Report Card: Denver Broncos vs. Buffalo Bills

Let’s take one more look back on the Broncos loss to the Bills.

By Jim Lyles

BRONCOS RUSH OFFENSE: 

The Broncos league leading rush offense failed to provide the kind of ground numbers expected against the Bills bottom tier rush defense. Once again, the Broncos galloped out of the gate early only to fizzle out for rest of the contest.

Willis McGahee was teams leading rusher and amassed 64 yards on 15 carries. Tim Tebow added a touchdown on the ground. The Broncos just did not dominate Bills after its first offensive drive that led to a Tebow one-yard rushing touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

Grade: C-

BRONCOS PASS OFFENSE:

The Broncos threw four interceptions and two of the picks were returned for touchdowns.

Tebow went 13-for-30 for 185 yards, four interceptions, and one touchdown – a 17-yard touchdown to tight end Daniel Fells. Fells’ touchdown reception cut the Bills lead to three points early in the third period.

The Bills secondary blanketed the Broncos receivers all game long while supplying heavy pressure on Tebow. Bills outside linebacker Chris Kelsay was a key piece in pressuring Tebow as he had two sacks.

Tebow’s QB rating of 35.4 for the game is not a passing grade.

Grade: F

BRONCOS RUN DEFENSE:

Bills running back C.J. Spiller rushed for 111 yards on only 16 carries for an average of 6.9 yards per carry and one touchdown. As a team the Bills rushed for a 160 yards and one touchdown.

Grade:  D-

BRONCOS PASS DEFENSE:

The Broncos pass defense was respectable. The secondary bent but didn’t break, not allowing a touchdown and keeping Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick under 200 passing yards for the game.

The pass rush did get to Fitzpatrick for one sack by Elvis Dumervil, but the pressure wasn’t really a factor as Fitzpatrick’s quick reads and quick release neutralized the Broncos pass rush.

Fitzpatrick’s QB rating of 78.6 wasn’t spectacular but it is considered a decent day’s work by league standards.

Grade:  C+

BRONCOS SPECIAL TEAMS: 

The Broncos special teams allowed Leodis McKelvin to score on an 80-yard punt return and allowed 33.7 yards per kick return.

Eddie Royal returned a kickoff for 94 yards, but an illegal block in the back by backup tight end Dante Rosario erased the score.

Grade: F

OVERALL TEAM RATING: 

This trap game got the Broncos. It is the second week in a row where the Broncos coaches failed to match the opposition in game adjustments.

The Broncos didn’t play well in any of the three phases. Failing to win games when you have a complete team breakdown as to be very disheartening to the Broncos’ coaching staff, their players, and their fans.

There is only one promised game left for the Broncos. It’s all or none moving forward. The Bills game should serve as a reminder that if the Broncos are going to make it to the playoffs the coaching staff will have to win in the game of adjustments.

Grade: D

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