ENGLEWOOD – To those who wondered why Domata Peko Sr. pushed the Baltimore Ravens’ No. 77 in the first place, understand he may well have got chewed out for letting him go.
Peko’s teammate, Chris Harris Jr., was returning a blocked field goal in the second quarter Sunday with the Broncos’ trailing, 17-14. Harris was 10, 15, 20 yards ahead, closing in on the end zone when Peko stuck out one hand and knocked over Baltimore’s Bradley Bozeman, who had zero chance of catching the Bronco with the ball.
“We’re coached to run and finish plays,’’ Peko said. “That’s what we’re doing. Coach mentioned it in the meeting and told me and I’ve just got to be a man and man up to it and do a better job next time and not do that dumb play. Because it cost us momentum and it could have changed the game. I’ll accept it.’’
Wait a minute. On the field, referee Ron Torbert, whose crew kept him ridiculously busy, announced that it was the Broncos’ No. 77 who was penalized for the illegal block above the waist. No. 77 on the Broncos is Billy Turner, who was not on the field.
Peko didn’t realize he was the one called for the infraction that wiped out Harris’ touchdown return until his meeting Monday?
“No one knew,’’ he said. “I didn’t know. Still don’t know. Twenty minutes after the play they threw the flag. That was (freakin’) bogus.
“But I’ve got to man up to it. It was called on me and I’ve got to be smarter.’’
By the way, it appeared Bozeman took a dive on the play. That’s another thing players are coached to do.
Joseph endorses Harris’ comments
Harris had all kinds of reasons to be frustrated after the Broncos’ loss to the Ravens. Losing, losing a touchdown, and playing in a secondary that has allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 69.5 percent of their passes and post a robust 102.2 rating threw three games.
Harris told 9News after the Broncos loss at Baltimore on Sunday that his defense needs to, “Disguise better as a whole in the secondary and move around. We can’t just be stagnant, sitting ducks. Right now, we’re stagnant, we’re not moving around, we’re not doing anything to confuse the quarterback and it’s very easy right now for them.’’
Head coach Vance Joseph said Monday in his day-after-game press conference at the Broncos’ UCHealth Training Center headquarters that he agrees with Harris’ assessment.
“I’m not concerned about the comments because Chris is playing good football,’’ Joseph said. “What he’s saying, he wants to win, so I have no problem with what he’s saying.’’
Joseph also added: “We’ve got to challenge more at the corner position and make more plays. If teams want to throw the ball that quick, we have to play closer in coverage and make some plays early. That way our pass rush can get there. It’s a blueprint on tape right now the last three weeks: Throw it quick. Challenge the DBs, throw it quick, and keep Von Miller and (Bradley) Chubb and those guys at bay by throwing the football quick.’’
Bronco Bits
MRI results were encouraging for No. 3 cornerback Tramaine Brock, who left the game against Baltimore after six plays with a groin injury. Brock is expected to practice by Wednesday or Thursday this week. Another No. 3 corner, Adam Jones, is also expected back this week from his hamstring/thigh injury.
If Jones and Brock can stay healthy, the Broncos’ cornerback position would not be nearly as dire as it seems today. The question is, can Jones, who turns 35 on Sunday, and Brock, who turned 30 last month, stay healthy through the rest of the 16-game season? …
Joseph took blame for his game management in the final 1:47 of the first half that may have helped the Ravens add a field goal.
With the Ravens starting a series at their own 14, he called a timeout after their first play gained 4. The Broncos got the ball back but then ran the ball on first down, had a sack and a clock-stopping incomplete pass followed by a poor Marquette King punt.
The Ravens got the ball back at midfield and wound up with a 52-yard field goal by the incomparable Justin Tucker at the buzzer.
“It’s a group of us talking, but that’s on me,’’ Joseph said. “I could’ve bled it out, but I was thinking, ‘Let’s get these points back.’ We just lost three points by having penalties. I was being overaggressive. In hindsight, that was wrong. I should’ve bled it out and got to the half 17-14.’’
