Game balls, quotable and a look ahead following the Broncos’ 16-9 win over the Texans.

Game Balls

Eric Saubert

Saubert had his first career touchdown last year, in Week 12 against the Chargers, and again proved he’s more than just a blocker on Sunday. With the home team trailing 9-6, the veteran tight end pulled down a 22-yard touchdown pass on a go-route down the seam early in the fourth quarter, hauling in Russell Wilson’s pass over the arm of Texans linebacker Christian Kirksey.

Courtland Sutton

With KJ Hamler inactive (knee/hip) and Jerry Jeudy exiting with a shoulder injury in the first quarter, Russell Wilson struggled to find a rhythm… except with targeting No. 14. Sutton was called for an unnecessary roughness penalty, but he also racked up seven catches for 122 yards on 11 targets. That included a long of 35 yards on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Damarri Mathis

Cornerback Pat Surtain II exited in the first half with a shoulder injury, meaning Demarri Mathis had to step up. Texans quarterback Davis Mills consistently picked on Mathis, the Broncos’ fourth-round pick out of Pittsburgh. Mathis gave up some receptions but not the big play and no touchdowns. The rookie had five tackles and a pass defensed.

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Quotable

Eric Saubert on his touchdown: “It was a seam route where I got the edge on my defender, and Russ threw it up. It was kind of a trust throw, and I went up and got it. I executed when I got the chance.”

Russell Wilson on the win: “We had too many penalties, and that always hurts…. And Jerry Jeudy going down (with a shoulder injury) was a buzzkill a little bit. But guys stepped up. Montrell Washington stepped up. Kendall Hinton made some key plays. Our running backs did great. There’s so much good there, but there’s some bad we’ve got to get rid of. Once we do that, we’ll give ourselves a good chance going forward.”

Nathaniel Hackett: “We’ve got to make sure we get Russ in a rhythm. Losing Jerry, that kind of stymied us a little bit, but a lot of guys stepped up around him and made some plays… (Courtland Sutton) made some big plays across the board. Both (Jeudy and Pat Surtain II, who suffered a shoulder injury) we will found out more about them tomorrow.”

Hackett on 25 penalties over the first two games, including 13 for 100 yards on Sunday: “This has got to stop because we’re not going to win that many games when you have that many penalties.”

Hackett on the home crowd booing the offense: “I don’t blame them. I was booing myself. I was getting very frustrated. We get down into the red zone two times, and we don’t get a touchdown. It’s unbelievably frustrating, because we haven’t scored in there yet.”

Up Next

Sunday, Sept. 25 vs. 49ers at Empower Field, 6:20 p.m. (Week 3)

Record: 1-1

Week 2 result: Won 27-7 vs Seahawks

Coach: Kyle Shanahan (6th year, 40-43)

About the 49ers: After losing 19-10 to the Bears in an ugly (and slippery) season opener in Chicago, San Francisco bounced back with a dominating performance over division rival Seattle in Week 2. But it didn’t come without a cost, as 49ers quarterback Trey Lance was carted off the field late in the first quarter with a broken ankle, which will cost him the season. That means Jimmy Garoppolo will start against the Broncos in primetime on Sunday Night Football. All-Pro tight end George Kittle missed the first two games with a groin injury. Defensively, San Francisco features end Nick Bosa, one of the few players in the league who can single-handedly wreck an offensive game plan.