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Denver Broncos | News

Power rankings roundup: Checking in after an opening win

ESPN

Last week: 22

Case Keenum provided a mixed bag in his first game with the Broncos, throwing three touchdowns and three interceptions, but the fourth quarter showed why John Elway wanted him as Denver's QB. In that frame, Keenum went 7-of-7, including the go-ahead touchdown pass, all while posting a better fourth-quarter QBR than Aaron Rodgers in the Packers' epic rally.

NFL.com

Last week: 20

Small move for the Broncos, who secured the home win Sunday ... but didn't look all that impressive in doing so. Well, with Von Miller being an obvious exception. Denver's dynamic edge rusher went on a KhalilMackgotwhat? rampage, sacking the ever-elusive Russell Wilson three times. The concern -- and this is coming from someone who watched much of the game with a Broncos fan -- was the erratic play of Case Keenum. The 30-year-old quarterback is supposed to be THE difference with this team in 2018. That same Denver fan swears that undrafted rookie Phillip Lindsay is special -- as in, more special than third-round pick (and preseason darling) Royce Freeman.

Pro Football Talk

Last week: 26

It doesn't quite avenge Super Bowl XLVIII, but for a Broncos team that often couldn't get out of its own way a year ago, knocking of Seattle was a great way to start the season.

USA Today

Last week: 15

Nice to see Emmanuel Sanders (10 grabs, 135 yards) return to pre-2017 form. Worrisome to see Case Keenum (3 INTs) revert to pre-2017 form.

Bleacher Report

Last week: 21

It's not all that often that a quarterback throws three interceptions in a winning effort. But that's what happened in Case Keenum's Denver debut against the Seattle Seahawks.

In Keenum's defense, he also threw for 329 yards and three touchdowns, including one each for Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. But Denver won the game because Keenum had help.

Tailbacks Philip Lindsay and Royce Freeman combined to top 140 yards on 30 carries. The Denver pass rush was up in Russell Wilson's business all day long, sacking him six times and harassing him on countless other occasions.

It goes without saying that Keenum can't keep turning the ball over that much. But if the Broncos continue to run the ball and pressure the quarterback with that kind of consistency, we may have underestimated Denver's ability to be a factor in the AFC West.

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports

Last week: 12

Case Keenum did a lot of good, but also some bad. He has to clean up the bad if this is going to be a playoff team.

Mark Maske, Washington Post

Last week: 28

The defense was good against the Seahawks, sacking Russell Wilson six times and intercepting him twice. New Broncos QB Case Keenum was good enough, throwing three interceptions but contributing three TD passes. He must cut down on the mistakes but he's capable of doing his part.

Sporting News

Last week: 22

Case Keenum made some ugly throws, but playing off the running game and defense, he also made the right throws at the right times to win his Broncos debut. This team seems to have a better sense of its identity after being lost in Vance Joseph's first year.

Andrew Mason, DenverBroncos.com

One of the most promising aspects of the Broncos' Week 1 win was their ability to control the football. Their offense finished second in avoiding three-and-outs (14.3 percent of their drives ended without a first down). Their defense was fourth in forcing them (46.7 percent).

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