The Denver Broncos‘ defense is an elite unit, but they never seem to be able to play up to their elite level when it matters most. It was more of the same for the Denver Broncos in their recent matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
The offense failed to score a touchdown and had to rely on Brandon McManus for their points. However, the offense’s failure on Sunday seemed to be more on the play-calling and execution than on Wilson himself.
Russell Wilson largely played very well. He went 17/22 for 189 yards and made some nice throws. The Broncos’ last offensive push before they attempted a potential game-winning field goal was excellent guts by the veteran quarterback.
However, the offense should not have had to be in that situation. Denver’s defense shut down the Ravens all day. Baltimore simply had nothing going for them with Tyler Huntley at quarterback as Lamar Jackson left early on.
The defense held up their end of the bargain. The pass rush got home and they notched two interceptions. Late in the fourth quarter, though, the defense buckled under pressure. On the Ravens’ lone touchdown drive which proved to be the winner, the defense seemed to forget what they were doing.
They committed two back-breaking penalties on the drive. Alex Singleton got called for unnecessary roughness and Patrick Surtain II got called for a pass interference. The Ravens converted a huge fourth down and the defense simply had no answer for the opposition.
It was another installment of a common theme that has been present this season: the defense buckles when you need them the most, mostly in two minute situations. Could it be what Ejiro Evero calls? Or could it be overcompensation by the players?
Whatever the issue is, it’s clear that while the offense did not do enough, neither did the defense. Perhaps the primary reason is because the offense cannot stay on the field so by the end of the game, the defense is dead tired.
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The biggest piece of evidence here is that the Ravens only converted three of their 13 third downs, but they converted all three of their fourth down attempts. Another loss late in the game and now the Denver Broncos sit at 3-9 without an iota of a clue how to win games.