The Broncos are no longer winless.
Denver improved to 1-3 on the season after beating the Jets, 37-28, on Thursday. Next up: The long-hated Patriots, who may or may not have starting quarterback Cam Newton under center.
Here’s a look at how various national experts rated the Broncos in their power rankings entering Week 5:
Bleacher Report (No. 26) | Last week: No. 30
“For one week at least, the Broncos are winners after dropping the hapless Jets in New York. … It’s likely going to be a fleeting feeling. In Week 5 the Broncos travel to New England to face the Patriots, and two weeks after that, the Kansas City Chiefs come to town.” See the full rankings.
CBS Sports (No. 28) | Last week: No. 28
“They found a way to win a game on the road, which is the good news. The bad news is they didn’t look good doing so,” Pete Prisco writes. See the full rankings.
ESPN (No. 28) | Last week: No. 28
“History suggests this is just about right: Since 1980, only six teams have made the playoffs after starting the season 0-3, the record the Broncos were sitting on until they beat the equally struggling Jets on Thursday night. The schedule doesn’t do them any favors, with a contest at New England on Sunday, two tilts against the Chiefs and a game apiece versus the Bills and Saints. Meanwhile, there are six starters already on injured reserve, including Von Miller and Courtland Sutton, and that’s in addition to quarterback Drew Lock having already missed two games and running back Phillip Lindsay having sat out three. Even with an expanded playoff field, the Broncos have the most uphill of climbs,” Jeff Legwold writes. See the full rankings.
NFL.com (No. 27) | Last week: No. 29
“Vic Fangio’s defense was more aggressive on Thursday night, and it paid off against the Jets. Denver entered Week 4 with one of the lowest blitz rates in the league, but Fangio repeatedly sent extra rushers at Sam Darnold, leading to six sacks and 10 QB hits in a 37-28 win at MetLife Stadium. Will the Broncos deploy a similar approach going forward? On offense, Brett Rypien mixed in some very good with some very bad in his NFL starting debut. Drew Lock needn’t worry about getting Wally Pipp’d out of his job at this point, but Rypien needed just four quarters to prove himself a superior backup option to Blake Bortles,” Dan Hanzus writes. See the full rankings.
Sports Illustrated (No. 29) | Last week: No. 30
“Not the best spot to have to go into Foxborough—with the Patriots coming off a loss,” Albert Breer writes. See the full rankings.
Sporting News (No. 28) | Last week: No. 30
“The Broncos found some offensive life without Drew Lock and Courtland Sutton, but the defense is a frustrating shell of what it could be for Vic Fangio. The Jets might be the only win for a while with at the Patriots up next,” Vinnie Iyer writes. See the full rankings.
Yahoo Sports (No. 28) | Last week: No. 30
“Beating the Jets isn’t a reason for celebration. But it’s better than losing to them. If the Broncos can somehow win at New England next, the schedule gets a little lighter for a while. Maybe they can still get back in the race,” Frank Schwab writes. See the full rankings.
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