The Denver Broncos’ playoff chances are looking slim after suffering their sixth loss of the season on Sunday, but there were still some standout players and plays in a 16-3 loss to the New England Patriots.
With the loss, Denver (8-6) is now out of the playoff picture at the moment as Kansas City (10-4) and Miami (9-5) hold the final two Wild Card spots. Denver also fell behind Baltimore and Tennessee (both 8-6) on tiebreakers. Denver must now beat the Chiefs on Christmas night and the Raiders, who clinched their first playoff berth since 2002 with a win over San Diego, if they want to have any hope of extending their streak of five straight years in the postseason.
Compounding the loss was the fact that Denver actually played exceptionally well on defense, holding New England to just 16 points. Their lowest total of the year with Tom Brady under center and only their second-time being held under 22 points all season. Brady ended the day 16-of-32 for 188 yards (177 net) and no touchdowns – his worst performance of the season by far. His passer rating (68.2) in the game was 46.6 points lower than his season average.
The Denver offense, however, simply couldn’t get things going enough on offense. Trevor Siemian and the offense produced just five first downs in the second half, all on Denver’s final two drives of the game. Gary Kubiak and Rick Dennison abandoned a running game that appeared to be clicking early and Siemian ended the day 25-of-40 with an interception.
Here’s a quick look at a few of the positive plays Denver made on both sides of the ball, courtesy of the team at MHS and some of our favorite follows on Twitter…
Von Miller was held without a sack, getting double- and triple-teamed all day, but he was a force early in stopping LeGarrette Blount, who finished the day with only 31 yards on 17 carries…
Von Miller might be just as good at run defense as he is at pass rushing. The man is elite. #Broncos
— RG 📷 (@RyanGreeneDNVR) December 18, 2016
Todd Davis was questionable with an oblique injury, but made his presence felt early in the run game as well. Denver eventually yielded 95 total yards to Dion Lewis and a touchdown to Blount, but still held New England to 313 yards – their lowest total since Tom Brady returned to the lineup.
Todd Davis making big run stuffs. Good sign for that oblique injury. Whole defense clearly playing with a lot of intensity.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) December 18, 2016
Although Miller didn’t get to Brady, he was still disruptive. Brady started the game 0-for-6 and the Broncos forced punts on every first-half Patriots drive that did not come as the result of a Denver turnover.
Seriously, Miller just stiff armed his way into the backfield. Brady felt the rush and got it out early. He is an animal.
— Jake Marsing (@JakeDMarsing) December 18, 2016
Trevor Seimian looked promising on Denver’s second and third drives of the game, extending plays with his legs. A bad read red zone that resulted in a 42-yard interception return swung the momentum that for a while was moving in Siemian’s favor.
Something unappreciated in Siemian's game: Ability to keep head up while scrambling and buying time with his legs. #broncos
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) December 18, 2016
Following the Siemian interception that turned into a touchdown for New England, Demaryius Thomas saved a near second with an athletic on-handed grab to convert a key third down.
Demaryius Thomas just saved another interception. Came to a dead stop and boxed out while grabbing it with one hand. Just an amazing player.
— Jake Marsing (@JakeDMarsing) December 18, 2016
Shane Ray and Jared Crick both got to Tom Brady, even though Von Miller didn’t. Crick forced a fumble (recovered by New England) and Ray’s was his sixth on the year.
Shane Ray has 6 sacks this season as a reserve pass rusher. Solid year. He and Von Miller are going to be a great duo for years to come.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) December 18, 2016
Demaryius Thomas had some key drops in the second half, when the whole offense struggled, but he did go over 1,000 for the fifth year in a row in the loss.
#Broncos WR Demaryiyus Thomas now with 1,000 yds. on the year–his fifth consecutive 1,000-yd. season.
— Erich Schubert (@schube13) December 18, 2016
Demaryius Thomas has reached 1000 yards on the season. Next for him is keeping his 1300 yard streak alive (5 years) #Broncos
— Robin Carlin (@robincarlin) December 18, 2016
Dion Lewis nearly broke the game open when he broke loose on a run in the fourth quarter, but Darian Stewart made an incredible one-handed tackle to save seven points and keep the Broncos within shouting distance.
Big tackle by Stewart. Could've been the end of the game
— Ryan Edwards (@redwardsradio) December 18, 2016
By the game’s end, it was fans shouting at an anemic offense and three untimely turnovers, but at least we can look back on a few of these moments as positives in the loss.