Strike 1: The Denver Broncos are missing something.
We’re not (just) talking linebackers who can cover in pass defense, or a tight end that can receive a forward pass. Those shortcomings are obvious, even if the solutions are currently on the Broncos injured list.
There’s something bigger. Something less tangible. Less obvious, but perhaps even more important. Something that separates teams that can win tight NFL games from teams that can’t. Because right now, it’s apparent that the Broncos – most especially on the road – are missing a killer instinct, an inner confidence, and mean streak. Let’s just call it “moxie.”
The dictionary definition of “moxie” is a “force of character, determination, or nerve.”
“We have to learn how to win,” said running back JK Dobbins after the latest stinging defeat at the hand of the Los Angeles Chargers. It was Denver’s second consecutive last-second loss on a field goal.
There’s no question about the Broncos desire to win. The determination is there, on the surface. But is it – collectively – present underneath? It’s a fair question given the nature of the two Denver road losses that have happened the past two Sundays. Games that were there for the taking, games where they had a late fourth quarter lead, but could not close the deal. In a league where the general talent level is virtually the same all across the league, it’s the little things that make the difference, especially in closely contested contests. Things like not being able to get a first down when you need to at worst, bleed the clock, and at best, get yourself in position to score the points needed to win.
The difference between champions and also-rans.
This isn’t typically the case with more veteran, established teams and coaches. You don’t last in the NFL as a coach if you can’t win close games more often than you lose them. You’d think that a team coached by a veteran, Super Bowl-winning head coach like Sean Payton would have the savvy – the moxie – to know how to close out football games when you have a lead. That unforced errors that lead directly to defeat would not happen as frequently as they are with the 2025 Broncos.
Super Bowl caliber teams – and Payton said publicly during the summer that this version of the Broncos fit that description – wouldn’t commit 10 penalties – several at very crucial moments on defense, and give the home standing Chargers 90 free yards, keeping drives alive and allowing a second straight last defeat to drop you almost out of the AFC West race after just three games. Super Bowl caliber teams don’t give up an astounding 20 more first downs than they get themselves. Instead, those teams run the four-minute drill and are the ones to get into field goal range to win the game.
The best example of all this is last season’s Kansas City Chiefs of course. They didn’t overwhelm anyone on the stat sheet on their way to a 15-2 regular season and a third straight Super Bowl appearance. The Chiefs won an amazing 10 games by a touchdown or less. Their moxie was on full display almost every week.
What can Payton and his team do to “find” some moxie? Does it have to grow naturally? Does it come with maturity? Does QB Bo Nix need to display some Patrick Mahomes-like late game magic before the rest of the team follows suit?
Most importantly, why did Payton decide to get the Broncos already overly excitable fan base extra riled up over the summer when his team hadn’t proven itself yet? If this is going to be a slower growth process between the ears for the Broncos and their roster, then all of Broncos Country, Payton included, have to get used to some additional heartbreak before the championship moxie begins to show itself when it matters most.
