If ever a game epitomized a season, yesterday’s loss to the Patriots was it.
How tired must Denver’s vaunted defense be? The unit that has somehow managed to keep the 2016 season from being a complete and utter disaster was once again asked to carry the load. Once again, it rose to the challenge.
And, once again, Denver’s offense offered no help whatsoever.
Coming into the game, New England boasted the league’s fifth best scoring average, an impressive 26.8 points per game. Denver held them to 16. The Patriots average 395.8. Denver allowed just 313.
If the game didn’t say it all, the final six minutes sure did. With Denver in possession, down 16-3, fourth and two as the clock ticked below 6:00, knowing the once again abandoned running game couldn’t muster two yards on the ground, Gary Kubiak gave the ball to Trevor Siemian, who then hung Demaryius Thomas out to dry. The catch, which would have been a first down, was made – for a split second – but Thomas couldn’t survive the blow to the middle of his back.
Game. Set. Match. At least for all intents and purposes – mathematically, there was still the smallest sliver of hope.
But four minutes later, Bill Belichick all but waved across the field to tell Kubiak that he was willing to keep it a two-score game with 2:00 on the clock. Instead of attempting what would have been 43-yard field goal, making it a three-score game, Belichick told his offense to go for it. The attempt was unsuccessful, but surely Belichick didn’t care. Translation: There’s no way in hell Denver’s offense can score once, much less twice.
And they didn’t.
The Broncos currently possess the worst offense in franchise history, at least arguably. There have been some bad ones, and some that probably look worse on paper. But the eyeball test reveals one of the least productive, least creative, least clutch offenses ever in Denver.
Sadly, the defense is one of the greatest – the greatest – Denver has ever seen. What a waste.
The only thing stronger than the team’s defense, is apparently its locker room. How has this team not imploded? How in the world has there been no finger pointing? No pouting?
Following the game, the media did its damndest to squeeze out one tiny complaint. The frustration on the faces of defensive players was as easily read as the Broncos playbook, but none of them cracked.
Credit must be given to the leaders on the defense. To have kept this team together, considering how practically every game this season has played out, is more miraculous than holding the Pats to 16.
“That’s not gonna take us anywhere, beefin’ with the offense,” Aqib Talib said in front of his locker. “It’s up to the leaders of this team to keep moral good in the locker room.”
Surely, though, it’s a matter of time. The situation has got to be a ticking time bomb, doesn’t it? Could anyone blame anyone on the defensive side of the ball for boiling over?
The defense has been more than great. It’s given the Broncos, a team that has little to no chance of scoring more than a couple touchdowns each week, a chance to win every single game on the year. It deserves better than this.
Sadly, they’ll likely have to wait until September.
