09-05-2021 Ravens Preview - Flipbook - Page 22
NFL2021
DENVER
BRONCOS
COACH
Vic Fangio (3rd season with team,12-20)
LAST SEASON
5-11 (4th in AFC West; no playoffs)
Record since 2011: 90-70 (6-4 in playoffs)
22
2020 TEAM STATISTICAL LEAGUE RANKINGS
2020 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL LEADERS
SCORING OFFENSE
28th of 32 (20.2 ppg)
RUSHING
Melvin Gordon III: 215 carries, 986 yards, 9 TDs, 65.7 ypg
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SCORING DEFENSE
25th of 32 (27.9 ppg)
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RUSHING OFFENSE
13th of 32 (119.9 ypg)
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PASSING OFFENSE
26th of 32 (215.7 ypg)
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PASSING
Drew Lock: 254-443, 2,933 yards, 16 TDs, 15 ints, 237.9 ypg
SCORING
Brandon McManus, PK: 108 points (28 FGs, 24 PAT, 7.2 ppg)
Stats from pro-football-reference.com
Rocky Mountain highs
A healthy Miller, Sutton may lead to bounce-back for Broncos
By Pat Graham
Associated Press
P
erhaps it was because this happened
to be the last day of training camp. Or
maybe because he just welcomed a
new son (a son, he predicted, who would one
day be a quarterback). But Von Miller was in
a mood to gush.
So gush the Denver Broncos pass rusher
did — about family. About how good he’s
feeling after missing all of 2020 with an
ankle injury. About the attributes of Teddy
Bridgewater and Drew Lock who are locked
in a QB battle. About teammates.
And even more about teammates such as
receiver Courtland Sutton, who like Miller
is coming back from an injury. The return
of Miller, the defensive leader, and Sutton,
a dynamic playmaker, could factor into a
bounce-back year for the Broncos after a
5-11 season.
“I’m always super-optimistic,” Miller said
Thursday as the Broncos prepared to travel
to Seattle for their second preseason game
Saturday. “I always have these high hopes
and these high expectations for my team and
my teammates. It’s hard not to feel this way.”
That’s because he sees a defense now
featuring rookie defensive back Patrick
Surtain II, a first-round pick whom Miller
labeled “a special player” in the making.
Surtain’s coverage ability can only buy more
timeforMillertogettothequarterback.First,
though,heneedstobeatfellowrushspecialist
Bradley Chubb to the QB. Chubb may have
gottenevenfasterfollowinga7½-sackseason
that resulted in a Pro Bowl spot.
“He’s a beast,” Miller said of his rush partner. “He’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast and he’s
tough.”
Miller was introduced to a future quarterback — his forecast — at 9:25 p.m. Monday.
His name: Valor B’Vsean Miller.
His current measurements: 8 pounds, 13
ounces and 20 ½ inches.
If not a signal caller, a golfer for sure,
Miller cracked about his infant son.
“To see him smile and see him open his
eyes and all the other stuff, it was great,”
Miller said. “A great experience. I’m happy
I was able to experience that.”
There’s a chance Miller may not play this
weekend, simply because he doesn’t want
his first game back to be on artificial turf.
He may wait a week when the Broncos play
a final preseason game at home on real grass.
Denver opens the season Sept. 12 against the
New York Giants at MetLife Stadium, which
is an artificial surface.
“I didn’t want my first game after injury to
be on turf, especially with the type of injury
that I had,” said Miller, who was hurt on the
final play of a practice last September that
was moved indoors because of a snowstorm.
“But we’ll see.”
“He’s doing great,” Broncos offensive
coordinator Pat Shurmur said of Sutton.
“He’s on track and we feel good about his
progress.”
Broncos linebacker Von Miller leads Vikings fans in a cheer during a joint training camp practice
Aug. 12 in Eagan, Minn. BRUCE KLUCKHOHN/AP
2021 SCHEDULE WEEK 11 BYE
WEEK 1
Sept. 12
WEEK 2
Sept. 19
@NYG
4:25 p.m.
FOX
@JAX
1 p.m.
CBS
WEEK 3
Sept. 26
WEEK 4
Oct. 3
NYJ
BAL
4:05 p.m. 4:25 p.m.
CBS
CBS
WEEK 5
Oct. 10
@PIT
1 p.m.
CBS
WEEK 6
Oct. 17
WEEK 7
Oct. 21
WEEK 8
Oct. 31
LVR
@CLE
WFT
4:25 p.m. 8:20 p.m. 4:25 p.m.
CBS
FOX
FOX
WEEK 9
Nov. 8
@DAL
1 p.m.
CBS
WEEK 10
Nov. 14
WEEK 12
Nov. 25
PHI
LAC
4:25 p.m. 4:05 p.m.
CBS
CBS
WEEK 13
Dec. 5
@KC
1 p.m.
CBS
WEEK 14
Dec. 12
WEEK 15
Dec. 19
WEEK 16
Dec. 26
WEEK 17
Jan. 2
WEEK 18
Jan. 9
DET
CIN
@LVR
@LAC
KC
4:05 p.m. 4:05 p.m. 4:25 p.m. 4:05 p.m. 4:25 p.m.
FOX
CBS
CBS
CBS
CBS
Note: This section was printed before final roster cuts, so personnel are subject to change; all times are Eastern and subject to change