The
2023 season
3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many societie ...
was the
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquar ...
' 54th season in the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ma ...
(NFL) and their 64th overall. It was also their third under the leadership of
general manager
A general manager (GM) is an executive who has overall responsibility for managing both the revenue and cost elements of a company's income statement, known as profit & loss (P&L) responsibility. A general manager usually oversees most or all ...
George Paton, their second under the ownership of the
Walton-Penner family group and their first under
head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other Coach (sport), coaches. In some sports, the head coach is instead called the "manage ...
Sean Payton
Sean, also spelled Seán or Séan in Irish English, is a male given name of Irish origin. It comes from the Irish versions of the Biblical Hebrew name ''Yohanan'' (), Seán (anglicized as '' Shaun/Shawn/ Shon'') and Séan (Ulster variant; ang ...
.
During the off-season, the Broncos released longtime kicker
Brandon McManus
Brandon Tyler McManus (born July 25, 1991) is an American football placekicker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He was a member of their Super Bowl 50 championship team, beating the Carolina Panthers, and as of 2022, ...
after spending nine seasons with the team.
He was the last player from the
2015
File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the April ...
Super Bowl 50
Super Bowl 50 was an American football game to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2015 season. The American Football Conference (AFC) champion Denver Broncos defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) ...
-winning team still on the roster. His release made safety
Justin Simmons, who has been with the team since
2016, the team's new longest-tenured player. After a 1–5 start, the team's first since
1994
File:1994 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1994 Winter Olympics are held in Lillehammer, Norway; The Kaiser Permanente building after the 1994 Northridge earthquake; A model of the MS Estonia, which sank in the Baltic Sea; Nelson Ma ...
, the Broncos started to surge, going 5–0 in the process to improve upon their 5–12 record from
the previous season. However, the Broncos went 2–4 in their final six games, suffering their seventh consecutive losing season and missed the playoffs for an eighth consecutive season. After his worst statistical season in 2022, quarterback
Russell Wilson
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
improved on his touchdown passes, but was benched for the team's final two games in favor of backup quarterback
Jarrett Stidham
Jarrett Ryan Stidham (born August 8, 1996) is an American football quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). After transferring from Baylor, he played college football at Auburn and was selected by the New E ...
.
Coaching changes
On February 3,
Sean Payton
Sean, also spelled Seán or Séan in Irish English, is a male given name of Irish origin. It comes from the Irish versions of the Biblical Hebrew name ''Yohanan'' (), Seán (anglicized as '' Shaun/Shawn/ Shon'') and Séan (Ulster variant; ang ...
was named as the 20th
head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other Coach (sport), coaches. In some sports, the head coach is instead called the "manage ...
in franchise history. Payton previously coached the
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. Since 1975, the te ...
from 2006–2021, with the exception of
2012
File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...
, and the Broncos agreed to draft compensation with the Saints—
''see Draft section''. Payton was the Broncos' seventh different
head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other Coach (sport), coaches. In some sports, the head coach is instead called the "manage ...
since
2008
File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing ...
, and their third since
2018
File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...
. He replaced
Nathaniel Hackett
Nathaniel Hackett (born December 19, 1979) is an American football coach. A former long-time assistant to Doug Marrone, Hackett previously served as the offensive coordinator for the NFL's Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bil ...
, who was fired on December 26, 2022, and replaced by
Jerry Rosburg on an interim basis for the last two games of the
2022
File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretariat; The global monkeyp ...
season.
In the weeks that followed Payton's hiring, the Broncos underwent the following coaching changes:
:
Roster changes
Future contracts
All players listed below were signed to reserve/future contracts on January 9, unless otherwise noted. Each player was officially added to the active roster on March 15—the first day of the
2023
Events
Predicted and scheduled events
* January 1
** In the United States, books, films, and other works published in 1927 will enter the public domain, assuming there are no changes made to copyright law.
** Croatia will adopt the eu ...
league year.starting
Free agents
Unrestricted
Note: Unrestricted free agents who were originally Restricted free agents (RFA) had three accrued seasons whose contracts expired at the end of the previous season, and did not receive a qualifying offer before the start of the
2023
Events
Predicted and scheduled events
* January 1
** In the United States, books, films, and other works published in 1927 will enter the public domain, assuming there are no changes made to copyright law.
** Croatia will adopt the eu ...
league year on March 15.
Exclusive-rights
Signings
Departures
Draft
Draft trades
Undrafted free agents
All
undrafted free agents were signed prior to the team's rookie minicamp on May 12,
unless noted otherwise.
Suspensions
Eyioma Uwazurike
On July 24,
defensive end
Defensive end (DE) is a defensive position in the sport of gridiron football.
This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations over the years have substantially changed how the position is p ...
Eyioma Uwazurike
Eyioma Uwazurike (born May 6, 1998) is an American football defensive end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa State.
Early years
Uwazurike grew up in Detroit, Michigan and attended Sout ...
was suspended indefinitely by the
NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the maj ...
for violating the league’s gambling policy. Uwazurike, the team's
2022 fourth-round draft selection, bet on NFL games during his rookie season.
Kareem Jackson
Safety
Safety is the state of being "safe", the condition of being protected from harm or other danger. Safety can also refer to the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk.
Meanings
There are two slightly di ...
Kareem Jackson
Kareem Jackson (born April 10, 1988) is an American football strong safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2010 ...
has twice been suspended by the NFL for repeated violations of the league's policy on unnecessary roughness.
On October 23, Jackson was initially suspended four games following the Broncos' Week 7 win over the
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. It is the th ...
after being ejected for a forceful blow to the head & neck area of Packers'
tight end
The tight end (TE) is a position in American football, arena football, and Canadian football, on the offense (sports), offense. The tight end is often a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide ...
Luke Musgrave
Lucas Stone Musgrave (born September 2, 2000) is an American football tight end for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon State. He is the nephew of football coach Bill Musgrave.
Earl ...
, when Musgrave was determined to be a defenseless receiver. Jackson was also ejected during the Broncos' Week 2 loss to the
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) ...
for a similar hit on Commanders' tight end
Logan Thomas
Logan Lamont Thomas Sr. (born July 1, 1991) is an American football tight end for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He was the starting quarterback at Virginia Tech in the early 2010s, where he finished as the sch ...
, which resulted in Thomas suffering a concussion. Jackson was fined for a total of
$89,670 for a series of illegal hits, including violations in three other games—Week 1 against the
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Raiders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West divi ...
, Week 3 against the
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member team of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team pl ...
and Week 6 against the
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division.
The t ...
. One day later (October 24), Jackson's suspension was reduced to two games following an appeal hearing.
On November 20, in his first game back from suspension, Jackson was hit with another four-game suspension for lowering his helmet on
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansio ...
'
quarterback
The quarterback (commonly abbreviated "QB"), colloquially known as the "signal caller", is a position in gridiron football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive platoon and mostly line up directly behind the offensive line. In modern Ame ...
Joshua Dobbs
Robert Joshua Dobbs (born January 26, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tennessee, and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth ro ...
, during the Broncos' Week 11 win over the Vikings. Jackson was not flagged for the hit, and he unsuccessfully appealed the suspension.
After he was a healthy scratch for the team's Week 16 loss to the
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East divisio ...
, Jackson was waived on December 25 following a roster exemption, and was claimed off waivers by the
Houston Texans the following day.
Trades
Injuries
Practice squad elevations
Staff
Final roster
Preseason
Regular season
Schedule
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
The Broncos kicked off the
2023
Events
Predicted and scheduled events
* January 1
** In the United States, books, films, and other works published in 1927 will enter the public domain, assuming there are no changes made to copyright law.
** Croatia will adopt the eu ...
season against their
AFC West
The American Football Conference – Western Division or AFC West is one of the four divisions of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The division comprises the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, La ...
division rival
Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Raiders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West divi ...
. This marked
Sean Payton
Sean, also spelled Seán or Séan in Irish English, is a male given name of Irish origin. It comes from the Irish versions of the Biblical Hebrew name ''Yohanan'' (), Seán (anglicized as '' Shaun/Shawn/ Shon'') and Séan (Ulster variant; ang ...
's debut as the Broncos'
head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other Coach (sport), coaches. In some sports, the head coach is instead called the "manage ...
. The Raiders grabbed the early lead on their initial possession, with quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo
James Richard Garoppolo (born November 2, 1991), nicknamed Jimmy G, is an American football quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Eastern Illinois, where he set the school ...
connecting on a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Jakobi Meyers
Jakobi Meyers (born November 9, 1996) is an American football wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at NC State and signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free ...
. The Broncos responded on their first possession, with a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback
Russell Wilson
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
to wide receiver
Lil'Jordan Humphrey
Lil'Jordan Humphrey (born April 19, 1998) is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Texas.
Early years
Humphrey attended Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, Texas. He played running back and ...
. However, placekicker
Wil Lutz
William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State.
Early life
Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
missed wide-right on the extra point attempt — a miscue that would prove to be critical to the game's outcome. A 24-yard field goal by placekicker
Daniel Carlson
Daniel Vilhelm Carlson (born January 23, 1995) is an American football placekicker for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Auburn, where he became the SEC's all-time leading scorer and was ...
gave the Raiders a 10–6 lead early in the second quarter. The Broncos took their first just lead before halftime, with Wilson's second touchdown pass of the first half — a 5-yarder to wide receiver
Courtland Sutton
Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NF ...
.
Lutz missed wide right on a 55-yard field goal attempt on the initial possession of the second half. The Raiders then marched down the field and faced a 3rd-and-goal from the Broncos' 6-yard line. However, Garoppolo was intercepted by safety
Kareem Jackson
Kareem Jackson (born April 10, 1988) is an American football strong safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2010 ...
in the end zone for a touchback, late in the third quarter. The Broncos then had a first-and-goal from the Raiders' 8-yard line; however, they failed to score a touchdown, and instead, settled for a 24-yard field goal by Lutz midway through the fourth quarter. The Raiders took a 17–16 lead six plays later, with another touchdown pass from Garoppolo to Meyers — from 6 yards out. The Broncos went three-and-out, and were forced to punt. The Raiders faced a 3rd-and-8 from their own 44-yard line with exactly three minutes left in the game. Meyers was stopped one yard short of a first down on a pass completion from Garoppolo; however, Jackson was flagged for an unnecessary roughness flag for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Meyers, giving the Raiders a first down. The Broncos' defense was unable to stop Garoppolo from scrambling for a game-clinching 8-yard first down run.
Week 2: vs. Washington Commanders
The Broncos took a 21–3 lead over the
Commanders
Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...
with touchdowns on each of their first three possessions, consisting of a 5-yard touchdown run by running back
Jaleel McLaughlin
Jaleel McLaughlin (born September 13, 2000) is an American professional football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Notre Dame College and Youngstown State and is the NCAA ...
and two touchdown passes from quarterback
Russell Wilson
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
— a 60-yarder to wide receiver
Marvin Mims
Marvin Mims Jr. (born March 19, 2002) is an American football wide receiver for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Early life and high school
Mims grew up in Frisco, Texas and attended Lone Star High School. He was named the District 5-5A-I Offensive MVP in ...
and a 16-yarder to wide receiver
Brandon Johnson. However, the Broncos' offense would sputter for the remainder of the game and their defense was unable to stop the Commanders. After Wilson was strip-sacked by linebacker
Jamin Davis
Jamin Davis ( ; born December 12, 1998) is an American football linebacker for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Kentucky and was drafted by Washington in the first round of the 2021 N ...
, the momentum shifted to the Commanders. Quarterback
Sam Howell
Sam Howell (born September 16, 2000) is an American football quarterback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina, setting school records for most touchdown passes in a s ...
connected on a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end
Logan Thomas
Logan Lamont Thomas Sr. (born July 1, 1991) is an American football tight end for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He was the starting quarterback at Virginia Tech in the early 2010s, where he finished as the sch ...
on a 4th-and-goal, with a two-point conversion that was initially ruled unsuccessful, but overturned by review. The Broncos' lead was narrowed to 21–14 just before halftime, with a 49-yard field goal by Commanders' placekicker
Joey Slye
Joseph David Slye (born April 10, 1996) is an American football placekicker for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Virginia Tech and signed as an undrafted free agent with the New ...
, who missed from 49 and made from 44 in the first quarter.
After a Broncos' three-and-out to start the second half, the Commanders tied the game at 21–21, with Howell throwing a 30-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Terry McLaurin
Terry McLaurin (born September 15, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State and was drafted by Washington in the third round of the ...
. Following an interception of Russell, Slye missed wide-right on a 59-yard field goal attempt. The Broncos reached the red zone on the ensuing possession, but were forced to settle for a 31-yard field goal by placekicker
Wil Lutz
William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State.
Early life
Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
. The Commanders took their first lead of the game early in the fourth quarter, with running back
Brian Robinson Jr. rushing for a 2-yard touchdown, then added to their lead, with another rushing touchdown by Robinson — a 15-yarder midway through the fourth quarter. After being outscored 32–3 since early in the second quarter, the Broncos found themselves trailing 35–24. A 32-yard field goal by Lutz on the first play after the two-minute warning pulled the Broncos to a 35–27 deficit. After burning all of their team timeouts and forcing a Commanders' punt, the Broncos had one last possession at their own 13-yard line and with 48 seconds remaining. With 3 seconds remaining, Wilson heaved a desperation hail mary pass that was caught by Johnson for a touchdown. The Broncos needed a two-point conversion to send the game to overtime. However, Wilson's pass that was intended for wide receiver
Courtland Sutton
Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NF ...
fell incomplete.
Week 3: at Miami Dolphins
The Broncos were overwhelmed by the
Dolphins
A dolphin is an aquatic mammal within the infraorder Cetacea. Dolphin species belong to the families Delphinidae (the oceanic dolphins), Platanistidae (the Indian river dolphins), Iniidae (the New World river dolphins), Pontoporiidae (t ...
, in an embarrassing 70–20 loss. The Broncos' defense surrendered franchise worsts in points (70), yards (726) and overall touchdowns in one game (10), and tied a franchise record for rushing touchdowns in one game (5). The 50-point loss was the third-worst margin of defeat in Broncos' franchise history, behind a 59–7 loss to the
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division.
The t ...
in
1963
Events January
* January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Co ...
and a 51–0 loss to the
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team that played in Oakland from its founding in 1960 to 1981 and again from 1995 to 2019 before relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan area where they now play as the Las Vegas Ra ...
in
1967
Events
January
* January 1 – Canada begins a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation, Confederation, featuring the Expo 67 World's Fair.
* January 5
** Spain and Romania sign an agreement in Paris, establ ...
. Dolphins' quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa
Tuanigamanuolepola Tagovailoa ( ; born March 2, 1998) is an American football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he was the Offensive MVP of the 2018 College Foo ...
threw for four touchdowns, and running backs
Raheem Mostert
Dominique Raheem Mostert (born April 9, 1992) is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Purdue.
Mostert attended New Smyrna Beach High School in New Smyrna ...
and
De'Von Achane accounted for six other touchdowns. Broncos' quarterback
Russell Wilson
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
threw for 306 yards and only one touchdown, while wide receiver
Marvin Mims
Marvin Mims Jr. (born March 19, 2002) is an American football wide receiver for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Early life and high school
Mims grew up in Frisco, Texas and attended Lone Star High School. He was named the District 5-5A-I Offensive MVP in ...
returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown.
The 70 points scored by the Dolphins was tied for the second-most in a single game in
NFL
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the maj ...
history, only trailing a 72-point output by the
Washington Redskins
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) ...
in
1966
Events January
* January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko.
* January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo is ...
.
Week 4: at Chicago Bears
The Broncos took the early lead over the
Bears
Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family Ursidae. They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Nor ...
on their initial possession, with quarterback
Russell Wilson
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
connecting on an 18-yard touchdown pass with running back
Jaleel McLaughlin
Jaleel McLaughlin (born September 13, 2000) is an American professional football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Notre Dame College and Youngstown State and is the NCAA ...
. The Broncos' offense would then sputter, failing to advance past their own 44-yard line on their next four possessions, and the Bears reeled off 28 unanswered points. The Broncos' defense yielded four touchdown passes to Bears' quarterback
Justin Fields
Justin Skyler Fields (born March 5, 1999) is an American football quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Following a stint with Georgia, he played college football at Ohio State, where he twice won Graham– ...
—two to tight end
Cole Kmet
Cole Kmet (born March 10, 1999) is an American football tight end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Notre Dame, and was drafted by the Bears in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Ea ...
, and one apiece to wide receiver
D. J. Moore and running back
Khalil Herbert
Khalil Herbert (born April 21, 1998) is an American football running back for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Kansas before transferring to Virginia Tech in 2020. Herbert was drafted by the ...
. The Broncos trailed 28–7 with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter, but proceeded to score the final 24 points of the game. Wilson threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Brandon Johnson near the end of the third quarter, followed in the fourth quarter by a 13-yarder to wide receiver
Courtland Sutton
Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NF ...
. Then the Broncos' defense came up with a crucial turnover, with linebacker
Nik Bonitto
Nikolas Bonitto (born September 26, 1999) is an American football outside linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma.
Early life and high school career
Bonitto grew up in For ...
forcing a strip sack and fumble off Fields, and linebacker
Jonathon Cooper
Jonathon Cooper (born January 8, 1998) is an American football outside linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State.
Professional career
Cooper was drafted by the Denver Br ...
returning the fumble 42 yards for a game-tying touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. The Bears then marched down the field, and faced a 4th-and-1 at the Broncos' 18-yard line with 2:57 remaining in the fourth quarter. However, instead of a go-ahead field goal, the Bears decided to go for a first-down, but turned the football over on downs when Fields was tackled for no gain by linebacker
Alex Singleton. Five plays later, a 51-yard field goal by placekicker
Wil Lutz
William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State.
Early life
Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
put the Broncos ahead to stay with 1:51 remaining in the game. The Bears attempted a rally, but after reaching their own 47-yard line, Fields was intercepted by safety
Kareem Jackson
Kareem Jackson (born April 10, 1988) is an American football strong safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2010 ...
for the Broncos' first win of the season.
Week 5: vs. New York Jets
Following a 30-yard field goal by
Jets
Jet, Jets, or The Jet(s) may refer to:
Aerospace
* Jet aircraft, an aircraft propelled by jet engines
** Jet airliner
** Jet engine
** Jet fuel
* Jet Airways, an Indian airline
* Wind Jet (ICAO: JET), an Italian airline
* Journey to Enceladus a ...
' placekicker
Greg Zuerlein
Gregory Zuerlein ; (born December 27, 1987) is an American football placekicker for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, he played college football at Nebraska-Omaha and Missouri Western. He ...
, the Broncos grabbed the lead, with a 22-yard touchdown pass from quarterback
Russell Wilson
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
to running back
Jaleel McLaughlin
Jaleel McLaughlin (born September 13, 2000) is an American professional football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Notre Dame College and Youngstown State and is the NCAA ...
. On the Broncos' next possession, Wilson was penalized for intentional grounding in the end zone for a safety. The Broncos led 13–8 at halftime, after two short field goals by placekicker
Wil Lutz
William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State.
Early life
Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
—from 22 and 23 yards out, with a 26-yard field goal by Zuerlein in between. After the Broncos went three-and-out to start the second half, Jets' running back
Breece Hall
Breece Hall (born May 31, 2001) is an American football running back for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa State, where he was a two-time All-American and Big 12 Offensive Player of the ...
ran for a 72-yard touchdown—the first of 16 unanswered Jets points. Zuerlein added three more field goals—a 27-yarder in the third quarter, followed by 27- and 49-yarders in the fourth quarter. The Broncos trailed 24–13 midway through the fourth quarter, after two punts and a lost fumble in Jets' territory. A 3-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to tight end
Adam Trautman
Adam Trautman (born February 5, 1997) is an American football tight end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Dayton and was drafted by the Saints in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft ...
, coupled with a successful two-point conversion by fullback
Michael Burton, pulled the Broncos to within a 24–21 deficit with 4:48 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Jets were attempting to run out the clock, and faced a 3rd-and-5 at the Broncos' 27-yard line; however, quarterback
Zach Wilson
Zachary Kapono Wilson (born August 3, 1999) is an American football quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at BYU, where he was a two-time bowl game MVP, and was selected second ov ...
was intercepted by cornerback
Patrick Surtain II near the goal line. With 2:14 remaining in the game, the Broncos attempted a rally, but Russell Wilson was strip-sacked by Jets' defensive tackle
Quinnen Williams
Quinnen Williams (born December 5, 1997) is an American football defensive tackle for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama and was drafted by the Jets with the 3rd overall pick in the ...
, and cornerback
Bryce Hall
Bryce Michael Hall (born August 14, 1999) is an American social media personality known for his TikTok and YouTube videos. , his TikTok account has 24 million followers, and his YouTube channel has 3 million subscribers.
Early life
Hall wa ...
returned the fumble 39 yards for the game-clinching touchdown.
Week 6: at Kansas City Chiefs
The Broncos' defense limited
Chiefs' quarterback
Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Lavon Mahomes II (born September 17, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). The son of former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Pat Mahomes, he initially played ...
to one touchdown pass and four field goals by placekicker
Harrison Butker
Harrison Butker (born July 14, 1995), nicknamed Butt Kicker (a play on words on his last name and position), is an American football kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georg ...
, but the defensive effort was wasted by a poor performance by the offense. Quarterback
Russell Wilson
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
completed 13 of 22 passes for only 95 yards, and the Broncos trailed 16–0 at the 9:22 mark of the fourth quarter. Wilson finally got the Broncos on the scoreboard, with a 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Courtland Sutton
Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NF ...
that was initially ruled as an incomplete pass, but overturned by a booth review. The subsequent two-point conversion by running back
Javonte Williams pulled the Broncos to within a 16–8 deficit with six minutes remaining in the game. However, Butker's fourth field goal of the game—a 52-yarder at the two-minute warning, put the game out of reach. It was the Chiefs' 16th consecutive win over the Broncos—a streak that ended
two weeks later in Denver.
Week 7: vs. Green Bay Packers
Midway through the third quarter, all of the scoring came by way of the placekickers—three field goals by the Broncos'
Wil Lutz
William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State.
Early life
Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
, and one by the
Packers'
Anders Carlson. The Broncos increased their lead to 16–3, with the game's first touchdown—an 18-yard pass from quarterback
Russell Wilson
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
to wide receiver
Courtland Sutton
Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NF ...
. However, the Packers' responded, with two touchdown passes by quarterback
Jordan Love—a 16-yarder to wide receiver
Romeo Doubs, followed by a 4-yarder to wide receiver
Jayden Reed that gave the Packers a 17–16 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Nine plays later, the Broncos re-claimed the lead, with Lutz's fourth field goal of the game—a 52-yarder with 3:54 remaining in the game. The Packers attempted a rally, but Love was intercepted by safety
P. J. Locke
James Abner "P. J." Locke III (born February 12, 1997) is an American football safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas.
Early life
Locke attended Central High School in Beau ...
deep in Broncos' territory. The Broncos then ran out the clock.
Week 8: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Broncos' defense forced five turnovers—three fumbles and two interceptions off
Chiefs' quarterback
Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Lavon Mahomes II (born September 17, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). The son of former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Pat Mahomes, he initially played ...
, and limited the Chiefs' offense to three field goals—all in the first half—in a 24–9 win. It was the first time since
Week 13 of the 2021 season in which Mahomes did not throw a touchdown pass. Broncos' quarterback
Russell Wilson
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
threw three touchdown passes—one apiece to running back
Javonte Williams and wide receivers
Jerry Jeudy
Jerry Davarus Jeudy (born April 24, 1999) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he was awarded the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's ...
and
Courtland Sutton
Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NF ...
. The Broncos held a 14–9 lead early in the fourth quarter, and after Chiefs' return specialist
Mecole Hardman
Carey Mecole Hardman Jr. (born March 12, 1998) is an American football wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia and was drafted by the Chiefs in the second round of the ...
muffed a punt, Wilson threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Sutton and placekicker
Wil Lutz
William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State.
Early life
Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
later capped the scoring off with a 28-yard field goal with only 31 seconds remaining. With the win, the Broncos snapped a 16-game losing streak to the Chiefs, dating back to
2015
File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the April ...
.
Week 10: at Buffalo Bills
The Broncos' defense forced two turnovers off the
Bills' first two possessions—a fumble and an interception off quarterback
Josh Allen Josh or Joshua Allen may refer to:
* Josh Allen (offensive lineman) (born 1991), former American football player
* Josh Allen (quarterback) (born 1996), American football quarterback in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills since 2018
* Josh Allen (defen ...
, but only got one scoring a play—a 40-yard field goal by placekicker
Wil Lutz
William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State.
Early life
Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
. The Broncos added to their lead midway through the second quarter, with quarterback
Russell Wilson
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
completing a pass to wide receiver
Courtland Sutton
Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NF ...
along the side of the end zone that was initially ruled an incomplete pass, but ruled a touchdown after instant replay revealed that Sutton dragged his toes in bounds. However, Lutz hit the left upright on the extra point attempt. The Bills responded, and got on the scoreboard, with Allen connecting on a 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end
Dalton Kincaid, with a successful two-point conversion. Lutz added two more field goals—from 49 and 40 yards out, to give the Broncos a 15–8 halftime lead. The latter field goal occurred after another interception of Allen. After an exchange of punts to start the second half, Sutton lost a fumble at the Bills' 45-yard line, and the Bills capitalized, with running back
Latavius Murray
Latavius Rashard Murray (born January 18, 1990) is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UCF and was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round of the ...
rushing for a 3-yard touchdown to tie the game midway through the third quarter. After a pair of punt exchanges, the Broncos reclaimed the lead with 5:10 remaining in the game. Wilson connected with running back
Javonte Williams for a 3-yard touchdown pass. However, the extra point attempt was botched, leaving the score at 21–15. The Bills then drove down the field, and on the first play after the two-minute warning, Allen scrambled for a 6-yard touchdown run to give the Bills their first lead of the game.
Wilson engineered a comeback that was aided by two crucial penalties on Buffalo. First, the Broncos faced a 3rd-and-10 from the Bills' 45-yard line with 35 seconds left. A pass attempt intended for wide receiver
Jerry Jeudy
Jerry Davarus Jeudy (born April 24, 1999) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he was awarded the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation's ...
was incomplete, but pass interference was called on Bills' cornerback
Taron Johnson
Taron Johnson (born July 27, 1996) is an American football cornerback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Weber State. He played high school football at Sheldon High School in Sacramento, ...
at the 17-yard line. Following a quick kneel down, and without any timeouts, the Broncos rushed their field goal unit onto the field. Lutz missed the 41-yard attempt wide right; however, the Bills were flagged for having 12 men on the field, giving Lutz a second chance with only four seconds left. Lutz then redeemed himself—kicking the game-winning 36-yard field goal as time expired.
Week 11: vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Broncos' offense struggled for most of the game, settling for five field goals by placekicker
Wil Lutz
William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State.
Early life
Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
through the early portion of the fourth quarter. Each field goal, for the exception of a 52-yarder just before halftime, was the result of the Broncos failing to score a touchdown in the red zone, and three of those field goals occurred after
Vikings
Vikings ; non, víkingr is the modern name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway and Sweden),
who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded and se ...
' turnovers. Defensively, the Broncos yielded two touchdowns to Vikings' quarterback
Joshua Dobbs
Robert Joshua Dobbs (born January 26, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tennessee, and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth ro ...
—one passing and one rushing, as well as two field goals by placekicker
Greg Joseph. The Broncos trailed 20–15 with 3:20 remaining in the game, when quarterback
Russell Wilson
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
engineered a game-winning drive for the second consecutive game—a 10-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Courtland Sutton
Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NF ...
in the back of the end zone, with an unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt. The Vikings had one last possession with 1:03 remaining in the game, hoping to reach field goal range. However, after earning one first down at their own 36-yard line, and burning two timeouts in the process, Dobbs threw four consecutive incomplete passes, including a 15-yard intentional grounding penalty on 3rd down, ending the Vikings' rally attempt. With the win, the Broncos earned their first four-game winning streak since
2016.
Week 12: vs. Cleveland Browns
After achieving only one rushing touchdown the entire season, the Broncos jumped out to a 14–0 lead on a pair of rushing touchdowns—a 3-yarder by running back
Samaje Perine
Samaje Perine ( ; born September 16, 1995) is an American football running back for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma, and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourt ...
in the first quarter, followed in the second quarter by a 2-yarder by quarterback
Russell Wilson
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
. The
Browns then scored 12 unanswered points—two field goals by placekicker
Dustin Hopkins
Dustin Hopkins (born October 1, 1990) is an American football placekicker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida State and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round o ...
late in the second quarter, followed by a 2-yard touchdown pass from quarterback
Dorian Thompson-Robinson
Dorian Trevor Thompson-Robinson (born November 14, 1999), also known by his initials DTR, is an American football quarterback for the UCLA Bruins. He has been a two-time second-team all-conference selection in the Pac-12 (2020, 2021).
Early yea ...
to tight end
Harrison Bryant midway through the third quarter. Wide receiver
Amari Cooper
Amari Cooper (born June 17, 1994) is an American football wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he was the Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation's top rece ...
dropped what would have been the game-tying two point conversion in the end zone. However, the Broncos' defense held the Browns scoreless for the remainder of the game, and the Broncos added 15 more points—two short field goals by placekicker
Wil Lutz
William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State.
Early life
Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
, an 8-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to tight end
Adam Trautman
Adam Trautman (born February 5, 1997) is an American football tight end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Dayton and was drafted by the Saints in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft ...
, and Broncos defensive end
Zach Allen
Zachary William-Jacob Allen (born August 20, 1997) is an American football defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Boston College.
College career 2015
As a freshman in 2015, ...
sacked Browns' backup quarterback
P. J. Walker in the end zone for a safety. With the win, the Broncos earned their first five-game winning streak since their
2015 Super Bowl-winning season.
Week 13: at Houston Texans
The Broncos' offense struggled throughout the first three quarters of the game, only managing a 34-yard field goal by placekicker
Wil Lutz
William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State.
Early life
Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
late in the second quarter. The Broncos failed to advance past midfield on 6 of their first 7 possessions, excluding a kneel down just before halftime. The Broncos trailed 16–3 after three field goals by
Texans
A Texan is a person associated with Texas, US.
Texan may also refer to:
Aircraft
* T-6 Texan, World War II era training plane
* T-6 Texan II, airplane used by the United States Air Force for basic pilot training
* Fly Synthesis Texan, an Ita ...
' placekicker
Matt Ammendola
Matt Ammendola (born December 11, 1996) is an American football kicker who is a free agent. He played college football at Oklahoma State. After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, he played for the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Housto ...
and a 3-yard touchdown run by running back
Dameon Pierce. The latter occurred after a personal foul on Broncos' linebacker
Alex Singleton on Texans' quarterback
C. J. Stroud
Coleridge Bernard "C. J." Stroud IV (born October 3, 2001) is an American football quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes football, Ohio State Buckeyes. He played high school football at Rancho Cucamonga High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Califor ...
negated a false start on 4th-and-goal. The Broncos finally reached the end zone late in the third quarter, with quarterback
Russell Wilson
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
connecting on a 45-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Courtland Sutton
Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NF ...
. After forcing a Texans' punt, Wilson was intercepted by cornerback
Derek Stingley Jr. deep in Broncos' territory, giving the Texans a short field. The Texans took advantage of the turnover and added to their lead, with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to wide receiver
Nico Collins
Dominique Stephon "Nico" Collins (born March 19, 1999) is an American football wide receiver for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Michigan and was drafted by the Texans in the third round ...
on the second play of the fourth quarter, with an unsuccessful two-point conversion attempt. The Broncos responded, with a 5-play, 75-yard drive, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown run by Wilson to narrow the Texans' lead to 22–17. After forcing a Texans' punt, Wilson was intercepted again by Stingley, this one at the Texans' 27-yard line. After forcing one more Texans' punt, the Broncos had one more possession at their own 20-yard line at the 4:36 mark of the fourth quarter. With only 23 seconds remaining and no timeouts, the Broncos faced a 1st-and-goal at the Texans' 8-yard line after two successful 4th-down conversions. However, after two incomplete passes, Wilson's pass intended for tight end
Lucas Krull
Lucas Krull (born July 11, 1998) is an American football tight end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida before transferring to Pittsburgh.
Early Years
Krull grew up in Sha ...
was intercepted by Texans' safety
Jimmie Ward
James "Jimmie" Ward (born July 18, 1991) is an American football cornerback and free safety for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Northern Illinois, and was drafted by the 49ers ...
in the end zone for a touchback.
Week 14: at Los Angeles Chargers
The Broncos' defense dominated the game, holding the
Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division, and ...
to 0-for-12 on 3rd down and 1-of-6 on 4th down with two turnovers. The Chargers were unable to take advantage of an early interception of
Russell Wilson
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
deep in Broncos' territory, failing on a 4th-and-3 at the 6-yard line. The Broncos took advantage of an interception of Chargers' quarterback
Justin Herbert
Justin Patrick Herbert (born March 10, 1998) is an American football quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon, where he won the 2019 Pac-12 Championship and was named ...
, with a 3-yard touchdown run by running back
Javonte Williams, and added a 23-yard field goal by placekicker
Wil Lutz
William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State.
Early life
Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
just before halftime. Herbert exited the game in the second quarter with a finger injury, and was replaced by backup quarterback
Easton Stick
Easton Michael Stick (born September 15, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Dakota State.
College career
He graduated from Creighto ...
for the remainder of the game. The Broncos added to their lead in the third quarter, with Wilson connecting on a 46-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Courtland Sutton
Courtland Sutton (born October 10, 1995) is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was selected by the Broncos in the second round of the 2018 NF ...
. After a 3-yard touchdown run by Chargers' running back
Austin Ekeler
Austin Ekeler ( ; born May 17, 1995) is an American football running back for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Western Colorado Mountaineers and signed with the Chargers as an ...
narrowed the Broncos' lead to 17–7 early in the fourth quarter, the Broncos put the game out of reach, with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to tight end
Adam Trautman
Adam Trautman (born February 5, 1997) is an American football tight end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Dayton and was drafted by the Saints in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft ...
. With the win, the Broncos snapped an 11-game road losing streak against their
AFC West
The American Football Conference – Western Division or AFC West is one of the four divisions of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The division comprises the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, La ...
opponents.
Week 15: at Detroit Lions
The Broncos' offense struggled in the first half and never recovered from a 21–0 halftime deficit, in a 42–17 loss to the
Lions
The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'' native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; short, rounded head; round ears; and a hairy tuft at the end of its tail. It is sexually dimorphi ...
. The Broncos' defense surrendered five touchdown passes to Lions' quarterback
Jared Goff
Jared Thomas Goff (born October 14, 1994) is an American football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at California, where he set the Pac-12 Conference season records for passing ...
and one rushing touchdown to running back
Jahmyr Gibbs
Jahmyr Gibbs (born March 20, 2002) is an American football running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia Tech with one year at Alabama and was selected by the Lions in the first ...
. On the offensive side of the football, quarterback
Russell Wilson
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
threw for one touchdown and ran for another, and placekicker
Wil Lutz
William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State.
Early life
Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
added a 23-yard field goal, but the Broncos never got any closer than an 18-point deficit in the second half.
Week 16: vs. New England Patriots
All three of the Broncos' first three possessions started in
Patriots' territory—at the 6-, 46- and 25-yard lines; however, the Broncos were only able to achieve one scoring play—a 3-yard touchdown run by running back
Javonte Williams. After forcing a strip sack and fumble off Patriots' quarterback
Bailey Zappe
Bailey Michael Zappe (, ) (born April 26, 1999) is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played his first three seasons of college football at Houston Baptist and used his last ...
on the game's first play from scrimmage, the Broncos failed to capitalize on a 4th-and-goal from the 2-yard line and only gained four yards after starting at the 46-yard line. After a 33-yard field goal by Patriots' placekicker
Chad Ryland early in the second quarter, the Broncos reached the Patriots' 38-yard line, only for Williams to commit a fumble, ending the drive. Both placekickers—Ryland and the Broncos'
Wil Lutz
William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State.
Early life
Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
, missed long field goal attempts after the two-minute warning, leaving the score at 7–3 in favor of the Broncos at halftime. In the third quarter, the Broncos' offense struggled, with quarterback
Russell Wilson
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
being sacked four times, the defense surrendered 20 unanswered points. First, Zappe connected on two touchdown passes—a 15-yarder to running back
Ezekiel Elliott
Ezekiel Elijah Elliott (born July 22, 1995) is an American football running back for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State, where he earned second-team All-America honors in 2015. Ell ...
(with a missed extra point attempt), followed by an 11-yarder to tight end
Mike Gesicki
Michael William Gesicki (born October 3, 1995) is an American football tight end for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State. He is the record holder for most receptions by a tight end ...
. The Broncos were victimized by a disastrous play on the kickoff following the latter touchdown, as return specialist
Marvin Mims
Marvin Mims Jr. (born March 19, 2002) is an American football wide receiver for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Early life and high school
Mims grew up in Frisco, Texas and attended Lone Star High School. He was named the District 5-5A-I Offensive MVP in ...
fumbled near the goal line, and safety
Cody Davis
Cody Davis (born June 6, 1989) is an American football safety for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the St. Louis Rams in 2013. He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars ...
scooped up the football for a 1-yard touchdown to give the Patriots a 23–7 lead. After a poor offensive performance for most of the game, Wilson threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter—a 3-yarder to tight end
Lucas Krull
Lucas Krull (born July 11, 1998) is an American football tight end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida before transferring to Pittsburgh.
Early Years
Krull grew up in Sha ...
, folllowed by a 21-yarder to wide receiver
Brandon Johnson—both with successful two-point conversions, to tie the game at 23–23 with only three minutes remaining in the game. After forcing a Patriots' punt, the Broncos' offense went three-and-out, giving the Patriots the football at their own 19-yard line with 58 seconds remaining in the game. However, after the Broncos called two timeouts on defense, the Patriots marched down the field, culminating in a 56-yard game-winning field goal by Ryland in the final seconds.
Week 17: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Each placekicker exchanged field goals—a 32-yarder by the Broncos'
Wil Lutz
William “Wil” Lutz (born July 7, 1994) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia State.
Early life
Lutz was born in Newnan, Georgia. Both his ...
in the first quarter, followed in the second quarter by a 36-yarder by the
Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division, and ...
'
Cameron Dicker
Cameron Dicker (born May 6, 2000), nicknamed "Dicker the Kicker," is an American football placekicker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League. He played college football at Texas. He is the first NFL player born in Hong ...
. Broncos' backup quarter
Jarrett Stidham
Jarrett Ryan Stidham (born August 8, 1996) is an American football quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). After transferring from Baylor, he played college football at Auburn and was selected by the New E ...
, playing in place of the benched
Russell Wilson
Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is widely regarded ...
, connected on a 54-yard pass to wide receiver
Lil'Jordan Humphrey
Lil'Jordan Humphrey (born April 19, 1998) is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Texas.
Early years
Humphrey attended Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, Texas. He played running back and ...
for the game's only touchdown. Lutz added a 43-yard field goal just after the two-minute warning, but missed wide-right on a 48-yard attempt in the final seconds of the first half, for a 13–3 Broncos' halftime lead. A 50-yard field goal by Dicker was the only scoring play of the third quarter, and Lutz countered with a 20-yarder early in the fourth quarter. A 52-yard field goal by Dicker narrowed the Broncos' lead to 13–6 with only 1:21 remaining in the game. The Chargers' onside kick attempt was unsuccessful, sealing the Broncos' win, and their first season sweep of the Chargers since
2019
File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...
. However, the Broncos were eliminated from postseason contention after the
Houston Texans,
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Since the 20 ...
and
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division.
The t ...
all won their respective games.
Week 18: at Las Vegas Raiders
Standings
Division
Conference
Statistics
Team leaders
League rankings
Awards and honors
Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections
On January 3, 2024,
cornerback
A cornerback (CB) is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in gridiron football. Cornerbacks cover receivers most of the time, but also blitz and defend against such offensive running plays as sweeps and reverses. They create turnove ...
Patrick Surtain II,
safety
Safety is the state of being "safe", the condition of being protected from harm or other danger. Safety can also refer to the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk.
Meanings
There are two slightly di ...
Justin Simmons and
return specialist
A return specialist or kick returner is a player on the special teams unit of a gridiron football team who specializes in returning punts and kickoffs. There are few players who are exclusively return specialists; most also play another positio ...
Marvin Mims
Marvin Mims Jr. (born March 19, 2002) is an American football wide receiver for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Early life and high school
Mims grew up in Frisco, Texas and attended Lone Star High School. He was named the District 5-5A-I Offensive MVP in ...
were named starters for the
2024 Pro Bowl Games
The 2024 Pro Bowl Games is the upcoming National Football League all-star game for the 2023 NFL season. This will be the second year that the event consists of skills competitions and non-contact flag football games, rather than an actual tack ...
.
References
External links
*
Denver Broncos news, analysis, roster, stats — The Denver Post
NFL Nation Blog – ESPN
{{2023 NFL season by team
Denver
Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the United ...
Denver Broncos seasons
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquar ...