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Most improved player: WR Kendall Hinton

How they've improved: Hinton just keeps moving up the developmental curve with hard work and simply being ready when the Broncos need him. He gained a slice of fame last year when he was forced to play quarterback against the Saints when all of the Broncos' quarterbacks missed the game for violation of COVID-19 protocols. He opened the season on the practice squad again, but when Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler each suffered injuries, he was promoted. His toe-tap reception along the sideline for a key third-down conversion in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss in Pittsburgh, along with his first career touchdown earlier in the quarter, were two examples of how far he has come. -- Jeff Legwold

Inefficiency in the red zone plagued Teddy Bridgewater during his one season with the Panthers. You could make the case that Bridgewater, not Sam Darnold, would still be Matt Rhule's QB in Charlotte had he not made so many backbreaking mistakes near the goal line. Fast-forward to the present day, and Bridgewater has brought this problem to Denver. Facing an eight-point deficit in the final minute on Sunday, the Broncos failed in four cracks from inside the Pittsburgh 10. The final play was the clincher, a poorly thrown ball picked off by the Steelers with 11 seconds to play. In these crucible moments, Teddy simply needs to be better.

They were sluggish until late in the loss to the Steelers. They've lost two straight after a 3-0 start. Maybe the last two weeks is who they really are as a team.

They haven't scored a TD on their opening drive in 24 straight games, the worst streak in the league at present, and their 28.6% third-down conversion rate is the NFL's worst. Not sustainable.

Breakout player: The Broncos lost Jerry Jeudy and then K.J. Hamler to injury, but sure-handed Tim Patrick has been there to catch the slack. The 6-foot-4 Utah product had seven receptions on nine targets for 89 yards Sunday, and his targets have gone up the last four weeks (from 4-5 to 6-9). He has 302 yards on 22 catches this season. Wait, did this just become a fantasy football waiver-wire pickup column?