The Denver Broncos played their second game of the preseason on Sunday, and they notched their second win.
The Broncos hosted the Green Bay Packers at Empower Field and beat them 27-2. However, the Packers didn’t play any of their starters, which gave the Broncos a favorable matchup.
Here’s how the defense and special teams graded out…
Defensive Linemen
Zach Allen: A+
The Packers couldn’t stop Allen.
On the first drive, the Packers tried back-to-back deep ball and Allen shoved a lineman into the quarterback’s lap on both. Later on he, he notched a sack in pursuit toward the sideline.
Franklin-Myers didn’t impact the stat sheet, but he played well in his Broncos debut. He had a couple of flashes. His big play was when the offense tried to only send one man to block him, and he flushed the quarterback from the pocket, which set up an 11-yard sack.
DJ Jones: B-
The workload was light for Jones, and he didn’t have much of an impact.
Roach got into the backfield on a pass. He also shed a block and helped shorten a run on the second drive of the game.
Angelo Blackson: B+
The veteran defensive tackle nearly made a great play when he burst into the backfield with the running back in his sights, but he missed the tackle. He still disrupted the run. He stuffed a run after easily shedding a block earlier in the game.
Jordan Jackson: B-
Jackson continued a strong run of play on Sunday. The highlight was when he shed a blocked and stuff a run on the final play of the second quarter.
Eyioma Uwazurike: B-
Uwazurike was quiet. His best moment was when he drew a double-team and still helped tee up the quarterback on Jonah Elliss‘ strip sack.
Matt Henningsen: A-
Henningsen was one of two defensive linemen with multiple tackles. He also drew a holding penalty. One of the tackles came on a 4th & 1 in the red zone when Henningsen was able to get the running backs legs and prevent a first down.
Elijah Garcia: C+
Garcia’s best play was hen he got into the backfield and disrupted a run but wasn’t able to make the tackle for loss.
Miller’s 3rd & 1 run stuff set up a fourth down.
Outside Linebackers
Baron Browning: B-
Browning made two tackles, one of which was a one-yard run stuff after he beat a tight end.
Cooper didn’t have a pressure or a tackle. He didn’t show up in the stat sheet. I didn’t notice any mistakes, though.
Jonah Elliss: A-
Does the third-down roughing the passer call nullify the strip sack and recovery? No, but it certainly puts a damper on an otherwise spectacular day. His third-down run stuff was great too.
Nik Bonitto: A+
Bonnito had a great day. He separate and made a tackle on the edge for a two-yard gain. He got into the backfield for a two-yard tackle for loss on the n ext play. He jumped and batted a ball just before halftime. He provided important pressure on Jonah Eliss’ strip sack.
Dondrea Tillman: B+
Tillman’s best play was when he slipped inside of his blocker for a one-yard tackle for loss.
Durell Nchami: C+
Nchami made a third-down tackle short of the sticks, but he also jumped offside.
Inside Linebackers
Singleton has played with his hair on fire in the preseason. On the first run of the game, Singleton was too fast for one lineman, glanced off of the next and blew up the play for one yard. He plugged a hole and made a tackle for a one-yard gain. He couldn’t be blocked.
Cody Barton: B
Barton was solid. He didn’t give anything up in coverage. He cleaned up a couple of tackles. I wouldn’t call it a groundbreaking performance, but he was solid.
Jonas Griffith: B+
Griffith left the game briefly with an injury, but he was solid when he played. He led the team with seven tackles. He made a good tackle on the second kickoff of the game.
Strnad slipped into the backfield to set up a stuff for a defensive lineman, but his best plays came in the passing game. He batted away a midrange pass from short zone coverage over the middle. He broke up a cult over the middle, too.
Andre Smith: A+
Smith’s punch out forced fumble didn’t result in a turnover, but it was a great play. He made a good tackle in the flat, too. Not bad for only playing seven snaps.
Levelle Bailey: B+
Bailey was fluid in coverage, but it didn’t amount to anything. I’ll give him points for picking up the running backs legs on 4th & 1, but I’m not sure the back would have converted anyway. Bailey only played nine snaps.
Safeties
Devon Key: D
The only notable play from Key was the facemask penalty on the first play of the game.
PJ Locke: B
The most notable play from Locke was when he helped with a tackle at the line of scrimmage on a short pass on the second drive.
JL Skinner: D-
Skinner ran into the punter and extended a Packer drive. He’d come close to doing the same thing earlier, too. He made a couple of good plays, though. My favorite was when he popped a receiver on a curl and forced an incompletion.
Keidron Smith: A+
Smith’s big play was when he jumped a crosser, picked off the pass and returned it into the end zone just before halftime. He was helpful in the run game, too.
Cornerbacks
Pat Surtain II: B-
Surtain gave up an underneath throw. It was no big deal. He wasn’t tested the rest of the night.
Riley Moss: B-
Moss might have been a half-step away from where you would have liked him on a deep ball on the first drive. The pass was still incomplete.
The Packers tested McMillian with a slot fade, but the cornerback stayed stride-for-stride with the receiver and ripped the ball away. Perfect play.
Mathis was impressive as a tackler. He wasn’t tested in coverage.
Abrams-Draine allowed eight yards on aa 3rd & 4 out route, but the rest of his day was great. He had a great cover up the sideline on a double move. He had a pass breakup on a slant. This grade might be generous, but I loved what I saw.
Reese Taylor: C+
Taylor was solid but nothing special. He gave up a pair of catches for 21 total yards. He was also first downfield on a punt.
McCalister’s best play was when he made a tackle in the flat in front of the sticks on 3rd & 3.
Newsome had a quiet day, but a holding penalty on a punt return hurts his grade. He almost got to a muffed punt but the returner picked the ball up before he arrived.
Special Teams
Wil Lutz: A
Two-for-two on field goals. Three-for-three on extra points. Good work.
Riley Dixon: B
Dixon’s only punt was 45 yards and pinned the Packers inside the 20.
Trenton Gill: D
Gill’s 67-yarder was awesome. His 34-yarder that didn’t make it to the 20? Not so muc.
