Fittingly, Thursday’s game-winning score came on a drive where the Broncos got the ball at the 12-yard line following a blocked punt, but moved back 2 yards on three plays before Wil Lutz came in for a chip-shot FG.
The Broncos became the third team since 2000 to win a game despite scoring 10 or fewer points, with 10 or fewer first downs and two-plus turnovers, according to NFL research teams, going 2-202 since 2000 in such performances Thursday. Other wins: Detroit in Week 9, 2002, vs. Dallas (9-7), Miami in Week 14, 2010 at New York Jets (10-6).
Fortunately, the Broncos boast a defense that can stifle opponents, giving the offense time to figure things out. Denver won seven straight for the first time since 2015 and went 8-2.
“I think you need to stay calm,” Nix said. “You have to understand this is the NFL. Seven wins in a row is hard to come by. So you’re doing something right, but at the same time you’re also doing something wrong because there’s a lot left on the table, I think.”
Nix passed for 150 yards and two interceptions with one touchdown pass. The offensive line’s pitiful play had the Mile High City home crowd raining down shirts. Nix brushed them aside after taking the win.
“I’ve been booed before and I’ll be booed again,” he said
The Broncos were fortunate that the Raiders were just as bad on offense Thursday.
Denver and Vegas each had 10 first downs and 11 penalties. According to NFL Research’s Bill Smith, it’s only the second time since 1950 that both teams have more penalties than first downs in a contest. The other time was two 0-5 expansion teams, Seattle and Tampa Bay, in 1976. That day, the Seahawks beat the Bucs with Jim Zorn (167 yards) and Steve Spurrier (170 yards) each throwing for more yards than either Nix or Geno Smith (143) did on Thursday night.
Running back JK Dobbins spoke for much of the offense, saying they need to uphold the collective bargaining agreement.
“Yeah, cool, we’re 8-2… [but] the defense is winning us the games and we are not helping them. We’re not doing them any justice,” Dobbins said. “I feel bad for the way we’re playing offense and the way they’re playing defense because they’re doing so great and we’re doing so poorly. They’re our brothers too, and it’s just sad because they’re just out there on so many plays playing their ass off. We can’t keep doing this to them.”
The Broncos are the first team to reach 8 wins in the NFL and sit two wins ahead of the Chargers and three ahead of the Chiefs in the AFC West. But unless the offense comes alive, Denver won’t scare any of its rivals.