D.J. Jones led Pro Football Focus grades with an 86.5 on defense as the Denver Broncos rallied to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 23-17 on Sunday. Brandon Jones also stood out, posting an 80.8 grade while snagging an interception and recovering a fumble to fuel Denver's comeback.
The Broncos’ defensive line impressed, anchored by D.J. Jones who powered through to disrupt the Chargers’ offense. Outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman and cornerback Jahdae Barron contributed with grades of 79.9 and 79.3 respectively. Barron stepped up in place of the injured Pat Surtain against a Chargers receiver group missing some key targets, limiting their options effectively.
On offense, the Broncos’ line showed resilience. Quinn Meinerz led the unit with a 73.0 grade, followed by tackles Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey with 66.9 and 63.2 respectively. Alex Palczewski, usually an offensive lineman, took snaps as a blocking tight end and earned a 62.7 grade for his eight snaps. Tight end Evan Engram also contributed with a solid 67.4 grade, helping Denver maintain control in key moments.
However, some offensive players struggled. Fullback Adam Prentice had the lowest grade of 43.0, while tight ends Nate Adkins and Adam Trautman posted 46.8 and 50.3. Running back RJ Harvey registered a quiet day with just three carries for seven yards and one target, finishing with a 50.3 grade. J.K. Dobbins carried the bulk of the workload with 20 touches but his grade wasn’t detailed in the PFF report.
Special teams showed mixed results. J.L. Skinner’s 77.4 grade led the unit, while kicker Wil Lutz had a challenging day with a 51.6 on field goals and 60.0 on kickoffs. Lutz missed a 42-yard attempt late in the fourth quarter that followed a 27-yard punt return by Marvin Mims, who finished with a 62.5 grade on special teams. Despite that miss, Lutz converted three field goals overall.
On the defensive side, not every player had a strong showing. Defensive back Devon Key and cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine recorded grades of 53.5 and 55.8, while linebacker Alex Singleton and defensive lineman Zach Allen received 56.1 and 56.2. Allen’s grade was affected by a poor run defense rating of 44.7, despite him forcing a fumble and recording a sack.
The Broncos’ victory over the Chargers came with a short turnaround as they prepare to host the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football in Week 6. PFF’s grades underline how Denver’s defensive standouts and offensive line contributed to the win, while some underperformances on offense and special teams remain areas to watch.
According to Yahoo Sports.
