After starting the season with a 5-3 record, the Denver Broncos faced their first big test of the season on Sunday when they went on the road to face the Baltimore Ravens, who also went into the game with a 5-3 record.
Denver looked more like a pretender than a playoff contender in an ugly 41-10 loss to Baltimore, dropping the Broncos to 5-4.
On the game’s opening drive, quarterback Bo Nix threw a pass that went through wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey’s hands and into the arms of Ravens safety Ar’Darius Washington, who returned it to the 36-yard line.
After that, Denver’s defense prevented Baltimore from capitalizing on that turnover by sacking quarterback Lamar Jackson and knocking the Ravens out of field goal range.
On their second drive of the game, the Broncos got to Baltimore’s 44-yard line before going for it on fourth down. Denver running back Javonte Williams was originally ruled to have picked up the first on an outside toss, but the Ravens challenged the ruling and the call was overturned.
Baltimore then took over at its own 43-yard line and drove 57 yards on seven plays to take a 7-0 lead with a seven-yard Derrick Henry touchdown run.
The Broncos turned the ball over on downs again on their next drive after Nix overthrew wide receiver Troy Franklin in the end zone on fourth down. The Ravens then took over at their own 33-yard line. After that, Baltimore drove 52 yards and Justin Tucker kicked a 33-yard field goal to make it 10-0 early in the second quarter.
On their next drive, Denver’s offense went 70 yards on 11 plays and faced fourth-and-goal at the two-yard line. The Broncos then ran a trick play with wide receiver Courtland Sutton throwing a two-yard touchdown pass to Nix to cut the deficit to 10-7.
The Ravens quickly matched that score with Jackson’s seven-yard touchdown pass to Zay Flowers late in the second quarter to make it 17-7. Denver then added a 37-yard Wil Lutz field goal to draw within seven, 17-10. Just before halftime, Jackson hit Flowers again on a 53-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 24-10.
In the third quarter, Henry scored again with a six-yard touchdown run to make it 31-10. On their next drive, Baltimore scored again when Jackson threw a three-yard touchdown pass to fullback Patrick Ricard to increase the lead to 38-10. Tucker later tacked on a 37-yard field goal to make it 41-10. That ended up being the final score after Sutton was tackled just short of the end zone on fourth-and-goal late in the fourth quarter.
Up next for the Broncos is a road game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 10. After that, Denver will host the Atlanta Falcons in Week 11.
