2021 NFL Power Rankings Week 8: Titans make another statement, Chiefs continue free fall
By Randy Gurzi
24. team. 45. . . Previous: 23rd. Denver Broncos
Week 7 was kicked off on Thursday night as the Denver Broncos traveled to Northeast Ohio to play the Cleveland Browns. It’s always tough when it’s a short turnaround for the Thursday game but it’s even worse when the team’s starting quarterback is banged up.
That was the case for Denver as Teddy Bridgewater was questionable heading to the game. While he did suit up, there was some speculation that they could turn to Drew Lock since Bridgewater was visibly still hurting and had times where he couldn’t seem to get enough on the pass.
He finished with just 187 yards on 23-of-33 passing and led the team to a mere 14 points. Cleveland, which had quarterback woes of their own, had to start Case Keenum with Baker Mayfield out and the former Broncos gun-slinger led his team to a win.
Denver’s defense tried to keep it close and only surrendered 17 points, but that was enough for the win. What really hurt them was their inability to stop D’Ernest Johnson (146 yards and a touchdown in his first career start) as well as the loss of Von Miller.
Without their star pass rusher, no one was really getting after Keenum as much as they needed to which allowed him and the offense to milk the clock and send the Broncos home with a record of 3-4.