Broncos-Chargers grades: The offense goes out with high marks

An AFC West losing streak stopped. The Broncos offense gave home fans who attended genuine excitement. Justin Outten mixed formations and packages well for a second-consecutive week as play-caller. And the proof was in the pudding of four long touchdown drives.

Denver’s defense had trouble coping with Justin Herbert and the Chargers for long stretches. It didn’t close the season with momentum, but it also finished the year without a passel of starters. By the end of the 31-28 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, the Broncos defense was without its originally-intended starters at two defensive-line spots, both edge-rusher spots, inside linebacker, No. 2 cornerback and slot corner.

Few defenses can cope without seven starters, and even though the Broncos found gems in Baron Browning, Alex Singleton and Damarri Mathis, the injuries were too much to overcome. And Mathis wasn’t available for the season finale, either.

But the story of Week 18 was a team that did its very best with what it possessed. In a grim season, those players earned the right to leave with heads held high.

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OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK: B

This was vintage Russell Wilson. And no play better encapsulated that than his 57-yard strike to Jerry Jeudy, when he rolled left, contorted his body as though he was a shortstop making a lunging throw to first and uncorked a perfect missile that set up a game-tying touchdown.

RUNNING BACKS: A-minus

Latavius Murray was the workhorse, but Chase Edmonds and Tyler Badie flashed, too. Edmonds struggled in limited pass-protection work this season and that continued Sunday, but he was effective in space. Murray was credited with a fumble on a handoff to Jerry Jeudy on a reverse; it was the first fumble by a Denver running back since the team released Melvin Gordon after Week 10.

WIDE RECEIVERS: A-minus

Jerry Jeudy didn’t score, but he had his most electric game as a Bronco, setting a career high for yards from scrimmage with 193 yards, including 154 on five receptions. One-hundred-seven of those yards came on a pair of deep passes — one down the left sideline and one to the right. Justin Outten’s creative use of Jeudy on Sunday offered a template for the 2023 season. Excellent play design got Courtland Sutton open for his only touchdown.

TIGHT ENDS: B

Wilson just missed a deep connection to Albert Okwuegbunam, who saw plenty of work but didn’t finish with a reception. The group was more active in blocking than in the passing game, although Eric Tomlinson caught a 3-yard touchdown pass. Their collective work in run blocking was solid.

OFFENSIVE LINE: B

Give a tip of the cap to Quinn Bailey, who held his own filling in for the injured Dalton Risner at left guard. Billy Turner had his roughest pass-protection game since returning to the lineup, although he — like the entire unit — fared well on run plays.

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DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE: C-plus

Injuries seemed to finally catch up to the defensive line in the last two games, when they played without both Dre’Mont Jones and D.J. Jones. Enyi Uwazurike had the only QB hit among the group, continuing his progress of recent weeks. Mike Purcell and DeShawn Williams also generated pressures.

EDGE RUSHERS: C-plus

Baron Browning had the Broncos’ only sack after missing the previous game with a back issue. Nik Bonitto continued to have difficulty against the run. This offseason will be a fascinating one for the second-round pick, whose rookie season was a disappointment, with just 1.5 sacks. If he is to work his way into every-down work, he must set the edge better.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS: B-plus

Alex Singleton and Josey Jewell were excellent against the run, and Singleton was again active, posting another double-digit tackle performance.

CORNERBACKS: B-plus

It was a rough day early for K’Waun Williams, who missed a pair of tackles before suffering a game-ending concussion. Ja’Quan McMillian asserted himself well in his first regular-season action and was robbed of a fourth-quarter interception because the original call on the field was incomplete, and replay adjudged the call to stand — despite CBS rules expert Gene Steratore asserting that it looked like an interception. Essang Bassey had the Broncos’ sole pass breakup of the day.

SAFETIES: B

It could have been the last game together for Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson, with the latter staring at free agency. Simmons flourished again, forcing a fumble.

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SPECIAL TEAMS

PLACEKICKING: A-minus

All of McManus’ placekicks were from 33 yards away — four extra points and a field-goal attempt. He hit them all. Jerry Rosburg and Mike Mallory called for McManus to fire away and kick deep on kickoffs, and the idiot-proofed process led to six touchbacks on six kickoffs.

PUNTING: B-minus

Corliss Waitman’s net average was down, torpedoed by a 28-yard return on the final punt of the day. He had a 4.59-second hang time on that punt, but coverage didn’t hold up.

KICKOFF/PUNT RETURNS: D

Montrell Washington found himself out of the mix … and yet the Broncos might have been able to use him, as Brandon Johnson muffed a punt-return injury that happened after Freddie Swain’s injury. Swain’s only punt return mustered no yardage.

KICKOFF/PUNT COVERAGE: C-minus

Kickoff coverage wasn’t an issue, as McManus drilled touchbacks on every kickoff. But DeAndre Carter’s 28-yard punt return was the longest allowed by the Broncos all season.

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