Denver Broncos: 3 Things We Saw in the LA Rams Loss

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Denver Broncos (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

20 points and one thrilling play.

Of the games on the NFL slate this week there was only one in which the winner scored 20 points or less. The Houston Texans beat the Buffalo Bills 20-13.

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So, while 20 points can occasionally win an NFL game, it is unlikely. The bulk of Sunday’s winners scored north of 30 points.

The Broncos mustered just three first-half points and their 20 for the game came on a 10-point fourth quarter flurry. It wasn’t until that fourth quarter that the Broncos found their legs but even then, it was nearly all through the air.

We know the offensive line has been maligned for pass-protection but has done well in run-blocking. We also know that the Rams have a deficiency in their run defense. Denver’s answer was 41 pass attempts from quarterback Case Keenum against just 15 rushing attempts. That number is actually 17 but I am excluding Chad Kelly‘s kneel to end the half and Keenum’s 6-yard scramble.

The Broncos lead the NFL in yards-per-carry and they had 15 rush attempts, just four from rookie phenom Phillip Lindsay. The notion that the Broncos had to abandon the run playing from behind does not hold water, they opened throwing the ball and they were never more than 10 down.

Case Keenum had another 300-yard game. He threw two touchdowns versus one interception. It’s a stat line that most would take week-in and week-out from a starting QB but I think the forthright Keenum’s response to Denver fan’s boos sums it up perfectly “they should be pissed, I’m pissed”. Keenum knows the game was winnable in the second-half. He knows the pick was a bad throw and a bad decision. Keenum played better, showed more but still came up short.

The defense also had a better week but continued a disturbing trend:

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