The Denver Broncos have taken advantage of the schedule that has been put in front of them in 2021 and they are out to a 2-0 start following a 10-point win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
What can we take away from this victory as it relates to the Broncos and the remainder of this season? Well, there is plenty.
The Broncos played good on both sides of the ball in this one and aside from giving up an opening-drive touchdown to Trevor Lawrence and Jacksonville and a 102-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, they were never really in danger of losing this game.
Courtland Sutton is back
With Jerry Jeudy sidelined with a high ankle sprain, the Broncos needed their wide receivers to step up.
Tim Patrick found the end zone for the second week in a row but it was Courtland Sutton who had the biggest day. Sutton caught nine passes for 159 yards and was the top target for Teddy Bridgewater all day.
Bridgewater looked for Sutton on several deep routes and hit him for several big gains on the day. Sutton seemed to catch almost everything thrown his way and and kept the chains moving every time the Broncos needed a play.
Sutton was fairly quiet in Week 1 against the New York Giants, catching just one pass for 14 yards in the game. After the season-ending injury he suffered in Week 2 last year, it was crucial for him to have a performance like this and it was one of the biggest bright spots on the day.
Teddy Bridgewater is the right QB to lead this team
When the Broncos named Teddy Bridgewater as the team’s starting quarterback ahead of Drew Lock, many of us bemoaned the decision. But, it was clearly the right one.
The coaching staff saw the abilities that Bridgewater has displayed in the first two games to lead this team in the right direction. He is poised, he is in command of the offense at all times and his decision-making has been great.
Through two games, he has passed for 592 yards, which is the most in any two-game span for a Broncos quarterback since the 2013 season in which Peyton Manning broke numerous passing records.
Bridgewater is also far more than just a “game manager”. He has made all of the right throws and he has thrown the deep ball well, something fans were concerned about when he was named the starter.
It’s still unfortunate that Lock lost the job and his future growth was potentially stunted, but for a team that is looking to get to the playoffs for the first time since 2015, it seems quite obvious that the right guy is taking the snaps.
Is Bradley Chubb worth the trouble?
One of the top stories heading into this game was the fact that Bradley Chubb, who missed Week 1, would be back on the field for the Broncos. It would be the first time in almost two full years that he and Von Miller would play in a game together.
But it didn’t last long.
Chubb left the game with an ankle injury and did not return. It’s another reminder of just how injury-prone the former No. 5 overall pick has been and if you can’t stay on the field, you aren’t worth much to the team.
The extent of Chubb’s injury at this point remains unknown, but if he misses any time at all, it’s going to be too much. Fans are tired of seeing him on the sidelines missing action and the organization is likely growing tired of it as well.
The team has a capable replacement for him in Malik Reed, who is basically a starter at this point because of all of the time he has had to play in relief of Miller and Chubb.
The Broncos picked up Chubb’s fifth-year option, but if they choose to move on from him after the 2022 season, that would be perfectly understandable.
Patrick Surtain passes first test
Much was made about rookie cornerback Patrick Surtain making his first career start with Ronald Darby injured and he happened to go up against the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Trevor Lawrence.
Surtain looked good, making four tackles in the game before coming away with his first career interception. It was already the fifth interception thrown on the year by Lawrence.
Surtain is going to be a natural fit in this defense and though he is a rookie, he should still continue to see consistent snaps even when Darby is healthy again. He looks like a natural defender and with enough experience, has a chance to be an elite player.
The Broncos found a good one with the No. 9 overall pick and they have to be ecstatic with the level he is already playing at this early in his career.
Up next, the Broncos face another rookie, Zach Wilson, who threw four interceptions in the New York Jets’ loss on Sunday.
Surtain could have a chance to get another.
Expectations should be tempered
Broncos fans are going to be excited, and rightfully so. But let’s dial it back just a little bit if we can.
The Broncos play the winless Jets next and unless there is a major upset, should win that game to go to 3-0. That would be the team’s first 3-0 start since the 2016 season.
But when we got our first look at the 2021 schedule, did anyone honestly expect anything less? The league could not have given the Broncos three bigger cupcakes to start the season than the ones it did, so the Broncos should be off to a strong start.
Things are going to get a lot harder, starting with the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4. They also appear to be playing in one of the better divisions in the league, so games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers are not going to be easy either.
It’s great to see winning football in Denver again, but let’s wait until we see a little bit more before we start making reservations for a Super Bowl party.