Takeaways from the Broncos' 6th straight win

DENVER (KDVR) — The Denver Broncos have been on an absolute tear this season, sitting with a 7-2 record. The team has shown that it has the brains, ability and most importantly, the guts to win in almost any scenario.

With an 18-15 win against the Houston Texans on Sunday, the Broncos find themselves in the upper echelon of the NFL, and the repeated performances have secured their status as a true powerhouse.

Here are some key takeaways from the Broncos’ latest win.

Top of the league

Another win for the Broncos and some key losses for several other teams have seen the number of teams with a joint best record start to dwindle.

There are still a handful of teams that have the Broncos’ 7-2 record, but the group now only consists of teams, including:

• Denver Broncos, 7-2
• New England Patriots, 7-2
• Indianapolis Colts, 7-2

There are a few other teams that have not played the same number of games as the teams above, but still have the opportunity to match the 7-2 record.

• Buffalo Bills, 6-2
• Philadelphia Eagles, 6-2
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6-2
• Seattle Seahawks, 5-2
• Los Angeles Rams, 6-2

The NFL should change the name of the 4th quarter

Another week, another dream-like fourth quarter for the Broncos.

At this point, it feels like the NFL is only renting the fourth quarter to other teams, while the true owner is the Broncos.

It’s another week where the team can say they have technically been in the lead in every game they have played in, with time still left on the clock in the fourth.

They’ve been on the losing end of two walk-off field goals during the team’s only two losses, but against the Texans, they were the beneficiaries of a walk-off field goal.

In the first three weeks, the fourth quarter looked like a point of weakness, but that has gone full 180, and now it feels like no matter what the game looks like in the fourth, the Broncos are going to be the team that walks away with the win.

In the last five games, this is how the Broncos have looked at the start of each fourth quarter — all ended with a Broncos’ win:

• Week 5: Philadelphia Eagles: Broncos 3-17 Eagles — final, 21-17.
• Week 6: New York Jets: Broncos 10-11 Jets — final, 13-11.
• Week 7: New York Giants: Broncos 0-19 Giants — final, 33-32.
• Week 8: Dallas Cowboys: Broncos 37-17 Dallas — final, 44-24.
• Week 9: Houston Texans: Broncos 15-15 Texans — final, 18-15.

Each game had a starkly different scenario, and the Broncos chose the right route each game.

Bo Nix time

There have been plenty of catalysts for the Broncos that have helped the team overcome the opposition; kicker Wil Lutz is definitely one to mention, but Bo Nix might deserve some extra recognition here.

Nix has had ice in his veins all season.

He has been the focal point for four winning drives in nine games this season, meaning he has done so in just below 50% of the team’s games.

In games where the Broncos are losing or are tied at the start of the fourth quarter, Nix has made some significant plays, including:

• Week 5, Eagles:
  • 9-10 passes completed
  • 126 passing yards
  • One touchdown pass
  • Two-point conversion pass
• Week 6, Jets:
  • Nix led a 12-play, 65-yard drive on the final possession of the game
  • One pass for 29 yards, and another for 22 yards to get the team in FG position
• Week 7, Giants:
  • Became the first player in NFL history to record two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in the same quarter
  • 279 passing yards
  • Two passing touchdowns
  • 48 rushing yards
  • Two rushing touchdowns
  • Successful passes on two two-point conversions
  • Led a 68-yard drive in 37 seconds to get the Broncos in FG range for the win
• Week 9, Texans
  • Touchdown pass
  • Successful pass on two-point conversion
  • Led a 48-yard drive with one minute remaining, including a 25-yard scramble, to put the team in FG range

Next on the schedule is a game against bitter rivals, the Las Vegas Raiders. Fans will be looking forward to the matchup that will hopefully result in the Broncos’ seventh straight win.