Saturday, January 1, 2022

Denver Broncos Week 17 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Denver Broncos rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 21 (22nd)
  • Best ranking: 19 (CBS Sports)
  • Worst ranking: 23 (NFL.com)

Below you will find a Week 17 roundup for the Broncos in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 21

Non-QB MVP: S Justin Simmons

Vic Fangio believes Simmons is an All-Pro, not just a Pro Bowler, and the Broncos coach was baffled by Simmons' Pro Bowl snub last week. Simmons is asked to do plenty in Fangio's scheme. Despite trading Von Miller last month, Bradley Chubb missing eight games and the team using eight different inside linebackers due to injury, the Broncos are tied for No. 1 in scoring defense. And Simmons is a big part of that, often working the deep parts of the field while being asked to fill in run support and work in coverage against a variety of players. He is second on the team in tackles, leads in interceptions and is tied for the most passes defensed overall. -- Jeff Legwold

NFL.com -- Rank: 23

Drew Lock was not the guy to jump-start the Broncos' offense in a virtual must-win game on Sunday. The backup quarterback -- pressed into action after Teddy Bridgewater's scary head injury a week earlier -- threw for just 153 yards and led the Denver offense to a grand total of eight first downs in a 17-13 loss to the Raiders. At 7-8, the Broncos once again fit the profile of a mediocre team trapped in quarterback purgatory. Will this be the offseason when that finally changes? Stay tuned.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 19

They simply do not score enough, no matter who plays quarterback. The defense keeps them in games. They need a quarterback.

USA Today -- Rank: 22

Pathetic showing Sunday, mostly from an offense that adds up to far less than sum of its parts and desperately needs a quarterback upgrade in 2022.

The Athletic -- Rank: 20

Is he The Guy? Teddy Bridgewater is not the guy. Drew Lock is definitely not the guy. Which makes Denver the first possible destination for every quarterback available this offseason. The Broncos have some pieces in place on both sides of the ball and could make a big jump next season with a quarterback who can make defenses pay for stacking the box.

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