2013 Broncos Season: Preseason, Week 3

Another game, another recap. This time it was for the Broncos' first game at home, a preseason tilt with the St. Louis Rams.

Preseason Week 3: Broncos 27, Rams 26
Preseason Record: 2-1
Key Play: With the game tied 20-20, the Broncos blocked a Rams punt. This led to a short field and a five-yard touchdown run from Lance Ball, giving the Broncos the win.

Recap: This is a win, but it was ugly. The Broncos turned the ball over four times, and with all the starters in they trailed 20-10 at the half. Of course it's hard to say how this game would have ended were it no preseason. The Rams scored a touchdown with just under two minutes left. An extra point would have tied the game. It was preseason and it was pouring. So the Rams went for two points and missed. At times the Broncos did some good things, but for a game that was supposed to be a dress rehearsal for the regular season, this team has plenty of work to do. They don't look like Super Bowl favorites right now. And a four turnover game against a good team in the regular season will result in a loss. Still, the defense was a little better. We got four sacks, showing some ability to get pressure. In addition, each of the Rams touchdowns was the result of an offensive of special teams flub. The first score was set up by a long punt return. The second was a defensive touchdown following a Ronnie Hillman fumble. And the third was the result of a fumble inside the 10 yard line recovered by the Rams. You'd like goal line stops, but you can't always back your defense up.

Impressive Players:
* Broncos wide receivers. Even without Wes Welker, who was being held out with an injury, the Broncos receivers looked solid. Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, and Andre Caldwell all made nice plays in the game.

* Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Rodgers-Cromartie hasn't played yet in the preseason. That changed Saturday night, and he looked good. If he can give the Broncos solid corner play opposite Champ Bailey, that will be a great way to lock down the back end of the defense.

* Starting Offensive Line. For the first time this preseason, the Broncos boys up front looked good. They opened holes for runners, kept Peyton Manning clean, and kept the offense moving. This was Ryan Clady's first game of the season, so that could explain a lot.

* Knowshon Moreno. He has fallen out of favor in Denver, but from what I saw he is still the Broncos' best back. He caught passes, had nice runs, and is the best blocker.

Lingering Questions:
* Starting Running Back. Both Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball had some nice moments. But they both had struggles too. Ball struggled to gain yardage on the ground and dropped a few passes. Hillman finally showed some of the running flash the Broncos had talked about, but then he fumbled, again, leading t a Rams touchdown. Neither instill me with confidence.

* Turnover issues. In the first game, versus the 49ers, the Broncos had no turnovers. Since then, they've been giving it up at an alarming rate. Last night had two fumbles and two interceptions. And it could have been more.

* Special Teams aren't so special. Against the Seahawks, the Broncos special teams was awful. Against the Rams, it wasn't a lot better. The first punt of the game was returned to the three yard line and quickly punched in for a touchdown. Every punt, in fact, was nerve wracking. Meanwhile Trindon Holliday didn't have any nice returns and nearly lost a punt on a fumble. The Broncos' also had a blocked field goal. This unit needs to get some work in. Despite a blocked punt that helped win the game, Special Teams seems like a question.