If you enjoy seeing fouls light up on the scoreboard, Denver Broncos‘ 13-6 loss for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday might have you thinking about hibernation. The Broncos somehow found new ways to disappoint fans and fantasy owners in a game that seemed more like a defensive struggle — or maybe just an offensive surrender.

Who were the Broncos’ biggest studs and duds? Let’s take a look.

Josh Reynolds, WR

It’s not often you hear the phrase “four catches for 93 yards and zero touchdowns” as a highlight reel, but in a game where points were as elusive as the Broncos’ playoff hopes, Reynolds stood out. His 49-yard catch in the third quarter was akin to finding a forgotten $20 bill in an old jacket that falls apart when you unroll it in your palm — thrilling for a moment, but ultimately futile.

Zach Allen, DE

Finally, someone sacked a quarterback! He had four tackles, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Performances like this are why Allen’s jersey is likely the only one purchased in Denver this week.

Alex Singleton, LB

With 11 tackles, including seven solos, Singleton was the defensive dynamo the Broncos desperately needed. Sure, no sacks, interceptions or forced fumbles, but when you make 11 tackles, it means you clean up everyone else’s mess.

Jonah Elliss, OLB

Another bright spot is that Elliss contributed three tackles and two tackles for loss, including a sack. It’s almost as if he realized he had to take matters into his own hands to keep the Steelers out of the end zone. Too bad the offense didn’t pay him back.

Vance Joseph, DC

Let’s give credit where credit is due — Joseph had his defense ready. Holding an NFL team to 13 points should be enough to win, but not when your offense decides to sleep for four quarters. Joseph’s unit played well enough to keep the team in the game.

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Bo Nix, QB

We need to talk about Nix. A stat line of 20 completions on 35 attempts for 246 yards sounds useful until you realize it came with two interceptions, zero touchdowns, and a quarterback rating of 55.2.

Nix threw for 12.3 yards per completion, but somehow managed to turn that gain into zero touchdowns. It’s hard to be optimistic when your quarterback looks like he’s playing “hot potato” with the football. For all those yards, the scoreboard never noticed.

Sean Payton, Head Coach

Payton was brought in to turn the Broncos around. He was supposed to be the offensive guru who would finally fix the Broncos’ longstanding problems.

The Broncos’ offense seems stuck in a pre-Payton time warp. Six points. That’s all the offensive masterminds could muster in his team’s home debut.

Javonte Williams, RB

11 carries for 17 yards are the kind of stat line that makes you wonder if Williams was running on a treadmill. Averaging 1.5 yards per carry, he had all the explosiveness of a soggy firecracker.

Courtland Sutton, WR

One catch for 26 yards. That’s all we got from Denver’s supposed best receiver.

Sutton was virtually invisible, whether it was due to poor play-calling or an inability to get open. It’s not a great look when you’re being outmatched by fullbacks and tight ends.

Offensive line

Nix was sacked twice, which isn’t a shocking number, but the killer blow was the pressure he was under the entire game. The Steelers defense treated Nix like a piñata — constantly getting in his face, throwing him around, disrupting throws and making life difficult.

Perhaps the Broncos’ offensive line will show up next week.

If this game was supposed to be the Broncos’ statement win, it was written in invisible ink. Despite a few defensive standouts and a kicker who did his job, the offense was simply absent.

With a quarterback who struggles to find the end zone, a running game that’s bogged down in reverse and wide receivers who seem allergic to touchdowns, it’s going to be a long season if this performance becomes the norm.

Maybe the Broncos will score more than six points next week — or maybe Wil Lutz will get a few more field goals. Either way, Broncos fans, buckle up: It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

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