Recap: The Broncos had won three of their previous four games and looked to avoid a third straight 10-plus season as well as spoil the Raiders’ slim postseason hopes. Rookie quarterback Drew Lock has been a breath of fresh air for this club and on Sunday vs. Oakland he would finish with just 177 yards through the air and one touchdown. He was sacked twice and lost one of his two fumbles. Brandon McManus’ third field goal of the game gave Vic Fangio’s team a 16-3 lead in the fourth quarter. Denver’s defense would limit the Raiders to only one touchdown despite allowing 477 total yards. And it came up bigger on Oakland’s game-winning two-point try late in the game.
Draft Talk: General manager John Elway stockpiled his share of picks for 2020. The team has its own first- and second-round choices, additional selections from the Steelers and 49ers in the third and an extra four-round pick from San Francisco in the fourth round. The Broncos need some help on the offensive front and at wide receiver.
Offseason Priorities: If Lock is the team’s future behind center, the Broncos finally solved a huge issue. So what does the future hold for veterans such as cornerback Chris Harris and defensive end Derek Wolfe, both potential free agents? That’s also the case in safety Justin Simmons, who could command a lot of attention if he’s available.
Recap: Owners of a 5-2 mark in their last seven contests, the Jets made their way slightly north to Orchard to take on the playoff-bound Bills. Back in Week 1 at MetLife Stadium, Adam Gase’s club dropped a 17-16 decision to this AFC East rival after scoring the first 16 points of the game. And once again, points were hard to come by for both teams. Sam Darnold threw for 199 yards and one score (to Jamison Crowder), was sacked twice and picked off once. Le’Veon Bell carried 16 times for 41 yards while New York’s defense limited the Bills to 73 yards on the ground. The Jets managed only 271 total yards but would end a disappointing year with two consecutive wins.
Draft Talk: The Jets haven’t used a first-round selection on the offensive line in more than a decade. It was in 2006 that the team selected longtime stalwarts in tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold. The tight end position could also be addressed in the early rounds. And adding some more pass rush would be wise as well.
Offseason Priorities: Last year, the Jets were one of the league’s biggest spenders – adding running back Le’Veon Bell, inside linebacker C.J. Mosley, wide receiver Jamison Crowder and more. This offseason, the franchise has two dozen possible unrestricted free agents that they will have to make decisions on via general manager Joe Douglas.
Next: Nos. 20 and 19