The Denver Broncos performed poorly against the Los Angeles Chargers in their last road game of the season. On Sunday, the exhausted and disorganized Chargers defeated the Broncos in their tenth defeat of the season, emerging in the top 19-16 in the week 16 match.
NFL Rookie of the Year contender Justin Herbert managed to operate a rag-tag attack that never came back. So, who were the biggest Broncos winners and losers in Week 16? Here we go.
Winner: Melvin Gordon | RB
Against his former team, Gordon threw the ball 16 times for 79 yards with a 17 yard length in the first charge of the game. Its average of 4.9 yards per race is a direct correlation to the violent and angry running style of the two-time Pro Bowler.
With teammate Phillip Lindsay in the injury reserve, Gordon’s performance on Sunday, and in recent weeks, has consolidated his role on the team. In addition to what is expected to be a two-game suspension for his ongoing DUI lawsuit, Gordon is about to be the leading runner in the 2021 Denver attack.
Winner: Noah Fant | YOU
Fant was undoubtedly the most consistent threat of receipt throughout the Broncos’ attack. He was shot nine times and recorded six receptions in 65 yards. At the beginning of the first quarter, in a 2ndAND-6 played on Denver’s opening drive, Drew Lock took Fant down on a route in the end zone in what should have been a touchdown.
The tight end of the first round of 2019 proved to be the only reliable receiver for Lock in LA, as Fant won four first runs down an attack that recorded 396 yards in total.
Winner: Michael Ojemudia | CB
Although it was not a perfect game for the newcomer in Iowa’s third round, Ojemudia led the Broncos’ defense with seven solo tackles. Coach Vic Fangio has been very critical throughout the season in Ojemudia’s clash and consistency problems, in addition to his ejection last week against Buffalo Bills, who saw the rookie kicked out for punching.
But in a depleted secondary unit, the 23-year-old covered and attacked three different receivers, as did Herbert in two runs. Although this was not a decisive game for Ojemudia, it was one of the only positive points in a defense that streaked towards mediocrity in the final weeks of the season.
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Loser: Jerry Jeudy | WR
If no one in the Broncos organization has warned Jeudy about the operation of his social media accounts, this may be the time to do so. The first round’s rookie wideout was credited with five takedowns in an embarrassing performance against a division opponent. The increasingly frank 21-year-old has publicly criticized OC Pat Shurmur and Lock, but has been targeted 15 times in LA, achieving only six receptions for 61 yards.
To make matters worse, Jeudy was observed throwing his helmet on the side before being consoled by Gordon. Broncos coaches were also advising Jeudy as the team headed for the tunnel during the break. Then, CBS viewers could see their emotional outburst for themselves, while the cameras showed Jeudy hitting his helmet on the team’s bench.
According to Pro Football Focus, Jeudy entered the game with the fifth worst drop rate in the league among pass catchers with at least 50 targets. After Sunday’s abysmal display, his drop rate is now the second worst behind teammate KJ Hamler and his total drops for the season are now in the double digits.
There is no doubt that Jeudy’s takedowns cost the Broncos several first downs, at least a field goal and at least a touchdown. While the talent is there, Jeudy’s bad attitude and poor performance are very worrying in a boring and pathetic attack.
Loser: Drew Lock | QB
Fangio agreed with 9NEWS‘Mike Klis that Sunday’s game against the Chargers was a’ microcosm ‘of Lock’s campaign in 2020. Lock did 24 from 47 to 264 yards, two interceptions and scored a quick touchdown. In the first quarter, Lock orchestrated an impressive launch that took Denver’s attack to the Chargers’ 16-yard line.
Instead of protecting the ball in the red zone, Lock escaped the pressure just to make a side throw off the platform that was for DaeSean Hamilton, but was deflected and intercepted by Casey Hayward. While Jeudy and Hamilton didn’t help Lock move the ball with a drop, Denver’s QB once again missed several open receivers throughout the game.
In a last-ditch effort to win the game, Lock was caught on a ‘Ave Maria’ pass by Chargers WR Mike Williams in a preventive defense. This was the 11th consecutive game in which Lock turned the ball, which leaves the only clean game played without a comeback in week 1.
With a game ahead, Lock is expected to not only fumble and cough the ball, but also to lose his teammates with his worn clichés and inconsistent play.
Loser: De’Vante Bausby | CB
The 27-year-old cornerback struggled so hard against the Chargers that he was sent off mid-game. After being burned last week against the Pro Bowl’s Stefon Diggs, Bausby was burned by Chargers second-tier recipients Mike Williams and Ty Johnson.
Bausby recorded only three tackles after losing many others due to poor technique, positioning and effort. Bausby started the game in terrible shape after being signaled by illegal contact, which gave the Chargers a first free run in the second series of the game. Fangio revealed that Bausby was sidelined due to his poor performance and replaced by newcomer Parnell Motley, who just joined the team after the layoff.
Fangio explained that Bausby begged for another opportunity to play and, although the coach did, the corner still did not work. The lack of depth of talent in the cornerback position has been an extreme responsibility for the defense of Denver.
Expect to see Motley play against the Las Vegas Raiders next week, as Fangio is not very interested in the third, fourth or fifth chance.
Loser: Vic Fangio | HC
The irony about Fangio agreeing that this game was a ‘microcosm’ of Lock’s 2020 season is that the same could be said about him as head coach. The defensive player, Fangio, started a decent game against the Chargers, limiting the running back Austin Ekeler to just 45 yards on the ground and Herbert to just a passing score. Fangio’s ‘double but not break’ philosophy limited the Chargers to just the first 16 runs, 55 offensive moves and allowed the Broncos to lead the ball possession time frame by approximately seven minutes. But Fangio, the head coach, is dramatically disconnected from his players and the coaching staff.
At any time during a game, the 62-year-old can be seen alone on the sideline, showing signs of distance from anything related to the attack or special teams. Denver’s special team unit remains atrocious, but Fangio appears to be happy with the result of penalties, poor execution and poor training.
In attack, second year reserve QB Brett Rypien is commonly seen training Lock alongside current QB coach Mike Shula. Don’t try to look for Fangio near any of his offensive players, let alone QB. He made it clear through his press conferences and field actions that he has little or no interest in anything that is not related to his defense.
However, expect Fangio to return (inexplicably) in 2021.
Follow Luke on Twitter @LukePattersonLP and @MileHighHuddle.