New year and same result for the Vic Fangio-led Broncos. The Titans defeated the Broncos 16-14 on a field goal with 17 seconds left to send the Broncos to 0-1. Denver had a 14-13 lead late in the 4th quarter, but they couldn't close out the game. Tennessee drove down the field in an empty Empower Field at Mile High, with no fans and crowd noise, and kicked the game-winner. Fangio completely botched his timeout usage at the end and left Denver with only 17 seconds left but all three timeouts after the Titans scored to take the lead. Overall, it was another disappointing defeat and the second straight year that the Broncos lost the season opener. Here are my thoughts and observations about the game.....
1) Drew Lock played well and he looked comfortable and led his team back when they were down 13-7 in the 4th quarter. He did miss a couple deep throws and some open receivers, but overall he played well. He has to really step it up and play at a high level if the Broncos are going to do anything this year.
2) This game was so similar to the games that the Broncos lost last year. They controlled most of the first half but the game was tied at 7. They took the lead at 14-13 in the 4th quarter and had two drives to put the game away, but they couldn't do it. They left the door open for the Titans and it cost them at the end.
3) There is no excuse for Vic Fangio's miscues at the end of the game with the timeouts. As Tennessee started to get deeper into Denver territory, he has to take one or two timeouts to give the Broncos some time left on the clock to score if they don't stop the Titans. Fangio said he was thinking of the next defensive call and not the timeouts. That is inexcusable. You are the head coach. You have to have an idea of what is going on and the game management situation in that spot. Just awful by Fangio there.
4) I thought the fact that no fans were there really hurt the Broncos. In a normal situation, the fans would have been fired up for the MNF opener, and they would have been super loud all night long. Instead, the Titans were able to use a regular snap count, make audibles, and even Ryan Tannehill used a hard count to get the Broncos to jump offsides on a key play. It really hurt the Broncos. They are one of the few teams that has a true homefield advantage still. It was a shame. The atmosphere was just not there.
5) The Broncos are once again 0-1, and the injuries are starting to pile up. Philip Lindsay left the game at halftime with a turf toe injury and A.J. Bouye left the game with a separated shoulder. It looks like both will miss a few weeks. Now, Denver heads to Pittsburgh to take on the 1-0 Steelers on Sunday. I know there are no fans in attendance at Heinz Field, but Denver still has to go across the country and play a really good team with a really good defense. It looks like we are staring at 0-2 for the second straight year.
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