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RB Jaleel McLaughlin
The Broncos rookie running back had 10 touches for 67 yards and looked poised to do more than that early in the game. McLaughlin has limitations, but he’s fast, he can make defenders miss and he brings a dynamic Denver’s other backs don’t have. It would be interesting over the last two games to see him take on a more significant role in Sean Payton’s offensive plan, both as a runner and a pass-catcher.
WR Brandon Johnson
The second-year man stepped in for Courtland Sutton (concussion) and played as extensively as he has all year. Johnson has been limited since returning from injured reserve several weeks ago but got 47 snaps and caught three balls for 47 yards and a touchdown, plus a two-point conversion. Johnson’s got burst, which he put on display on his 21-yard scoring grab. Depending on how Sutton progresses through concussion protocol, Denver may rely on Johnson again Sunday.
TE Lucas Krull
Denver might have found a useful player over the longer term in Krull. He’s still getting his feet wet in the NFL, but the big tight end can run. Against New England he had four catches (five targets) for 28 and a touchdown. He’s a useful checkdown because he can accelerate more than Adam Trautman or Chris Manhertz, and he’s shown some down-the-field ability.
January Vacations
That trio might be useful to the Broncos over the final two weeks, and all have some promise for the future. But Sunday night the odds tilted heavily away from Denver playing past the next two weekends. The team’s playoff hopes now sit south of 10%. The Broncos either need two wins and two Kansas City losses to win the division or a combination of several games each of the final two weekends going their way. It’s not impossible and also not at all likely.
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QB Russell Wilson
The final line didn’t look bad — 25-of-37, 238 yards, two touchdowns — but most of that production came in the final 15 minutes in the scramble back into contention. That counts for something, but the Broncos needed a fast start, not a furious finish. The 66 first-half yards, the five sacks overall and frequent scramble drilling, the fact that seven of Denver’s 10 longest plays on the night came in the fourth quarter: It all added up to trouble for much of the outing for Wilson and the Denver offense.
RB Javonte Williams
Over the past two games Williams has 23 carries for 51 yards and five catches for minus-12. That’s 14 touches per game at 1.4 yards per touch. Everything Williams does or doesn’t do this year should be put into the context of what he’s overcome, considering he tore his ACL, LCL and more last October and really hasn’t missed much time this season. It’s impressive. But whether it’s just running out of gas or something else at this point, the Broncos aren’t getting what they need out of their lead back down the stretch.
CB Pat Surtain II
Again, context. If Surtain’s not the best cornerback in the league, the list above him is very, very short. On Sunday night, Denver needed a big play from him after Sean Payton took timeouts on two New England running plays in the final minute, when the Patriots looked content to play for overtime. On third-and-3, Bailey Zappe threw a back shoulder moon ball for DeVante Parker up the left sideline and Surtain couldn’t knock it away. He got beat down the field another time earlier in the game, too. No corner pitches shutouts every week. That one just came at a bad time for Surtain and the Broncos.
WR Jerry Jeudy
Jeudy’s three catches and 44 yards don’t look too far off his normal production. The difference Sunday night: The Broncos played the final three-plus quarters without Sutton, and even still Jeudy didn’t even get a target from Wilson until the final nine or so minutes of the game. Whatever the special sauce is to create production between the 2020 first-round draft pick and Wilson, the Broncos haven’t figured it out so far this season. It’s been a head-scratcher all year.
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