Denver Broncos have two studs, but multiple duds from Week 2 loss to Colts

The Denver Broncos suffered their first loss of the season on Sunday, losing to the Indianapolis Colts 29-28 on a last-second field goal. However, the Colts initially missed that last-second field goal, which was attempted from 60 yards. An unsportsmanlike penalty for leverage was called against the Broncos, which moved the Colts 15 yards closer, and Spencer Shrader did not miss. 

It's a terribly upsetting loss for the Broncos, but the team has other reasons to blame for the defeat, not just a questionable call at the end of the game. 

Many of those will be covered here as we take a look at the studs and duds from this game. 

Denver Broncos Week 2 Studs and Duds

Stud: Troy Franklin, WR

Troy Franklin was targeted nine times in the passing game and caught eight of those for 89 yards and a touchdown. Bo Nix is looking his way much more than he did last season and Franklin is blossoming into a playmaker for this team. 

Stud: J.K. Dobbins, RB

The Broncos looked to establish the run in this game but they were moving the ball against the Colts pretty well through the air. J.K. Dobbins paced the rushing attack, gaining 76 yards on 14 carries. He did collect a delay of game penalty late in the fourth quarter after his longest run of the game for 23 yards, and that did hurt stunt the team's momentum on that drive. 

Dud: Evan Engram, TE

Where is this guy in the offense? What is the plan with the big free-agent signing? Evan Engram had one catch for 12 yards in this game, meaning he has four receptions for 33 yards on the season. The Broncos need to get him much more involved. 

Wil Lutz, K

Wil Lutz has been a steady kicker for the Broncos, but he failed in this game. His only field-goal attempt came late in the fourth quarter from 42 yards. It would have put the Broncos up by five points and forced the Colts to score a touchdown to win the game. 

But it was ugly from the moment it left his foot and banged off the upright, creating a difficult situation for a struggling defense. 

Dud: Dondrea Tillman, LB

It might be unfair to single out Dondrea Tillman here, but getting a leverage penalty called against you on a 60-yard field-goal attempt is just ridiculous. Looking at the replay, you can also place blame on Eyioma Uwazurike and perhaps even special teams coach Darren Rizzi for not telling his team to avoid this possibility. 

Dud: The entire defense

The biggest dud of the day was the entire defensive unit. Nobody played well as Daniel Jones carved the defense up, throwing for 316 yards and Jonathan Taylor had his way with the defense as well, gaining 215 yards on the day. 

The Broncos have a lot to learn from this performance as it was not the kind of effort anyone was expecting for this defense. The Broncos desperately need to get Dre Greenlaw into the lineup and Vance Joseph is going to have to watch a lot of film from this game to correct things. 

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