Garett Bolles, Samaje Perine coming on strong

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LT Garett Bolles

The Broncos left tackle put on a heck of a performance against perhaps the best pass-rusher in the NFL in Myles Garrett. He had some help — tight end chips and a concerted effort to leave Garrett free at times in the run game and read him — but No. 72 came up huge when Denver needed him to. Sure, Garrett got pressure a couple of times, but this was about as good as you could ask for if you’re head coach Sean Payton. Don’t look now, but the Broncos’ offensive line as a group is starting to string together really quality performances and looks like one of the better units going.

RB Samaje Perine

The veteran back ceded time early in the season to rookie Jaleel McLaughlin, but he’s emerged over recent weeks and now looks like perhaps the Broncos’ freshest back. He’s been reliable as a receiver and really good in pass protection all year. Then he burst for 55 yards on seven carries against the Browns. Before Sunday, Perine had just five carries over the Broncos’ previous five games combined. He’s currently averaging a career-best 7.4 yards per offensive touch.

DT D.J. Jones

The Broncos’ big interior defensive lineman had glory flash before his eyes when he tried to scoop up a fumble and rumble for the end zone Sunday, but had to settle for falling on the ball. Even still, his athleticism is showing through. Jones made two plays out on the sideline against Buffalo on Monday night a couple weeks back and is seeing his production tick up as the Broncos get rolling. That combination of power and quickness is the reason Denver signed him before the 2022 season and he’s playing probably his best ball of the past two years at the moment.

TE Adam Trautman

It’s no secret the Broncos have been hamstrung — no pun intended — at tight end without Greg Dulcich for all but parts of two games this season. But Trautman’s recent work is promising. He had two clutch catches against Minnesota and an impressive, sliding touchdown grab Sunday. Not only that, but he played a season-high 91% of the Broncos’ offensive snaps in a game that was going to be decided at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Trautman’s not an elite blocker, but he got the job done often enough to help Denver post its best rushing game of the season.

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Third-quarter openers

One area that has not improved during Denver’s winning streak: The offensive performance to start the second half. Denver’s started each of its post-bye week games with the ball and hasn’t generated a first down yet, totaling more penalties (three) than net yards (two) over 10 plays. It’s been a sore spot the entire season. The Broncos have had the ball to start the third quarter nine times in 11 games. Those drives have ended in seven punts, a missed field goal and a blocked field goal. For those with iffy math skills, that’s zero points. An area that definitely needs to shape up for the stretch run.

RB Jaleel McLaughlin

Since the undrafted rookie’s hot start, he’s really seen his production drop off. Part of the problem is he’s not much of a pass protector, so defenses know that when he’s in the game the ball is going his way. McLaughlin had two carries for four yards on Sunday — pair of first-down runs for six and for minus-2 — on his only two offensive snaps of the night. Denver’s got to be creative if it’s going to find a way to get him more involved down the stretch. Thanks to four kneel downs (one at the end of the first half, three at the end of the game), safety Justin Simmons got credited with more offensive snaps than McLaughlin.

S Kareem Jackson

The Broncos might really miss Kareem Jackson at some point during his second suspension of the season, but so far they haven’t skipped a beat. They knocked off Kansas City and Buffalo without him the first time around and now Cleveland in the first of his four-gamer this time around. The players are obviously on his side — hence the “Free K-Jack” t-shirts in pregame warmups — but P.J. Locke is an able replacement and played well Sunday in Jackson’s absence.