An NFL game is often decided by one or two plays.
The Denver Broncos’ 23-10 loss to the New York Giants wasn’t any different.
At first glance, it may seem like nothing went right for the Broncos on Sunday night. They had trouble running the football and stopping the run, two things they’ve done very well over the course of the first four games of the season.
While the game was likely one that fans would like to forget, the Broncos know that there are plenty of opportunities to learn from the mistakes that ended up costing them the game. Perhaps the biggest one, according to head coach Vance Joseph, was how the Broncos handled Sunday night’s most-important plays.
“I think critical plays,” Joseph said on Wednesday. “The interception before half — that took steam out of the football team. Missing two field goals took steam out of the football team. Not winning the first third down of the football game. A lot of those guys were driving to get three points.”
The Broncos’ offense began Sunday night’s game with two three-and-outs. The Giants were able to kick a field goal on their first drive of the game before the Denver defense slowed them down.
Kicker Brandon McManus’ missed his first field goal of the game, a 35-yard attempt, on the Broncos’ third drive, which would have tied the game at three. The Giants turned the ensuing drive into a touchdown, and instead of being down seven, the Broncos were down 10.
The Broncos were able to put three points on the board a few drives later, and found themselves with the ball on their 22-yard line with around two-and-a-half minutes remaining in the first half.
“A lot of different things happened that didn’t go our way in that football game,” Joseph said. “Again, they had a great plan. They played better and they won the game. No excuses.”
Attempting to steal some points before halftime, Siemian was picked off by Giants’ cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who returned the interception for a touchdown. Instead of trailing by seven, the Broncos now trailed by 14 points.
According to quarterback Trevor Siemian, that turnover hurt even more, because it resulted in points and ultimately wound up being the difference in the game.
“The two-minute one, because they scored,” Siemian said of his interception. “It’s definitely worse when they score, obviously. Those are 10 seconds of my life I wish I had back there, that whole sequence. Just learn from it, move on and I won’t do it again.”
Had the Broncos executed better in those critical situations, they may have walked out of Sports Authority Field at Mile High with their fourth win of the season on Sunday night.
The past can’t be changed, and the Broncos know it’s time to focus on what they can do better moving forward.