Pick Six: Who is up and who is down after the Broncos lose in Week 4

The Broncos winning streak came to an end, primarily because some of their big-time players didn't shine in their first test of the season

BY JAMES MERILATT

Oct 5, 2021, 9:50 AM

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Has the clock struck midnight on the Broncos? Is the fairytale over?

It feels a little that way. Denver’s 3-0 start seems like a bit of a mirage, as the Broncos came crashing back down to earth in Week 4. A 23-7 loss to the Ravens puts the wins over the Giants, Jaguars and Jets in a different light.

What happened? How did the balloon burst? Well, there were some keys players who didn’t shine against Baltimore. On the other hand, there were some bright spots, even in a loss.

Who fell into each category? Here’s this week’s “Pick Six:”

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Garett Bolles – Down

It was an announcement that made all of Broncos Country cringe. “Holding… offense… number 72.” It caused flashbacks to years gone by, when Garett Bolles was a disaster at left tackle, committing penalties on a weekly basis. When it happened against the Ravens, it made many wonder if GB is about to regress.

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Noah Fant – Up

Some people are down on the Broncos tight end, but he was one of the few offensive bright spots against Baltimore. In the game, the former first-round pick hauled in six passes for 46 yards, including a touchdowns. While not glossy numbers, they were by far the best of an anemic passing attack.

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Sam Martin – Up

It’s not a good thing when a team’s punter is one of their positives from a game. It means they got a lot of chances to shine. That was certainly the case for Sam Martin on Sunday, as he booted it 10 times in the loss. Along the way, he averaged 49.1 yards per kick and pinned the Ravens inside the 20-yard line four times.

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Teddy Bridgewater – Down

The storybook season of Teddy Bridgewater had a rough chapter on Sunday. The quarterback was knocked out of the game right before halftime with a concussion, the result of being under siege throughout the first half. He finished the game 7-of-16 for 65 yards and a touchdown.

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Justin Simmons – Down

Last week, Bleacher Report put out a story highlighting a player from every NFL team that needed to be benched immediately. Their choice for the Broncos was Justin Simmons, a selection that seemed laughable. After watching the safety get beat time and time again by Mark Andrews on Sunday, however, the idea is a little less absurd.

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Pat Surtain – Down

The rookie cornerback struggled in coverage against the Ravens, part of the reason why Lamar Jackson posted just the second 300-yard passing day of his career. To make matters worse, Surtain was unable to finish the game after suffering a chest injury in the second half.