The Broncos needed to beat the Texans to keep playoff hopes alive. And it wasn’t just necessary, it was desperate. After a dismal start to the season, Denver had their sights set on winning every game going forward. And after a five-game winning streak, it actually seemed possible. But with such a big hole to dig out of, every game has postseason implications. And no game is a game that Denver didn’t need to win. Coming to face the Houston Texans, the Broncos thought that they would have to beat a good Texans team. Instead, here are numerous ways the Denver Broncos beat themselves.
Week 13 – Numerous Ways The Denver Broncos Beat Themselves
Unnecessarily Rough
Recently, the Broncos have shot themselves in the foot with unnecessary penalties. And some fans lament the soft version of the NFL they imagine the league has become. In reality, it is up to the players to use discretion when making contact with other players. For example, “tackle, don’t hit” seems such a simple concept. But many players, especially defensive, can’t seem to hold themselves back. If a blow or a tackle is unnecessarily rough, referees will throw a flag. And the sooner players understand that penalties are within their own control, the sooner they will stop being called.
For the Broncos, too many personal fouls have earned the team the nickname “Dirty Denver“. And while some in Broncos Country embrace this moniker, some rue it. With dirty play comes penalty yards, and that hurts the entire team. This week linebacker Alex Singleton responded to a headbutt from quarterback C.J. Stroud with a push of his own. Of course, the referees saw the second infraction, not the first. The result was a first down for the Texans, which they turned into a touchdown. These points loomed over the Broncos for the rest of the game and ultimately led directly to their loss. And this is just one of the numerous ways the Denver Broncos beat themselves.
Inexplicably Sloppy
Also, sloppy play doomed the Broncos from the very beginning of the game. Shockingly, Denver went 0-11 on third-down conversions. That they converted 3-3 on fourth down isn’t much consolation. Going forward, this team needs to convert on third down if they want to score touchdowns, not field goals. And if they want to give their defense time to rest, these conversions are key. Denver was playing from behind most of the game. And much of that was the direct result of shooting themselves in the foot far too often.
Meanwhile, another of the numerous ways the Denver Broncos beat themselves is through turnovers. During their five-game winning streak, Denver forced sixteen turnovers, only coughing up the ball three times as a team. This differential is paramount. And it disappeared in Week 13. Quarterback Russell Wilson threw three interceptions, and the Denver defense forced no turnovers. Ultimately, this is the main factor in the final score. The Broncos gave the Texans the ball (and too many chances) too often. Accordingly, this loss is a product of their undoing.
Disaster – Numerous Ways The Denver Broncos Beat Themselves Week 13
Coming up, the Denver Broncos face the Los Angeles Chargers. And while there are many winnable games upcoming (including this one), the hole might be too deep. And Denver’s fate isn’t solely in their own hands. They need a tremendous amount of luck, with losses from many other AFC teams. But that’s not all. They also need to get back to winning, and fast. Any games they lose take them farther away from a playoff chance. And they were already very far away very fast, to start this season. Is their hope? Always. But hope doesn’t always turn into results. And sometimes the magic ends.
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