1. Courtland Sutton’s growth
The growth of Courtland Sutton over the course of this season has been one of the most positive developments for the Denver Broncos in general, but isolated to this game against the Vikings, it’s hard not to be excited about what he can do to keep this Broncos team in games like this one against the Vikings.
Need a big play in the passing game? Sutton’s going to beat you deep.
Need to pick up a fourth down? Sutton’s going to be able to help out as either a receiver or runner.
Need your wide receiver to whip the ball downfield as a passer? Apparently Sutton can do that as well.
Against the Vikings, Sutton put together the most stellar all-around performance we have seen from him in a game yet this season, catching five passes for 113 yards, running the ball twice for 10 yards including a fourth-down conversion, and completing a 38-yard pass to fellow receiver Tim Patrick.
Sutton’s confidence seems through the roof. He is doing everything — quite literally — for this Broncos’ offense.
Not only is Sutton reeling in deep passes, he’s making very difficult contested catches. It speaks volumes to his abilities as a receiver and how he’s developed this season that with Brandon Allen completing less than 50 percent of his passes in a game, Sutton’s big-play ability actually helped extend drives and also put the Broncos in scoring position on just about every drive they had.
If he’s putting up these kinds of numbers with middling QB play, it’s hard to imagine he won’t absolutely dominate with average to above-average QB play.