Analysis from the Broncos’ 20-13 win over the Dolphins on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High.
Game Balls
Justin Simmons — The safety continued to make his Pro Bowl case with another big game Sunday, which culminated with an interception of Ryan Fitzpatrick in the end zone on Miami’s final drive to preserve the Broncos’ 20-13 win. Simmons also had an interception wiped out in the first half due to a questionable holding penalty on A.J. Bouye. Simmons finished with a team-high seven tackles, including six solo, as well as two passes defensed. He now has four picks in 2020.
Malik Reed — Like the rest of the Broncos’ 3-4 front, Reed turned in a monster game as Denver tied a season-high with six sacks overall. The second-year outside linebacker, who continues to assert himself as an every-down NFL player after going undrafted out of Nevada last year, finished with 1.5 sacks for 12 yards plus three quarterback hits, two tackles for loss and six tackles overall. Reed is not Von Miller alongside Bradley Chubb, but he certainly is an above-grade replacement.
Broncos offensive line — The unit that’s been the subject of much critique this season — especially over the past two weeks as Denver suffered decisive road defeats — pulled more than its weight Sunday. The Broncos set a season-high with 189 rushing yards, and in the second half, the likes of Garett Bolles and Dalton Risner were pulling to perfection as the offense settled in. The Broncos also didn’t allow a sack for the third time this year.
Gassers
Melvin Gordon — Yes, Gordon did lead the team with 84 yards on 15 carries, including two touchdown runs. But his fumble at the Miami 1-yard line with 5:13 to play, which set the Dolphins up for a potential game-tying touchdown drive, is inexcusable. All the Broncos needed was a field goal on that drive to ice the game, but instead, Gordon’s blunder put the Broncos in position to blow another game. Simmons’ pick averted that, but Gordon has to take better care of the ball: He now has four fumbles in 141 total touches with Denver.
A.J. Bouye — Bouye had two tackles and one pass defensed, but he also struggled in man coverage against the Dolphins’ top receiving threat, DeVante Parker. Bouye gave up three catches for 25 yards, while fellow cornerback Bryce Callahan was also victimized by Parker. Bouye was also flagged for two penalties: a holding call that wiped out Simmons’ interception in the first half, and a pass interference in the third quarter that led to a Miami first down. Parker finished with six catches for 61 yards and a touchdown, which came in one-on-one coverage against Bouye.
Drew Lock — The quarterback improved in the second half, but another slow, error-prone start had Broncos fans booing at Empower Field and groaning in front of their TV sets. Lock tried to force a pass into coverage on Denver’s opening drive, leading to an interception by Xavien Howard and then a quick Miami touchdown. Lock started 0-for-6 overall, but then completed seven straight passes and finished 18-of-30 for 270 yards. It’s a bad sign for Denver’s passing attack when its biggest play on the night came in garbage time: Tim Patrick’s 61-yard catch on the final snap of regulation.
