Throughout the entire 2020-21 season, DNVR 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-by-game basis.

In a wild and sloppy final game of the NFL’s Week 1, the Denver Broncos found a way to lose to the Tennesee Titans 16-14 in a game where the two teams seemed to be trying their best to lose the game rather than win it.

With plenty of strong performances and some key mistakes, these grades ended up being quite schizophrenic with nothing but up-and-down play across the board.

Let’s dive into it all.

Standouts from the game

Noah Fant: A-

Fant had a marvelous first half, imposing himself as a true mismatch tight end. He got open with ease and showed dangerous skills running after the catch. What’s more, his ability to adjust to the ball on the opening touchdown was the highlight of the game.

Things fell off for him in the second half as he wasn’t utilized as frequently and also had a couple missed run blocks that turned into negative plays. Overall, it was an overwhelmingly positive performance and a game he can build off of.

Kareem Jackson: B+

Jackson was an absolute force against the run, playing like a heat-seeking missile in coverage over the middle, with a spectacular tipped pass that forced a third-down stop.

The only negative note is he was beaten by tight end, MyCole Pruitt, down on the goal line for a one-yard touchdown.

Mike Purcell: A

Purcell was a tone-setter on the line stifling the Titans run game consistently. What really stood out was that Denver’s big nose tackle got better as the game progressed, producing 2.5 run stuffs in the second half and playing a huge role in Tennessee’s consecutive three-and-outs in the fourth quarter.

Shelby Harris: A

Harris put on a dominant display, bullying the Titans interior offensive line to the tune of 2.5 run stuffs. He also had one of the best plays of the game with his clutch swatted field goal to keep the game tied at the half.

Defense

Jurell Casey: B

Casey had his moments, halting the Titans’ momentum on a drive to end the first half with a big swatted pass at the line and almost forcing a tipped interception for another third-down stop down on the edge of the red zone. He too was a key contributor in clogging gaps against the run.

Bradley Chubb: C

Chubb was a responsible run defender, in the mix on a QB hurry, and generally contributed in Denver’s impressive night against the run. Playing 59 total snaps, Chubb had a relatively quiet game, though, as he keeps working his way back to 100 percent.

Alexander Johnson: C-

Johnson was as impactful a performer as there was in the game, and yet, probably also had his worst game as a pro with multiple key mistakes.

From a couple missed tackles at the line that allowed Tennessee to extend drives, to a devastating unnecessary roughness flag that took a Broncos interception off the board, Johnson didn’t always play within himself.

He did do a good job defending the run and creating pressure as a blitzer. But the problem is he also allowed six receptions on as many targets — emphasizing what appears to be a real weakness for the Broncos early.

Josey Jewell: B

Jewell had two huge run stops, showing great instincts and sound tackling on the highlight plays. He also proved himself reliable in coverage, allowing just three catches for 22 yards despite being on the field for all but two defensive snaps.

Jeremiah Attaochu: B+

Attaochu slowed down a bit after a great first half where he was disruptive, forcing a sack in pursuit and three other QB hurries. He was also strong against the run, not just looking like a quality rotational piece but a disruptive force on the edge.

Bryce Callahan: B-

Callahan’s lack of size showed early — but credit to him as he battled and was a reliable tackler on the perimeter while allowing four receptions for 50 yards on five total targets. It wasn’t a shutdown performance. But his play was key in holding Denver’s injury-depleted secondary together by the end of the game.

A.J. Bouye: B+

Bouye was strong in coverage on A.J. Brown before injuring himself. On 28 snaps in the game, he allowed just one catch for 13 yards on four targets. Denver will need a healthy Bouye to be consistently successful this season.

Justin Simmons: D

Simmons looked a bit out of his element, not reacting and jumping to the ball quickly as the Titans play-action passing game kept him guessing. Targeted a team-high six times, Simmons conceded five receptions for 55 yards, one of which was a wide-open Titans touchdown. His play Monday night was certainly not up to his lofty standards.

Other noteworthy defensive performances

Michael Ojemudia played great early on with a massive pass deflection over the middle on 3rd-and-7. And he later had an incredible diving interception that ultimately didn’t stand. He was tested a bit later on as he was flagged for pass interference. Overall, he showed he can hold his own in an NFL setting.

Essang Bassey did a good job not being exploited in coverage and showing strong tackling against the run.

Malik Reed was more of a liability when dropping in coverage than anything. His impact as a pass rusher wasn’t there either, though he did do a good job of filling gaps as a run defender.

Dre’Mont Jones had some terrific flashes with a big QB hurry and a run stuff,

Offense

Garett Bolles: B-

Bolles allowed penetration against the run, forcing the Lindsay to cut inside and allowed a QB hit off the edge down on the goal line, which rushed Lock preventing a wide-open touchdown. Outside of those two blemishes, Bolles had a clean game, showing an even keel temperament and even some solid run blocking.

Dalton Risner: B

Risner did a great job getting out on pulls and opening up huge running lanes. He did allow one pressure on an inside move from Clowney but he was clean in pass pro otherwise.

Lloyd Cushenberry III: B+

The rookie might have had two snaps bobbled but those were more on his quarterback than on him. He looked the part in a clean, efficient outing.

Graham Glasgow: C

Glasgow impressed opening up big holes for the run game but he also allowed pressure up the middle against both the run and pass getting beat on three separate run stops.

Elijah Wilkinson: B-

Wilkinson was solid run blocking and in pass protection for the most part as well. Though he did allow a key QB hit from Harold Landry on 3rd-and-3, for a big Titans stop in the final minutes of regulation.

Jerry Jeudy: D+

Jeudy looked a bit nervous in his first-ever NFL game, almost falling over on a route and dropping two key passes.

The supreme flashes and ability to get open in an instant were on display but he left some game-breaking plays on the table that ended up costing Denver.

Tim Patrick: C

Patrick was unimpressive in a very quiet game.

Melvin Gordon: D+

Gordon’s performance will ultimately be defined by his crucial fumble but the greater talking point should be how explosive and imposing he looked running downhill. Ultimately he had his moments but will need to build on the performance.

Phillip Lindsay: N/A

Lindsay looked like his usual self, dangerous and efficient before going down with a foot injury. His absence was felt.

Drew Lock: B-

Lock was great improvising and making plays off-script, showing the flashes of playmaking ability that make him so exciting. He was also solid avoiding pressure but did seem to try to do a bit too much as the game was winding down. His poise on third down was missing a bit as he only converted two-of-eight attempts in the game.

Special Teams: A

Punter, Sam Martin had a stellar performance pinning the Titans back within their own five-yard line in the final five minutes of the game, and forcing them within their own 20 two other times.

The rest of the special teams unit did their job by avoiding penalties and contributing to three-of-four missed field goals by the Titans.

Coaching: F

Hindsight being 20-20, the Broncos coaching staff lost the game due to their poor clock management. Vic Fangio‘s defense forced two three-and-outs in the final minutes of the game and Denver somehow still couldn’t close it out.

Pat Shurmur‘s play-calling was exciting, creative, but also stalled in long stretches and approached things too aggressively in the end as Denver opted to throw the ball rather than burning off more clock.

Fangio’s reluctance to call timeouts within the two-minute warning was a gamble he ultimately lost and now looks foolish for. A gamble is a gamble. You can’t fault someone for that. But his decisions ultimately put the game in the Titans’ hands.