3 Signs the Denver Broncos have Turned a Corner

The Denver Broncos followed their most impressive (only) road win of the season with their best home win, beating Pittsburgh 24-17.

We’ve been hard on this Denver Broncos team.  To be fair, we’ve been hard on the Broncos management.  The team has been a different animal.  What looked disorganized, lacking confidence, even timid four weeks ago, now looks like strength.

There are a ton of little things, from the emergence or Bradley Chubb and Bradley Roby to Justin Simmons kick-blocking ability.  Special teams in general have been special, our preseason prediction that Marquette King would have a big year was a miss but Colby Wadman has settled in and is fantastic.  Brandon McManus remains as reliable as any kicker in the league.

In back-to-back weeks, the Broncos have surrendered 400+ passing yards. Philip Rivers had 401 in their loss to the Broncos and Ben Roethlisberger went for 462 on Sunday.  That seems like the secondary is getting wrecked but oddly, the chargers managed only 22 points out of Rivers’ big day.  Even better, the Denver defense gave only 17 points to the Steelers, despite Big Ben’s big day.

There were factors but nothing that misrepresents the Denver defensive effort.  Will Parks‘ hit on Steeler Xavier Grimble, forcing a fumble through the endzone and touchback for the Broncos is one of the better defensive plays, considering the result, that I’ve ever seen.  From Pittsburgh TD to Denver ball at the PIT 20 is an incredible turn of events.

Chris Harris Jr. deserves special mention, he’s quietly been the Broncos best player and arguably the best corner in football, for years.  Harris was everywhere on Sunday.

It’s hard to pin down what’s changed, the two games heading into the bye week were one’s the Broncos felt they should have won.  Maybe they got just healthy enough or maybe the just decided…..enough.  Enough of the constant nitpicking scrutiny, enough of their coach on the hot seat, enough questions about Keenum, Elway, Woods.  If they just play relatively mistake-free, passionate football, this is a good team.  Enough trying to prove that in interviews, the Broncos have decided to prove it on the field.

The Touchdown dance was pretty good after Matt LaCosse‘s first NFL touchdown, the Stanley Cup pose after Shelby Harris‘ interception to seal the game was better.

We’re not completely sold, the rest of the season still has a lot of potential to sway opinion either way.  Case Keenum has a lot of ground to make up, though he’s on the right path.  Even John Elway has earned a reprieve, his 2018 draft class is performing unbelievably well, down to Isaac Yiadom‘s impressive display after being pressed into action with Tremaine Brock Sr.’s rib injury.

There’s so many factors at play but here’s three that we thought contributed to the resurgent Broncos: