Broncos’ JL Skinner ‘ready for the moment’ with game-changing blocked punt vs. Raiders

JL Skinner s facemask made embattled special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi look good and got the Broncos an ugly win in the process Skinner burst through the line late in the third quarter and blocked AJ Cole s punt with his helmet teeing up the Broncos for what ended up being the game-winning field goal in a - rock-fight success over the Raiders on Thursday at Empower Field It was perhaps the biggest play of the third-year pro s career and came in a challenge where Rizzi moved Skinner from the outside of the line to the inside in order to better capitalize on the -foot- -pounder s length and physicality That s something I ve been working on all week at practice taking advantage of that tackle and trying to get off the ball fast Skinner explained I was ready for the moment I was thinking about that play all day With left in the third quarter and the Raiders facing fourth-and- on their own -yard line in a tie challenge Skinner lined up inside of Devon Key on the right side of the line Skinner dipped his shoulder and used a drive-and-crank technique to force his way into the backfield and then split two of the Raiders gunners who were tied up with other blocks to get to Cole Skinner missed the ball with his outstretched right arm as it came off Cole s foot but was close enough that the ball clanged off Skinner s facemask and visor instead It was then recovered by Tyler Badie who ran the ball back to the -yard line to set up Will Lutz s -yard field goal four plays later I didn t know where the ball was at initially Skinner disclosed I thought I missed it and I was just hoping it hit something After realizing it was blocked I thought it hit my hand at first then I saw my visor and it had a mark from the ball on it That s when I knew It was a heads-up play or I ll say a head-butt play On a night when the Broncos offense sputtered and Rizzi s special teams had several face-palm moments Skinner s block was the Broncos bailout and the differentiator that underscored a dominating performance on defense Rookie punter Jeremy Crawshaw had a rough night with two shanked punts of and yards and a squib kick that made it look like Crawshaw had a episode of the yips The erratic punting was the latest chapter in the Broncos ongoing special teams saga that came to a head over the last two weeks in wins over Dallas and Houston Rizzi s unit had an array of errors in both games including a communication mishap that preceded a concussion for All-Pro returner Marvin Mims Jr against the Cowboys as well as multiple players running out late on special teams against the Texans But following Skinner s momentum-changing block on Thursday and another game-winning field goal from kicker Will Lutz defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers disclosed that the Broncos are choosing to see the unit s performance through a glass-half-full lens Related Articles Broncos-Raiders description card Yet again Vance Joseph and Denver s pass-rush save the day in ugly win PHOTOS Denver Broncos beat Las Vegas Raiders - during NFL Week Renck Broncos keep their goals in front of them but no way Chiefs are scared of this unit Broncos four downs Sean Payton has built ugliest - squad in Broncos history Broncos grind out ugly win vs Raiders for seventh straight preeminence For Skinner a primary special teamer who has appeared in NFL games with no starts and only a handful of plays at safety he hopes Thursday s highlight is a trampoline for him the rest of the season Special teams is one of those things that nobody wants to talk about until it s something bad Franklin-Myers reported But tonight JL proved he s a consistent athlete who plays with a physicality that people don t want to match He s one of the engines that makes the special teams go Linebacker Jonathon Cooper and defensive lineman Zach Allen who helped Franklin-Meyers in contributing to the Broncos six sacks against the Raiders agreed even as Cooper acknowledged the unit has areas to clean up Special teams made a big play in a big-time moment Allen announced and that s all we can ask for Want more Broncos news Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis