Mike’s Blog Round-up

The Broncos played nearly the entire 2023 season with their starting offensive line intact. They hit adversity up front in the first game of 2024. Left tackle Garett Bolles left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury and didn’t return. Bolles, Denver’s longest-tenured player, went back to the locker room area and had an MRI, head coach Sean Payton said.

The Denver Broncos visited the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington during the first week of the NFL season on Sunday, September 8, 2024. Seattle won 26-20 as Broncos quarterback Bo Nix made his NFL debut. Related Articles Sports | Broncos LT Garett Bolles “going to be fine” after missing final two drives with ankle injury, HC Sean Payton says Sports | Broncos report card: Bo Nix’s debut, Sean Payton’s offensive plan get failing grades in Week 1 loss Sports | Grading The Week: Meet the Colorado QB who debuted with better stats than CU Buffs star Shedeur Sanders Sports | Broncos’ primary early-season task: Find way to start faster than last year’s 1-5 disaster Sports | Broncos podcast: Previewing QB Bo Nix’s debut and what to watch for in season opener at Seattle

By LOLITA C. BALDOR WASHINGTON (AP) — Passage of a six-month temporary spending bill would have widespread and devastating effects on the Defense Department, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said in a letter to key members of Congress on Sunday. Austin said that passing a continuing resolution that caps spending at 2024 levels, rather than taking action on the proposed 2025 budget will hurt thousands of defense programs, and damage military recruiting just as it is beginning to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic. “Asking the department to compete with (China), let alone manage conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, while under a lengthy CR, ties our hands behind our back while expecting us to be agile and to accelerate progress,” said Austin in the letter to leaders of the House and Senate appropriations committees. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has teed up a vote this week on a bill that would keep the federal government funded for six more months.

Stat line: 26-of-42 passing, 138 yards, 2 INTs and a rushing touchdown. Highlight: There were few pretty moments. But in the closing seconds of the second quarter, Nix completed a 25-yard pass near the sideline to wide receiver Josh Reynolds. In what was Nix’s best throw of the afternoon, helping set up a 45-yard field goal by kicker Wil Lutz.

OFFENSE — F Yikes. Bo Nix’s debut got off to a rough start and didn’t improve much as the afternoon progressed. He threw for just 67 yards in the first half, had one interception and four others that easily could have been, too. Nix didn’t wow with an array of big plays in training camp and the preseason, but he did do a good job of protecting the ball.

Initial thoughts from the Broncos’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1 at Lumen Field in Bo Nix’s professional debut: Dropping the ball: Think Bo Nix misses Tim Patrick? While it would be silly to pin the Broncos’ passing game struggles on the decision to waive the oft-injured wide receiver, it sure didn’t look great early on when Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Courtland Sutton dropped catchable third-down passes in the first half.