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Power Rankings Roundup

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Power Rankings Roundup: Broncos make a steady climb

ESPN

Last week: 16

The Broncos snapped a streak of 15 straight losses in games during which they trailed entering the fourth quarter, overcoming a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Raiders. Case Keenum has led a fourth-quarter game-winning drive in each of the Broncos' first two games this season.


NFL.com

Last week: 18

Think Broncos fans had zero confidence their team would win until Brandon McManus' kick hit the back net with six ticks to go. The defense, which bailed out an erratic Case Keenum in the season opener, was put in a similar position in Week 2, thanks to a total offensive failure in the first half that led to a 12-0 Raiders lead. Keenum and Co. came to play in the final 30 game minutes, though, grinding out points on all four second-half drives: touchdown (11 plays, 75 yards), field goal (10 plays, 54 yards), touchdown (14 plays, 67 yards), field goal (10 plays, 62 yards). That penultimate scoring drive closed with Keenum executing a Cam Newton special:a designed QB draw from shotgun on fourth-and-goal. Gutsy play call, Bill Musgrave. Yes, that's the same Bill Musgrave the Raiders didn't bring back after they enjoyed that fertile offensive campaign in 2016.


Pro Football Talk

Last week: 19

Things may change once the team has to play on the road.

USA Today

Last week: 17

Phillip Lindsay sparking ground game, leading rookies with 178 yards. His 53-yard gallop Sunday was 13 more than any Denver run in 2017.


Bleacher Report

Last week: 17

Keenum didn't have the best of games against Oakland. He completed only 19 of 35 pass attempts for 222 yards. His passer rating was a moribund 61.8. And Keenum threw his fourth interception of the young season.

However, late in the game Keenum engineered two drives that culminated in Brandon McManus field goals and another that ended in a Keenum run for six — and that was enough to squeak the Broncos past Oakland and into the ranks of the league's 2-0 teams.

The Broncos aren't the best 2-0 team in the league. In fact, they might be the worst. But with the defense playing well and rookie Phillip Lindsay pacing the ground game, Denver is hanging around and finding a way to pull games out.


Mark Maske, Washington Post

Last week: 17

Case Keenum isn't playing particularly well yet but the Broncos are 2-0. That's fine for now. But eventually, they'll need better play and fewer mistakes by their new QB.

Sporting News

Last week: 14

The best word to describe Case Keenum so far as the Broncos' starting QB: competent. There are no style points, but they've been able to win a couple games with their running game and defense. Let's hope they remember they went 3-11 after this kind of start last season.

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