The Denver Broncos feel the momentum percolating after taking down the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles last week.
The last thing they want to do is experience a huge letdown seven days later.
The Broncos (3-2) take aim at their third consecutive victory when they face the woeful New York Jets (0-5) on Sunday in London.
New York is not only the lone winless team in the NFL, but it is also the first team in league history to start 0-5 without forcing a single turnover.
One thing standing out to the Broncos is that two of the Jets’ losses came by two points.
“They’re a good football team,” Denver quarterback Bo Nix said Wednesday. “They’ve been close on some games. They were a couple of walk-off plays away from having two or three wins.
“I definitely think that is something you’ve got to be careful with. This is not a team to just toss around like they’re winless, but I think we will be ready to go.”
Denver linebacker Jonathon Cooper feels a stumble this week would take away a lot of the joy the Broncos felt by winning in Philadelphia.
“We definitely have to get honed in, get back focused and move onto the next game,” Cooper said. “You can’t live on this game and be like ‘Wow, we beat the Eagles’ and carry that into the week.”
Nix passed for a season-high 326 yards and accounted for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in a 28-3 trouncing of the visiting Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 29. He followed with 242 yards and one TD pass against the Eagles.
Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins has provided a big lift with 402 yards and four touchdowns. He ranks fifth in the NFL in rushing yardage and is tied for fourth in rushing scores.
You won’t find the Jets upset over playing this week at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. They are receiving far less scrutiny on that side of the pond.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn didn’t hide his feelings.
“I really love the idea of us getting away,” he said. “… But the thing we’re not running from is the fact that we are 0-5 and there’s a lot of work for us to get done, and this is a really good week to try to hone in on those things, because there’s a lot of distraction on our side.
“But that’s what the NFL is, and you can’t run from that. I’m not running from that, either. We just have to work our ass off on a daily basis to get out of this hole.”
New York is coming off a 37-22 home loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Justin Fields completed 32 of 46 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns but was sacked five times.
Breece Hall rushed for a season-best 113 yards but lost a fumble deep in Dallas territory.
Now the Jets are looking to find a positive outcome, and Glenn said London has the right atmosphere.
“Man, we’re here to play a game,” Glenn said. “Our total focus is how do we go out there and beat the Broncos, and that’s what we are working on every day and I think our guys are looking at it that way, too. I don’t think — I know — everything we do while we’re here is focused on how do we beat the Broncos.”
Three Jets missed practice due to injury on Wednesday: edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II (ankle), cornerback Michael Carter II (concussion) and running back Kene Nwangwu (hamstring).
Sitting out for Denver were guard Ben Powers (biceps) and linebacker Jonah Elliss (ribs/shoulder).
The Broncos have won eight of the teams’ past 12 meetings, including a 10-9 road victory last season when Nix passed for just 60 yards.
–Field Level Media
