October 13th 2024.
The Denver Broncos faced a tough loss against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6 at Empower Field at Mile High. It was a disappointing game for Broncos fans, to say the least. The rookie quarterback, Bo Nix, struggled from the very beginning, throwing an interception on his first throw of the day. It was a third-and-8 attempt to Marvin Mims Jr., but unfortunately, it sailed right into the hands of safety Elijah Molden. And it didn't get much better from there. Nix's performance was lackluster, and even his completion to Courtland Sutton near the end of the second quarter, which was aided by a penalty, was the closest the Broncos offense came to a highlight in their first five possessions. In fact, Nix's rating at the halftime break was the same as yours or mine. It was clear that the Broncos were struggling, and it was going to take a miracle for them to come back in the second half.
One of the main reasons for the Broncos' struggles was the absence of their All-Pro cornerback, Pat Surtain II. Surtain was only able to play one snap before he was taken out of the game, and it was clear that his absence had a significant impact on the team. For the first time in a while, the Broncos defense looked vulnerable. Linebacker Cody Barton had no chance of covering Kimani Vidal on a wheel route that resulted in a 38-yard touchdown for the Chargers. Quarterback Justin Herbert then led a 20-play, 10-minute, 29-second drive that slowly drained the energy out of the stadium. By the end of the second quarter, the Chargers had converted 8 out of 10 third downs, scored on all four of their possessions, and had a commanding 20-point lead.
However, there was a glimmer of hope for the Broncos in the fourth quarter. The game seemed to be turning into an all-time "Chargering" moment, with the Chargers almost blowing their lead. And it was thanks in part to a group of rookies on the Broncos' offense. Devaughn Vele, who had been a healthy scratch for the past three weeks, kick-started the rally with a 37-yard catch-and-run from Nix on a fourth-and-2 play. This was followed by a 2-yard touchdown catch from rookie Troy Franklin, who had dropped a pass in the end zone the previous week, causing a confrontation between Nix and head coach Sean Payton. And Nix himself kept the dream alive with a miraculous 6-yard scramble on a fourth-and-5 play, followed by a 15-yard touchdown pass to Sutton. Unfortunately, the Broncos' attempt at a two-point conversion failed, and with it, their chance at a comeback. It was a tough lesson for the rookies, showing them that they can't wait until the fourth quarter to turn things around.
On a lighter note, there was some exciting football happening at Empower Field that day, even if it wasn't coming from the Broncos. The ThunderRidge High School girls flag football team put on a show, with a successful hook-and-lateral play and a double pass that resulted in a touchdown. And let's not forget about the zig-zagging scoring grab that had the fans on their feet. It just goes to show that flag football, which is now a CHSAA-sanctioned sport, is bringing some much-needed excitement to the field. The championship game is set for November 2nd, and if the ThunderRidge Grizzlies and Thomas Jefferson Spartans are any indication, it's going to be a blast. So, even though the Broncos may have had a tough game, there's still plenty of football to look forward to. And if you want to stay updated on all things Broncos, be sure to sign up for the Broncos Insider newsletter.
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