Steelers Scouting Report: Denver Broncos, Week 2

by Christina "Tina" Rivers (3Rivers_Writer) on September 12, 2024

Steel City Underground scouts the Pittsburgh Steelers’ opponents each week of the 2024 NFL regular season ahead of the games to inform fans of the latest news, roster moves, important players, and latest social media chatter.

On September 15, the Denver Broncos (0-1) will host the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) who are the lone AFC North team to earn a win in Week 1.

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Broncos preview

In Denver’s season opener, they were handed a loss by the Seattle Seahawks, 26-20, on the road. They’re looking to rebound in their home opener in Week 2 against Pittsburgh, the team they allowed to grab Russell Wilson but are still paying to play in the NFL. If they thought they had an edge due to having insight into Wilson’s abilities, that was erased when the Steelers announced that Justin Fields would again be their starting quarterback in the mile-high city.

A Broncos Fansided site posted the following headline: “Russell Wilson is clearly dodging the Denver Broncos for their Week 2 matchup.” The Broncos site went on to say,

“…with (Wilson) apparently feeling better, as this report indicated on Tuesday, why has he already been ruled out? Does Russell Wilson not want to have to deal with the crowd noise? Does he not want to deal with the insane amount of booing from Broncos fans? What is it? …bet if the Steelers would be gearing up for a playoff game, Russell Wilson would be starting.”

That should give Steelers fans a chuckle since ‘Steelers Nation’ is still wondering if Wilson will be available anytime soon due to what continues to be classified as a calf injury.

The Broncos finished in third place in the AFC West last season (2023). Sean Payton, in his first year as head coach in Denver, got an 8-9 season out of the team. They missed the playoffs. They had a 1-5 start and won just 2 of their final 6 games. Their worst loss was to the Miami Dolphins, 20-70.

After their 5-12 record in 2022, their seventh consecutive season (2023) missing the playoffs, and benching of Wilson for the final two games of 2023 due to financial issues, it’s laughable to think Wilson is scared to play the Broncos, let alone “dodging” them.

The Broncos were a revolving door of a team last season; injuries, cuts, signings… it all added up. The cost was a losing season.

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Bo Nix and the Broncos offense

First-round selection quarterback Bo Nix had a shaky NFL debut on opening weekend in Seattle. If the Seahawks hadn’t dropped two, they’d have earned four interceptions off of errant Nix throws. The rookie completed 26-of-42 passes (tied for most attempts by a Broncos QB in a Week 1 game since 2011) for 138 yards. He was sacked twice. Blitzed 10 times and hurried or pressured throughout the game, Nix struggled to get into a consistent rhythm.

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Nix finished the game as the team’s leading rusher with 35 yards on five scrambles out of the pocket. One of those runs was a touchdown. Jaleel McLaughlin (10 carries), Javonte Williams (8 carries), and Audric Estime (2 carries) combined for just 64 yards in the run game and both Williams and Estime fumbled the ball; one was recovered by Denver.

A large part of the lack of success offensively was due to the Broncos’ worst in the league (after one game) offensive line, especially when it came to pressures allowed.

In the receiving game, Courtland Sutton was targeted 12 times but only caught four passes for 38 yards, far from an exciting stat line. Devaughn Vele caught all eight targets for 39 yards. Josh Reynolds caught five passes on eight targets for 45 yards while Greg Dulcich (2-for-12 on 3 targets), Michael Burton (1-for-3 on 1 target) rounded out the completions). Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Marvin Mims, and Adam Trautman were all targeted once, respectively, without a completion.

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This bodes well for a Steelers defense that gave up just 137 rushing yards and allowed 23 completions for 156 yards for no touchdowns against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1. Pittsburgh also earned three turnovers on defense.

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Broncos Defense

The Broncos earned two safeties against the Seahawks; the first was due to a holding call on Anthony Bradford in the end zone and the second when Zach Charbonnet was tackled in end zone by Jonathon Cooper and Zach Allen. That accounted for four of the twenty points in the game.

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Their defensive summary:

Alex Singleton grabbed one interception off of Geno Smith for the Broncos’ line takeaway
As for pressure, Jonathan Cooper earned 2.0 sacks while Boye Mafe and Derick Hall earned 1.0 sacks apiece.
As a defense, Denver allowed 146 yards rushing (2 touchdowns) and 171 yards passing (1 touchdown).