Saturday, September 18, 2021

Denver Broncos Week 2 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: 16.2 (16th)
  • Best ranking: 13th (CBS Sports)
  • Worst ranking: 20th (ESPN)

Below you will find a Week 2 roundup for the Broncos in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 20

Top rookie: RB Javonte Williams

Williams played 33 snaps in the regular-season opener -- 50% of the offense's total. As expected after he spent so much time with the starters in training camp and preseason games, Williams was on the field in all situations, downs and distances, as he finished with 14 of the Broncos' 28 rushing attempts in the game. While Melvin Gordon III popped the big run -- a 70-yard touchdown dash in the fourth quarter -- Williams will continue to get plenty of work, and as his comfort level grows in the offense, so will his output. -- Jeff Legwold

NFL.com -- Rank: 16

The Teddy Bridgewater era is off to an extremely promising start. The veteran quarterback looked confident and comfortable in his Denver debut, leading the Broncos to a 27-13 win over the Giants at the Meadowlands. Bridgewater led the Broncos on four consecutive scoring drives across the second and third quarters, three of those possessions ending with touchdowns. Sunday delivered optimism for the offense but also uncertainty after second-year wideout Jerry Jeudy went down with a high-ankle sprain that will reportedly cost him 4-to-6 weeks. With Courtland Sutton still working his way back from knee surgery, other Denver pass catchers must step up.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 13

The defense is going to carry this team early in the season, which we saw against the Giants. Now they get to face rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence for a chance to go 2-0.

USA Today -- Rank: 15

Their .683 winning percentage in Week 1 is the NFL's best since the 1970 merger, but it hasn't helped them finish a season above .500 since 2016. But this team looks dangerous (and classy, coach Vic Fangio wearing an FDNY hat on the sideline Sunday).

The Athletic -- Rank: 17

Overreaction: The Broncos solved their quarterback problem with Teddy Bridgewater, the 11th QB to start for Denver since Peyton Manning retired after the 2015 season. He might have been the safer pick, compared to Drew Lock, for Vic Fangio, but might he be the more exciting quarterback, too? He was accurate, aggressive when necessary, mobile in and around the pocket and has given the Broncos offense a spark that's been missing for years. -- Jones

Reality check: Two touchdown passes matches the third-most in any game in Bridgewater's seven-year career. He's never flashy, but if the defense can get big stops like it did in the second half Sunday, he doesn't have to be to win. -- Auman

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