Sunday’s game between the Denver Broncos and New York Jets at Sports Authority Field at Mile High may not have mattered much in terms of the larger NFL picture in 2017 — neither team is headed for the playoffs — but it mattered for Denver.
Vance Joseph, in his first season as Broncos head coach, needed a win to avoid a nine-game losing streak. That would have matched the longest single-season streak in franchise history. A loss would also keep Joseph in the running for the worst season during Pat Bowlen’s ownership tenure, dating back to 1984.
Joseph can still match the 4-12 record posted by Josh McDaniels and Eric Studesville in 2010 if the Broncos don’t win again, but the 23-0 victory over the Jets on Sunday at least ensured Joseph won’t go down in history in terms of franchise-long losing streaks.
Against a surprising Jets team that was widely expected to be one of the worst in the NFL this season, the Broncos entered the game as home underdogs. New York was coming off a home win over Kansas City, who is tied with the Chargers atop the AFC West.
What resulted was one of Denver’s most complete games of the season.
Denver had a halftime lead for the first time since Week 4, their last victory, against Oakland. It was also just the second time in the last 10 games that Denver has scored more than 20 points in a game.
The Denver defense forced two turnovers and held the Jets to just 100 yards of total offense. The shutout was Denver’s first since 2005, also against the Jets.
Trevor Siemian and the offense didn’t do anything eye-popping, but capitalized when they could and had their first turnover-free game since Week 4 and only their second of the season. The Broncos were 7-for-17 on third down and converted their only fourth-down attempt.
Denver can’t finish the season with a winning record and were eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday. There is still much for the team to improve over the final three weeks to ensure that Joseph gets a shot at a second season as the head man in Denver.
One more win should mean that Joseph returns in 2018, especially with the complete effort his team displayed on Sunday.
John Elway suggested earlier this week that changes could be coming with the coaching staff this offseason. Keeping his name out of the wrong side of the history books is an important step for Joseph to make sure he’s not part of those changes.
