2023 NFL Power Rankings: Denver Broncos

Biggest issue on defense: Can't pick just one ...

The Broncos struggle to hold their ground up front in the run game -- opponents are averaging a robust 5.6 yards per carry and 176 rushing yards per game. Their attempts to make off coverage work too often result in completion after completion. They haven't tackled well, and they are last in the league in scoring defense (37.5 points per game), run defense (176 YPG) as well as last in yards allowed per pass play (9.5). Folks want to dump all that on Vance Joseph's desk -- and yes, he wears the headset, so he wears the results -- but those kinds of problems go way beyond who's calling the plays and include injuries in the secondary, those who assembled the depth chart and those carrying out the assignments. -- Jeff Legwold

Overcoming a 21-point deficit deserves serious credit, even if the rally came against a Bears team mired in a 14-game losing streak. It might not be perfect, but Russell Wilson is playing some strong ball. Ten different Denver players caught passes Sunday, and some young guns -- Marvin Mims and Jaleel McLaughlin -- are stating cases for expanded roles. The defense allowed 112 points in an eight-quarter span from halftime of Week 2 to halftime Sunday, but it gummed up late and forced two game-sealing turnovers in the final seven minutes in Chicago. Maybe it's a start. It had better be. Three of the Broncos' next four games are at home, but in that span, they'll face presumably angry Jets and Packers teams and the Chiefs twice.

They rallied to beat the Bears, but they still have major issues. The offense did come alive. The defense is bad.

One of the football tragedies of this young season is being deprived of Jets QB Aaron Rodgers and Denver HC Sean Payton matching wits in order to render some kind of verdict on the Nathaniel Hackett "era" in the Mile High City.

The Broncos wrestled 31st place in the power rankings away from the Bears, but it took quite an effort. Denver fell behind 28-7, but quarterback Russell Wilson led a comeback, going 21 of 28 for 223 yards and three touchdowns. His passer rating (133.5) was his highest since he joined the Broncos last season.

Credit to the Broncos for rallying to outscore the Bears 24-0 down the stretch. But it speaks to this team's larger issues that they were ever in a 28-7 hole in the first place. Beating this Bears team is not a great indicator of where you stand, so let's keep an eye on this.

When the Broncos trailed 28-7, and their defense was making the Bears look like the 1989 49ers, they were ticketed for No. 32 and by a city block. Good on the Broncos for the comeback win but they still look like the second-worst team in the NFL.

A win is a win, even if it comes against an NFL team that is barely an NFL team.

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