The Broncos fell to 0-2 after a tough 26-21 loss to the Steelers in Pittsburgh on Sunday. This is the second straight year that the Broncos have started 0-2. The loss was even worse because the Broncos lost QB Drew Lock to a shoulder injury on the second series of the game. Lock is out 2-6 weeks with a bruised shoulder. Denver also lost star WR Courtland Sutton to a torn ACL, and he is done for the year. The Broncos battled back in a game where they trailed at times 17-3 and 26-14. They had a chance down 26-21 late in the 4th quarter in Pittsburgh territory, but the Steelers stopped the Broncos on a 4th and 2 to end the game. It is another disappointing start to the season for the Broncos, and with all the injuries they have endured, it seems like we could be in for another long and frustrating season. Here are my thoughts on the game....
1) The injury to Lock really set the tone for the game. Lock was sacked and fumbled and turned the ball over on the play, but when he got knocked out of the game, it was just a bad sign of things to come. Hopefully, he can come back sooner rather than later, but in any event, the last thing you want to see is him getting hurt.
2) The injuries are really starting to mount up big time. In addition to Lock, Courtland Sutton, DreMont Jones, DeMarcus Walker, and Davontae Harris all got hurt in this game. Sutton is done for the year with a torn ACL and Jones might miss at least a month with a knee sprain. I can't remember a season in which the Broncos have been hit this hard with injuries to key players. We are without Von Miller, Drew Lock, Courtland Sutton, Philip Lindsay, and AJ Bouye. It is going to be very difficult to overcome that type of talent being hurt.
3) Rookie Cb Mike Ojemudia got worked and picked on all day long. He dropped an easy interception in the endzone on the drive that the Steelers scored their first touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. He got beat for an 80 yard touchdown pass by Chase Claypoole, and he got beat for another touchdown in the 4th quarter that gave the Steelers a 24-14 lead. Hopefully, he can improve each week because every QB and offensive coordinator is going to be coming for him.
4) Give the Broncos credit. They could have folded up their tent and gave up down 17-3 and down 26-14, but they fought back and gave themselves a chance to win it at the end.
5) Punter Sam Martin dropped a snap in his own endzone and the play resulted in a safety to give Pittsburgh a 26-14 lead. It came back to be a huge play because the Broncos cut the lead to 26-21, and if Martin simply doesn't drop the ball, then the Broncos can tie the game at the end with a field goal when they drove down deep. a
6) There is a lot of criticism about the plays call on 3rd and 2 and 4th and 2 late in the game deep in Pittsburgh territory. I don't have a problem with calling two passes in those spots. The 4th down play actually have Melvin Gordon and Tim Patrick wide open but Jeff Driskel didn't throw it and got sacked to end the game.
7) There are no excuses and no one feels bad for you in the NFL. That is just the nature of the beast. The Broncos are banged up and lost a lot of key talent-especially at QB with Lock out. They must come together and find a way to win one game and stay afloat until Lock comes back. That's all they have to think about right now. Go out on Sunday and somehow beat Tom Brady and Bucs in front of 5,700 fans in Denver. Other teams in the NFL have a slew of injuries all the time and they find a way. The Broncos must do the same.
No comments:
Post a Comment