Obviously the most important number in today’s loss to the Ravens is the final score: 27-14. But there are a lot of numbers both in and out of the box score that tell the story of the Broncos first loss of the season
This is Broncos vs. Ravens: The Numbers Game
120: the number of penalty yards accrued by the Broncos. It’s hard to win on the road in the NFL, it’s nearly impossible if you give the home team an extra football field’s worth of free yardage and plays. In the first two games of the season, two wins, the Broncos combined for 13 penalties and 95 yards. They racked up a couple games worth in Baltimore today getting flagged 13 times for 120 yards.
20: the number of points taken off the board because of penalties. According to Vance Joseph after the game, penalties cost the Broncos 20 points. Most notably on Chris Harris’ grab and go for a touchdown off Justin Simmons leap over the line to block a Justin Tucker field goal. Then with the ball on the 25 yard line, well within field goal range, Case Keenum was sacked, fumbled, and in the ensuing scrum rookie running back Phillip Lindsay was ejected for throwing punches. That drive ended up with a punt from the Broncos 48. Later, Keenum connected with Demaryius Thomas on a 39 yard pass to the 11. That was called back due to a hold by Garrett Bolles. On the same drive, on the 27 yard line, the Broncos were called for unnecessary roughness putting them back on the 42-yard line and another Marquette King punt.
3: punches thrown by Phillip Lindsay. The Broncos best back through 2 weeks was forced to watch the loss to the Ravens from the locker room after being ejected for fighting in the 2nd quarter. Postgame Lindsay said he was trying to punch the ball loose and make a play after a Keenum fumble. The referees didn’t see it that way and Denver lost their best home-run threat in the running game. Lindsay was crestfallen when thinking about how he let his team down and vowed to never do something like that again.
35: yards on an end around by Emmanuel Sanders for the first rushing touchdown of his career. It was a beautifully designed play to get Sanders in space with the ball and blockers in front of him paving the way to paydirt. If the play looked familiar, it should. The Broncos ran the same exact run for a touchdown in the preseason against the Washington Redskins. There must be something about Bill Musgrave and calling gadget runs in Maryland.
15: years in the league for Terrell Suggs, but the way he got after Case Keenum he doesn’t seem to be ready to call it a career. Suggs got one and a half sacks, 2 official hits on the quarterback, and forced at least two crucial holding calls with his relentless pressure off the edge.
2-1: the Broncos record after 3 weeks. If I told you coming into the season the Broncos would start 2-1 with a chance to tie the Chiefs for the AFC West lead on Monday Night Football, you would have taken it. Baltimore is a tough place to play, since John Harbaugh has been their coach the Ravens have the third best home winning percentage in the NFL. The real litmus test comes in 7 days with the first place Chiefs and their record breaking quarterback Pat Mahomes coming to Broncos Stadium with the tops spot in the AFC West on the line.
