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          NFL Nation

          Broncos don't like the sight of yellow

          • Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior WriterOct 12, 2014, 08:00 PM ET
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              Jeff Legwold is a senior writer who covers the Denver Broncos and the NFL at ESPN. Jeff has covered the Broncos for more than 20 years, joining ESPN in 2013. He also assists with NFL draft coverage, including his annual top 100 prospects. Jeff has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999. He has attended every scouting combine since 1987.
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          EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- In the end the Denver Broncos will take a win, but could do without the pile of flags that came with it Sunday.

          The Broncos finished with 11 penalties for 101 yards in the 31-17 victory over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. It is already the second time in five outings this season the Broncos have finished with 11 penalties in a game, a total that a team that prides itself on precision will need to address.

          “We had a couple penalties we shouldn’t have had, or maybe a few penalties we shouldn’t have had -- too many penalties’’ said wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. “We just have to clean that up.’’

          The totals were lopsided to be sure -- the Jets were penalized just twice for 9 yards in the game -- and Broncos head coach John Fox said following the game he doesn’t expect to agree with all of the flags that were thrown, but the mistakes still marred the Broncos’ effort overall, especially on offense.

          The Broncos were flagged seven times on offense (two were declined) as four of the Broncos’ starting five offensive linemen were assessed fouls in the game.

          “When we did execute, we moved the ball and scored touchdowns, but there were too many series when we had just some mistakes that made it tough to move the ball against a good defense,’’ Manning said. “When we had those penalties, first-and-20, second-and-20, they didn’t care if you ran the ball because they were going to stop you. First and second down production is key against those guys and I thought overall we were just average.’’

          The Broncos let a quality scoring chance slip away in the second quarter when, after recovering a fumble by rookie punt returner Walt Powell and taking over on the Jets’ 43-yard line, left tackle Ryan Clady was flagged for holding on first down.

          That led to a first-and-20 and the Broncos punted three plays later. The Broncos opened another drive in the third quarter with a first-down penalty -- a false start by guard Louis Vasquez -- and had an illegal motion penalty on Julius Thomas on the same drive.

          In the fourth quarter, the Broncos opened a drive from their own 6-yard line while trying to protect a 7-point lead with just over six minutes left in the game. Guard Orlando Franklin had a false start that pushed the ball back to the 3-yard line and the Broncos punted again.

          “First-and-20s, second-and-20s, those are tough to overcome,’’ Manning said. “We’ve got to fix that quickly.’’