DENVER (KDVR) — The Denver Broncos were able to secure a win in their season and home opener against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday during a game that was uncomfortable for the team at certain points.
It certainly wasn’t the prettiest win, but they got the job done, which is often the key to success in professional sports. Everyone expects a good team to win by 21 every week, but the teams that can pull off the ugly wins in the games where not everything is clicking are just as, if not more dangerous.
The Broncos pulled out one of those ugly wins in their first game of the year, something they haven’t been able to do consistently, going 1-4 in their last five season openers before Sunday.
What are some key takeaways from the gutsy win?
Sophomore slump?
Bo Nix finished his rookie season with high praise from his team, fans and peers alike — playing well beyond his years.
Rookie years are always a crash course on learning information and getting the hang of things in a league that can pit a 20-year-old against a 15-year veteran player who has a family of four waiting for them at home.
Nix showed some flashes of brilliance but also had a few lapses on Sunday.
His highlight of the game was a beautiful touchdown pass to Courtland Southern from about 30 yards out. Though his three turnovers will overshadow the good he did in the game. He threw two picks and fumbled once.
Not the start he would’ve liked to get off to, but he still showed his arm strength and impeccable running game.
Pessimists and critics would call it the start of the sophomore slump, but after only one game, it’s probably way too early to throw out labels.
Get the run game going
The offense struggled for a while in the game against the Titans, but the Broncos’ run game was able to find some chips in the armor of the Titans’ defense.
“I think our focus in the second half shifted that way to where I don’t ever want the defense to dictate… There are times where we want to run the RPOs, there are times we want to kill to the throws, but there are also times when we want to run the ball. We kind of moved in that direction in the second half and then hit some big plays where we knew it was going to be a run. So I have to be better there, and it’s one of those day afters where you look back and say, ‘All right, let’s look at how we really wanted to start this game,’ and get those two runners going because we think we’ve really improved in that area,” said head coach Sean Payton in a post-game presser.
Nix was able to get a first down on an 11-yard scramble and finished with 18 yards on different snaps, showcasing his athleticism and ability to improvise when not getting the looks he wants.
In a game where pass completions started to stagnate, two new additions at running back helped spark the offense.
Rookie RJ Harvey had the longest run during Payton’s tenure as coach, a 50-yarder, which is also the most in a game for the Broncos since 2022. New signing, veteran running back JK Dobbins, put in a shift on Sunday with 16 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown.
Broncos’ defense is a brick wall
Poor Cam Ward…
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft got his welcome to the NFL moment from the stalwart Broncos defense. He was sacked a total of six times and hit a further 12 times, exemplifying the Broncos’ constant pressure.
The Titans got nothing from open play and relied exclusively on field goals to score their 12 points.
A second-half performance from the Broncos’ defense left the offense struggling for answers. They allowed only two first downs and limited the Titans’ progress to a measly 30 net yards.
The Broncos got off on the right foot in an albeit lukewarm start. There are plenty of wrinkles to iron out, but one thing is certain — it’s not going to be a fun season for quarterbacks who have to look into the eyes of the hunting Broncos defenders every snap.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
