BALTIMORE — The Denver Broncos experienced a setback on Sunday, falling to the Baltimore Ravens in a decisive 41-10 defeat. This disclosed vulnerabilities in a team that had recently climbed to second place in the AFC West with a strong defensive lineup and a promising rookie quarterback, demonstrating an ability to secure road wins.
After a series of victories that showed their playoff potential, the Broncos (5-4) were unable to keep pace with the Ravens, a team that reached the AFC Championship game the previous season and boasts the talents of two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson. Jackson effectively dismantled what was considered one of the league’s top defenses, highlighting a tough outing for Denver. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix struggled under pressure from a staunch Baltimore defense that rose to the occasion when it mattered most.
“We got beat today,” expressed coach Sean Payton candidly. “We didn’t perform well enough against a quality opponent.” Prior to this loss, the Broncos had managed to restrict their opponents to less than 350 yards and had not allowed more than 26 points in a game. However, the Ravens surpassed those benchmarks with ease, racking up 396 yards and reaching the 30-point mark midway through the third quarter.
Jackson shone in his performance, throwing for 280 yards and three touchdowns, while Derrick Henry added 106 rushing yards and two scores, helping the Ravens transform a closely-contested match into a blowout by scoring at the end of the first half and then again to start the third quarter. “It’s a big swing,” Payton noted of the game’s momentum shift.
Unfortunately, Nix did not mirror his earlier strong performances, where he had thrown nine touchdowns and only one interception during a streak of five wins. In this game, he completed 19 of 33 passes for 223 yards, with his day starting off poorly as his first attempt was intercepted. Accepting responsibility for the loss, Nix shared, “This is miserable, it’s no fun. You never want to lose games like this. We have to face it.”
The Broncos particularly struggled on fourth down, converting just one out of five opportunities. Their sole successful attempt came from a trick play that resulted in their only touchdown, a pass from Courtland Sutton to Nix that narrowed Baltimore’s lead to 10-7. The Ravens responded by outscoring Denver an overwhelming 31-3 for the remainder of the game.
“You know when you play a good team like this on the road you want to stay competitive until the fourth quarter,” Payton acknowledged, reflecting on the missed opportunity. The Broncos entered the matchup with a 3-1 road record and are set to challenge the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, next week.
As Denver looks to recover swiftly from this defeat, Payton emphasized the importance of resilience. “The most critical thing — and I just shared this with the team — is that there are going to be games where we head into Monday feeling uncomfortable. We won’t enjoy it, but that’s part of the sport. We’re not making excuses; we got schooled today.”