‘Danny Dimes’ Presents Challenge to Denver’s Elite Defense

Going back to the start of the Super Bowl era, history tells us that every now and then there are teams with defenses so good they win it all and just need their offense to be competent in order to do so.

That means produce between 14 and 21 points and you’ll get a win. Think the 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers. Or the 1985 Chicago Bears. Or the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Denver Broncos might have one of those types of teams in 2025, but if they want to show us they’re who we think they are, games like facing the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2 are critical because give them the kind of target elite defenses dream about.

That’s because the Colts have a quarterback who is on top of the world right now in Daniel Jones — Danny Dimes if you know ball — and it’s on the Broncos to knock him off his pedestal.

Jones is trying to be the NFL’s latest and greatest quarterback reclamation project, following in the steps of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith — players who were discarded by their first teams and became stars elsewhere.

The Broncos, on the other hand, will be trying to grind Jones into the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Jones Got ‘Elite’ Grade After Week 1 Performance

There was no quarterback who turned in a more surprising performance in Week 1 than Jones, who went 22 of 29 passing for 272 yards and one touchdown to go with 7 carries for 26 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 33-8 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski gave Jones an “A+” grade for his play — one of just 2 NFL quarterbacks to earn that mark in the first week alongside Buffalo Bills quarterback and reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen.

“Jones regularly put the offense in the right play, completed 75.9 percent of his passes and helped lead his team to an achievement even Peyton Manning didn’t unlock,” Sobleski wrote on September 8. “The Colts became the first team since at least 1978 to score on every offensive possession.”

Jones Beat Out First Round Pick For Starting Job

The football journey for Jones over the last year has been a true rollercoaster.

Selected in the first round (No. 6 overall) by the New York Giants in the 2019 NFL draft, Jones was the quarterback who replaced 2-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning and went 24-44-1 over 6 seasons as the starter before he was released midway through the 2024 season.

Fortunately for Jones, his one good season for the Giants came in a contract year, when he went 9-7-1 in 2022 and led the Giants to a playoff win. It was an achievement general manger Joe Schoen rewarded with a 4-year, $160 million contract extension.

After his release, Jones signed with the Minnesota Vikings and spent the last half of the season as Darnold’s backup. He signed a 1-year, $14 million contract with the Colts in March.

In Indianapolis, Jones had to beat out 2023 first round pick (No. 4 overall) Anthony Richardson for the starting spot — a competition that didn’t get settled until head coach Shane Steichen named Jones the starter on August 19.

Browns’ Jack Conklin injury update vs Ravens will frighten Joe Flacco

Jack Conklin's status for Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens is up in the air as he deals with an elbow injury.

The Cleveland Browns will be facing another divisional opponent in Week 2 in the Baltimore Ravens, and they could be without one of their key linemen. Jack Conklin suffered an injury in Week 1, and there's a chance that he may not play this week, according to Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram.

“Browns coach Kevin Stefanski: RT Jack Conklin is questionable because of elbow injury sustained in opener. Eye is fine after getting poked in that game. Stefanski said it's 50-50 whether he'll play,” Petrak wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Conklin left the game against the Cincinnati Bengals after dealing with an eye injury. He went to the medical tent and then returned to the sidelines with his teammates, but never returned to the field. Stefanski noted after the game that Conklin got poked in the eye.

It was unknown that Conklin was dealing with an elbow injury, but it doesn't seem like anything too serious. If he doesn't play, Cornelius Lucas will most likely take his place, like he did when he left the game in Week 1.

Conklin is an All-Pro and has been with the Browns for six seasons, but injuries have held him back throughout his tenure. Nonetheless, he has been key to their blocking scheme, and when he's on the field, things open up for the Browns' offense.

The Ravens did not get much pressure on Josh Allen last week, and that should be a good sign for the Browns' offensive line. Against the Bengals, they allowed Joe Flacco to be sacked only twice, but the rushing attack only produced 49 yards. The hope is that they can get something going on the ground as they try to make it difficult for the Ravens to contain them on offense.

Conklin would be a big part of that, and there's still a chance that he suits up.

Browns Week 2 injury report leaves door open for Quinshon Judkins' debut

The Browns wrapped up their Ravens prep on Friday for another AFC North divisional battle in their first road game of the season. Both teams are coming off one-point losses in Week 1, but Vegas considers Baltimore a heavy favorite. Per

DraftKings Sportsbook, the Ravens are 11.5 point favorites on Sunday against the Browns, the largest of the week with Dolphins-Bills as the only other game close.

It's still early in the year, so injuries shouldn't tell too much of the story in this game, at least not at first. Here's the

injury report for the Browns-Ravens Week 2 matchup.

The Browns were only without Mike Hall Jr. on Friday after he was limited on Wednesday and Thursday. The second-year defensive lineman out of Ohio State will miss his second-straight game to start the year as he continues to work back from a knee injury at the end of last season. He's the only player ruled out for Cleveland after practice.