ESPN
Last week: 23
Sure, their bad moments have been really bad. They have 13 players on injured reserve (a list that includes Von Miller, Courtland Sutton and Jurrell Casey), have dealt with several COVID-19 cases, had an unexpected bye when the Week 5 Patriots game was moved and have 12 players 23 years old or younger on the roster. Yet they've kept digging in and shown some toughness, highlighted by Sunday's win over the Miami Dolphins.
Dan Hanzus, NFL.com
Last week: 25
It was a great game overall for the Denver defense, which confused, bruised and battered rookie Tua Tagovailoa to the point that Brian Flores lifted his rookie in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick. That was all part of the plan for Fangio, who believed Denver could rattle Tua all the way to the bench with the right scheme. Mission accomplished for the Broncos, who could continue to give playoff contenders fits the rest of the way.
Nate Davis, USA Today
Last week: 24
Major roster questions loom given two of their top players of 2020, emergent LT Garett Bolles and S Justin Simmons, are headed for free agency.
Bleacher Report
Last week: 28
Lock didn't play great against the Miami Dolphins—18-of-30 passing for 270 yards and a pick. But the young quarterback made plays when he needed to, and Denver's run game and defense performed well in an upset win over the surging Dolphins.
Take a look at some of our favorite photos from the Broncos' game against the Dolphins in Week 11, as selected by photographers Gabriel Christus and Eric Lars Bakke.
Dalton Risner during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
A Salute to Service stanchion during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
Dre'Mont Jones during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
A player during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
Dre'Mont Jones and Troy Fumagalli during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Noah Fant during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
A Broncos fan during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
KJ Hamler during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
DaeSean Hamilton during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Drew Lock during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Noah Fant during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
DeMarcus Ware during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Phillip Lindsay during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Justin Simmons during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Kareem Jackson during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Phillip Lindsay during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Brandon McManus during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
Alexander Johnson and Dre'Mont Jones during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
Alexander Johnson during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Kareem Jackson during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Justin Simmons during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Drew Lock during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Drew Lock during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Nick Vannett during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
Melvin Gordon III during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Melvin Gordon III during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
Melvin Gordon III during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
DeShawn Williams and Malik Reed during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Phillip Lindsay during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Malik Reed during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Dre'Mont Jones, Bradley Chubb and Malik Reed during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
Malik Reed during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Tim Patrick during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Tim Patrick during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
Drew Lock during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
Diontae Spencer during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Melvin Gordon III during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Melvin Gordon III during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
Jerry Jeudy during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
Melvin Gordon III and Jerry Jeudy during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Bradley Chubb during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Bradley Chubb during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Alexander Johnson during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Bradley Chubb during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
Anthony Chickillo during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
Malik Reed during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
Phillip Lindsay during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Bryce Callahan during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
Justin Simmons during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Justin Simmons during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Justin Simmons and Bryce Callahan during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
Justin Simmons during the Broncos' Week 11 game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on November 22, 2020. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke)
Justin Simmons and teammates during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Troy Fumagalli, Royce Freeman, Drew Lock and Demar Dotson during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Drew Lock during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Second half action during the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020 in Denver. (Eric Bakke via AP)
Broncos and Dolphins players pray after the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, November 22, 2020. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Frank Schwab, Yahoo Sports
Last week: 28
The Broncos gave Phillip Lindsay 16 carries and Melvin Gordon got 15. Both had more than 80 yards rushing. If the Broncos can get in a game script that allows that, it's great for them. That turns Drew Lock into a secondary piece of the puzzle, and that can cut down on the forced mistakes.
Sports Illustrated
Last week: 25
Should they be higher after beating a borderline top-10 team? Maybe, but the Broncos do match up particularly well with Miami. It was, however, nice to see them win on their terms, with the running game carrying the offense, a mistake-free Drew Lock making plays when he had to, and Vic Fangio's blurry coverages overwhelming an opponent's young QB.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
Last week: 22
The defense came up big against Miami, which is a good sign. Now they get a chance to face Taysom Hill and his multi-dimensional quarterbacking style.
Mark Maske, Washington Post
Last week: 25
The win over the Dolphins was surprising. Coach Vic Fangio has done a nice job of holding things together each time it seemed like the season was slipping away from the Broncos.
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
Last week: 23
The Broncos' defense finally showed up to support their sputtering offense with Drew Lock. Imagine what they could have been with more competent QB play.
