The Broncos lost to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game in Denver 10-7. It was a disappointing ending to a really remarkable season for the Broncos. There is so much to talk about and discuss about the game, but the finality of it ending on Sunday was really tough to take. This was a really great season and to see it end the way it did on Sunday really hurt as a Broncos fans. Here my thoughts on the game.....
1) Let's start with the game: What a start by the Broncos and Jarret Stidham. He hits Marvin Mims on a 50 yard bomb and then throws a TD to Courtland Sutton to make it 7-0 early in the first quarter. It really gave me a sense of hope that the Broncos might not just win-but roll to a victory. The Broncos defense came out and completely stifled the Pats offense, and you really felt good at the end of the first quarter.
2) The play that will long be remembered from this game will be the 4th and 1. At the Pats 14 and facing a 4th and 1, Sean Payton decided to go for it, but the Pats were all over the bootleg, and Stidham's pass was incomplete. At the time, I wanted the Broncos to take the points and kick the field goal. I think they should have done that and gone up 10-0. Payton was aggressive in that spot, just like they were all year long, but it didn't work. I didn't like the playcall either. Of course, if Denver converts and then ends up scoring a TD to make it 14-0, then everyone praises Payton. I would have taken the points, and that will be the lasting moment all offseason for Broncos fans when they think of this game.
3) Stidham's later in the quarter changed the whole game. With 2:59 left in the half and at their own 33 facing a 3rd and 4, Stidham got sacked and tried to throw the ball forward, but it went backwards, which is a fumble, and the Patriots recovered at the Broncos 12 yard line. They scored two plays later and the game was tied 7-7. All Stidham had to do was throw the ball away earlier or just take the sack and set up the punt. It was a disastrous play that Stidham should not have made. That play killed Denver and was a main reason why they lost the game.
4) The forecast called for snow flurries in the second half. Well, it turned into a blizzard. The weather completely changed and it became a huge factor in the second half. The key drive was the Patriots getting a field goal to start the half and made it 10-7 before the weather really got bad and neither team could do anything the rest of the game.
5) As much as Denver couldn't move the ball in the second half, they still got the ball back at the NE 33 yard line with 6:55 left to play and down 10-7. They lost three yards on the drive and Will Lutz missed a 45 yard field goal that was partially blocked. That was really their last chance at winning the game.
6) As for the big picture aspect of this game, the first part that stands out is that Bo Nix being injured cost the Broncos a chance to win a Super Bowl. If Nix plays in this game, there is no doubt in my mind the Broncos win. He would have helped them score points in the first half to take a lead, and the Broncos defense would have shut the door like they did. Even if it was close in the second half, Nix would have found a way in the snow to move the ball and help Denver win. Losing Nix will be the big "What If" of this game.
7) This will be an opportunity that the Broncos let slip by. They had the AFC Title game at home, and their defense held the Patriots to barely 10 points, and they lost the game. Forget what would have happened in the Super Bowl, AFC Championships last forever. They hang banners for AFC titles, and t-shirts and trophies are handed out. This missed opportunity will really hurt for long time. There was no Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs. The Broncos knocked off Josh Allen in the Divisional Round. This might have been their best chance to get to the Super Bowl, and they couldn't get it done. Yes, you have to incorporate the Bo Nix injury into the equation, and it adds up to huge missed opportunity for this franchise to go to another Super Bowl.
8) It was a great season that exceeded a lot of expectations. The Broncos finished 14-3, won the AFC West for the first time in 10 years, and won a playoff game for the first time in 10 years as well. We will always have that moment when they beat the Bills in that epic playoff game in overtime. But, the thing about the NFL is that there is no guarantee that they get back to this point next year. In fact, it will be hard for them to do so. The last two times Denver lost in an AFC Championship Game (1991 to Buffalo and 2005 to Pittsburgh) they missed the playoffs the next season. It will take a lot just to make the playoffs next year-let alone the AFC Championship Game. You just don't know when you will get back there again.
9) For me, the memories of this season will always be fond. Just like I look back at 1991 and 2005 with great memories of those seasons. The best part of being a Broncos fan now is that I get to share it with my kids. My boys are 16 and 13 and they are huge Broncos fans. We watched every game this season together. We made every game an event. We even went to the game against Washington in November. It was such an awesome year to follow, and I am happy that they got to experience it with me. I just want them to experience the feeling of seeing Denver go and win the Super Bowl. That's the ultimate,
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