The Denver Broncos defense has been getting most of the positive headlines lately for its historical performance, but there has been a plus development for the offense recently as coach Sean Payton tries to figure out how to deal with the unit’s ongoing struggles with inconsistency. 

That development was the involvement of tight end Evan Engram. He was instrumental on Denver’s lone touchdown drive against the New York Jets last Sunday, first making an 11-yard catch on fourth-and-5 near midfield after running a perfect choice route, then coming up with a 16-yard reception on third-and-6 that set the Broncos up for the touchdown catch by fellow tight end Nate Adkins touchdown on the following play. Engram later made a leaping grab of 12 yards that was the catalyst for Denver’s go-ahead field goal drive in the fourth quarter, as chronicled by Nick Kosmider of The Athletic. 

“That’s what happens when you try to get him the ball. He makes big plays,” said quarterback Bo Nix of Engram, who scored his first touchdown with the Broncos during the win in Philadelphia. “That’s why we acquired him. That’s why we felt confident he would bring that to our team. In the fourth, when we needed it, he’s the one that made the catch.”

Nix is also well aware of what the tight end brings to the table offensively. 

“He had the hot hand, carrying over from last week, he’s playing good,” he added. “He feels good. He’s out there winning matchups. He’s a tough matchup for safeties and linebackers. I thought one of the biggest plays of the game was the fourth down he caught, ran a great route on man-to-man, and it just shows what he can be when we try to target him and get him the football.”

Engram has been out with back and knee issues, but now he’s back in a big way. He could be heavily featured in today’s game against the New York Giants, given that the Giants have an impressive array of pass rushers of their own. 

Having Engram as a safety valve could take some of the heat off Nix, and it could help solve the inconsistency issues as well. The Broncos are going to need someone to move the chains, especially if the Giants load up the box to stop the run and put extra heat on Nix. The tight end gives the Broncos a sneakily-effective weapon, so look for him to pop up today when Denver needs him most.