Initial thoughts from the Broncos’ 13-11 win over the New York Jets in Week 6 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:
1. We woke up early for this?: A win is a win is a win, but … woof. To our mates in London? Sorry, chaps. It might be time for QB coach Davis Webb to call plays for the Broncos. Because Sean Payton’s playing with fire as his offense remains ice cold — even during a two-game road winning streak. Thank goodness for Jonathan Cooper, who accounted for two of Denver’s nine sacks early on Sunday. Thank goodness for Vance Joseph. But how long can they keep carrying Payton’s water? The Broncos opened the second half on offense with three three-and-outs, compounded by a safety. Bo Nix’s first passing yard after halftime came on a 12-yard completion to Evan Engram — with 9:24 to go in the game.
2. Special teams headaches: How do you keep a terrible, winless team in a ballgame? Special teams and general weirdness. Special teams coach Darren Rizzi’s crew gave up a 72-yard kick return and allowed a fake punt conversion, which was rough enough. Meanwhile, a Jets punt set up a Broncos safety — Quinn Meinerz got flagged for a jersey tug on New York defensive end Micheal Clemons in the end zone with 4:56 left in the third quarter. That brought out the flags, giving a sorry Jets bunch the lead in the strangest way possible, 11-10. Imagine how much worse things would’ve looked if not for Will Lutz and his wonky — but true — 57-yard field-goal make.
3. Aaron Glenn = Nathaniel Hackett: If the Broncos gave the flailing Jets a gift on Troy Franklin’s early one-handed fumble, New York coach Aaron Glenn decided to give it right back at the end of the first half. Trailing 10-6, the Jets coach dialed up a fake punt on fourth-and-1, which worked. Then, with a minute left and with the ball at his own 38, Glenn proceeded to run out the clock rather than go for … well, anything. Even Jets star Garrett Wilson was in his coach’s face as they walked into the locker room. It was straight out of the Nathaniel Hackett School of Clock Management, one of the surest signs yet of a coach in over his head.
4. Nobody hearts Peart flags: The only thing more thankless than being an NFL guard is being a backup NFL guard — because the only time the announcers say your name is when you screw up royally. In his first start in place of Broncos left guard Ben Powers, Matt Peart’s name, unfortunately for him, got heard early and often. At the 9:25 mark of the first half, a Peart false start turned a first-and-10 at the Jets 44 into a first-and-15 at midfield. With 4:20 left until halftime, a Peart holding call on third-and-5 at the Jets 43 pushed the Broncos back to their own 47. Two plays later, Denver punted. Things settled down up front, but in a tight tilt, those are the little things that add up.
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