Mile High Report
Will this Denver Broncos team ever figure out how to win close games? They are now 2-8 in one score games since the beginning of the 2024 season and have collapsed with leads in the fourth quarter in each of the last two games. They had the Los Angeles Chargers beat. All they had to do was put together a drive. Instead, they folded like a wet paper bag.
This defeat sets Denver back to 1-2 and a full two games behind the division-leading Chargers. However, until they learn how to win these close games, I think fans should temper their expectations on the 2025 season. We’ll see how they respond to this slow start in the coming weeks.
The Broncos began the game as sloppy as they ended their last. The offense began with back-to-back-to-back three and outs and the team had more penalty yards than offensive yards. Fortunately for them, the Broncos defense had held the Chargers first three possessions to just three points.
Despite flipping the field and even starting one of their drives in Chargers territory, the Broncos offense just looked absolutely atrocious and inept. We’re talking Nathaniel Hackett levels of bad here.
Chargers 3, Broncos 0. Full first quarter recap.
Denver’s offensive woes continued well into the second quarter, as well. The defense was coming up with the plays to keep the score low, like this interception by Brandon Jones.
The Broncos finally got a first down after that turnover, but the miscues continues to plague them. The biggest miscue was Bo Nix failing to plant his feet and just barely overthrowing Marvin Mims Jr. on a flea flicker that would have been a touchdown had he thrown a more accurate pass.
That seemed to sap the momentum from the defense as the Chargers came out and drove down the field to score the games’ first down with just under two minutes to go.
However, it feels like Nix often plays his best ball when in hurry up mode. He and Courtland Sutton took over the drive with several first downs, but then they were stopped just short near midfield. Sean Payton elected to go for it and drew up a beautifully designed play that caused the entire Chargers defense to bite hard one way. That left Sutton wide open down the middle of the field for Denver’s first score of the game.
That 52-yard touchdown seemed to swing momentum a bit heading into halftime, but the Broncos offense still had plenty of work to do to catch back up from their slow start to the game.
Chargers 10, Broncos 7. Full second quarter recap.
Denver came right out in the second half and scored so quickly you’d have missed it if you came back to the television a minute too late. Three run plays — all to JK Dobbins — first for 41-yards, then a short gain, then a...
