Instant reaction from the Broncos’ 17-16 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Sean Payton’s head coaching debut at Empower Field at Mile High.
Broncos offensive linemen have a new favorite practice period: Catching go-balls on Friday afternoons: Taking a roll call of the Broncos’ offseason additions, Week 1 was a bit of a mixed bag. And it was hard to miss some of the errors. Defensive end Frank Clark? Third-down offside call. Kicker Wil Lutz? Missed PAT and wide right from 55 yards. Wide receiver Phillip Dorsett II? A long pass negated by poor field awareness. Tight end Chris Manhertz? Drive-killing hold.
That was Damarri Mathis’ world Sunday as Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo made a point of picking on the second-year corner. There were bad moments , and good ones . One thing that’s clear: The Broncos’ hopes in the secondary will largely depend on him being able to hold up under the pressure.: Payton’s debut as Broncos head coach came down to whether Russell Wilson could deliver with his team down a point in the fourth quarter. Fitting, it seems, given that’s what this season is all about.