allowing an uncontested penetration. He hit a stretch where he allowed three consecutive pressures at the end of the first half and allowed two more crucial third down pressures in the second half.

Max Garcia: B+

Credit where credit’s due, we’ve been harsh on Garcia in the past, but in this game, he was the dude you wanted to run behind on the Broncos line.

He put on a clinic when blocking for the ground game on the move, simply bulling people, getting out on pulls and bulldozing defenders to open up massive holes. There were stretches where he was truly outstanding. Just a great game run blocking and it seems like being the full-time starter has helped him a lot.

In pass protection, he wasn’t always perfect or looked the prettiest, but he did the job for the most part and managed to keep pressure to a minimum to his side.

Matt Paradis: C

Paradis was moslty solid in this one, though there were some inconstancies in pass protection and he wasn’t always creating great push up the middle for the run game.

On the flea flicker play, in particular, he just got overpowered up the middle, allowing the pressure that broke up a potential big play.

Ronald Leary: D-

This was a poor showing from Leary. He was overwhelmed by an overload blitz to his gap and let both defenders get through on 3rd-and-6 for a sack on Brock. He then was overpowered by another interior rush flushing Brock out of the pocket and then was burned on a stunt to allow another sack.

He did have one nice play getting out in space to open up a huge hole with a powerful block on 4th-and-2, but overall this wasn’t a good showing.

Allen Barbre: D-

We’ve tried to be understanding of Barbre’s tough situation as he’s been forced into the starting right tackle spot when he wasn’t even the full-time starter at left guard. His grade is on a scale understanding full well he’s miscast. Still, Sunday’s showing won’t cut it as he’s not athletic or long enough to protect out on the edge.

He was flagged twice for holding and by my count allowed three sacks, not to mention several more pressures. Barbre’s not looked great run blocking either.

Look, he’s battled, and the mistakes were fewer in the second half as the offense played a bit better, he’s just not working out. He’s a true liability on just about every play.

C.J. Anderson: D+

Anderson was overshadowed by Devontae Booker, who took most of his carries by the end of it. As always C.J. ran tough, especially on a 4th-and-2 conversion with a great second effort to get the first down, and then in the red zone where he rammed his way into a touchdown.

Sadly, that’s not what’ll be remembered about his game, as his fumble right when Denver seemed to have found an offensive rhythm early in the fourth quarter was absolutely devastating.

Demaryius Thomas: C+

DT started off terribly with some really bad drops, the first of which bounced right off his chest. He didn’t get his first grab until well into the second half but then got on a bit of a roll. He came down with a tough slant on 3rd-and-7, then made a huge catch on a dig route on another 3rd-and-6, and then had the beautiful touchdown grab.

In the fourth quarter, he got rolling and couldn’t be stopped but that’s not enough, he needs to dominate from start to finish and can’t have the bad drops.

Emmanuel Sanders: C

Sanders had eight targets, but only two catches and part of the problem was that the throws his way were not accurate. After being the Broncos one shining spot a week ago, he was a bit absent after a nice reception in the slot on 3rd-and-8 getting open underneath early on.

Virgil Green: C-

Green appeared in 41 snaps, which is more than he’s seen since Week 4 due to all the injuries at tight end. He dropped a good pass on 2nd-and-9 that would’ve given Denver the first-down, one of four targets. Blocking-wise, he was fine just not great, which he has to be if he’s not a factor as a receiver. Former practice squad player Austin Traylor outplayed him, and looked more versatile.

Brock Osweiler: D

Osweiler looked a bit slow to pull the trigger at times in this one and really struggled early, completing 4-of-13 passes in the first half plus an interception. He was too quick to take off and run even when protection was good and just wasn’t making quick reads or throws. He ran for several of his early third-down attempts, and they didn’t go well.

The interception was really costly, too, on just a bad read and throw in a true momentum-killing play by the quarterback. His ball placement was off but he also wasn’t always helped by some costly drops early.

Brock seemed to find a bit more of a rhythm in the second half and really got things going with DT in the fourth quarter. When he hung tough in the pocket and pulled the trigger on throws, he got the job done but wasn’t consistent enough on the money-downs.

His touchdown pass was a beauty. However, his sack in the two-minute drill or his low pass on 4th-and-4 to end the game just weren’t clutch plays. There are a few positives to take away, though ultimately this wasn’t a good enough performance in the big moments of the game, nor consistent enough throughout. His interception cost the Broncos 10 points at the very least, and he still hasn’t developed into the veteran game manager we hoped he could be in this second stint.

Other noteworthy offensive performances:  

Austin Traylor did a nice job blocking early on for the run, he then added four catches after having dropped his first target. He looks big and fast off the line, he can get open against linebackers and made tough grabs when the Broncos needed him too. A very nice first game.

Devontae Booker clearly looked like the best back on the team Sunday leading the running back room in catches and runs. Booker looks decisive in his running and powerful. He’s also showing some nice hands and speed once he gets in space in the receiving game.

Special Teams: B-

Credit to Brock Olivo for getting things turned around and managing a much better performance from his unit. The big play from special teams in this one was the Shaquil Barrett punt block on Cincy’s first punt of the game giving the Broncos great field position.

Of course, it wasn’t all good as Brandon McManus had his field goal attempt at the very end of the half blocked after the Bengals called a timeout.

After that, the punting unit did a nice job, and McManus also made his second kick from 45 yards out.

Coaching: B

It’s hard to put this one on the coaches, who didn’t get out coached or schemed in this one, it was simply a game that could’ve gone either way with a couple more breaks going the Bengals way.

Joe Woods’ defense was light-years better than it was the previous three weeks, which is extremely encouraging.

While Mike McCoy was let go on Monday morning, it seemed as if he wasvdoing what he could with the line and quarterback he’s been given. When the time called for it, he’s tried things like the flea flicker or putting Booker out wide as receiver more, or manufacturing easy completions for Brock by putting DT in the backfield. In the end, it didn’t suffice, though, and that’s hard to argue with.

Vance Joseph’s management of the game was fine. Adjustments were made at halftime, and the team seemed to play a bit better, there were no incidents good or bad that he can be criticized for. The six losses in a row hurt, but VJ can’t be criticized for too much in this one.