Broncos’ playoff hopes in doubt after troubling loss to Titans

When the Denver Broncos faced the Tennessee Titans in week 14 you knew it was going to be a close game.

The Broncos didn’t have many chances to sack Mariota, as Tennessee ran early and often, but Shane Ray and DeMarcus Ware each got to Mariota once for sack, which cost the Titans 15 yards of field position.

That’s what happened Sunday, when Mariota’s numbers were bad, but the Titans defeated the defending Super Bowl champions Denver Broncos 13-10 on Sunday.

This is hardly what Broncos coach Gary Kubiak envisioned when he returned to Denver 23 months ago, vowing to bring more balance to an offense that had piled up yardage in the three previous seasons with Peyton Manning at quarterback, but had bogged down in short yardage and was often imbalanced. Then Oakland comes to Denver on January 1 to wrap up the regular season, already having beaten the Broncos 30-20 on November 6.

“It was a dirty play by a sorry player”, Talib reportedly told Mike Klis of 9News. I’ve had success with these three teams in the past.

Win, lose, or tie. Siemian’s pass hit Bennie Fowler in the hands at the goal-line but Fowler dropped the ball.

“It’s going to be an exciting game”, Miller said. The Chiefs won in overtime, draining the Broncos championship swagger.

The Broncos dropped to 8-5 with a brutal upcoming schedule featuring games against the New England Patriots, Chiefs and Oakland Raiders. “That’s what we were talking about in the meeting (after the game), so that’s the mentality everybody’s taking”.

“So, for the Bronco faithful and Bronco Country, have faith in us”. What’s more impressive is that despite putting the ball in the air 51 times and dropping back to throw a total of 54 times, Siemian never once turned it over. “We joke a lot, play a lot, hang out together outside the office a lot”.

Luckily, the Broncos still hold the final AFC Playoffs, for now.

With 1:03 left, Siemian found A.J. Derby with an 11-yard pass to the Denver 29. “I’m not a dirty player, no matter what anybody says”.

Running back Kapri Bibbs was starting to shine in splitting time with Devontae Booker in the win over Jacksonville, then went down to an ankle injury.

“Just trying to play fast and play hard and do whatever I can to help my team win”, Johnson said. “He put it on the money”. Even the occasional draw play to make the edge rushers think twice. “I feel like everybody has to be on the same accord and have that mentality of do-or-die”.

It’s understandable that the Broncos wanted to start the game aggressively, but scripting a stack of pass plays can go badly if they don’t connect from the get-go.

Siemian suffered a left foot injury on November 29 in the overtime period of a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, against whom he finished with 368 passing yards and three touchdowns.

And the Broncos playoff chances were placed in severe peril.

They’re not lamenting their losses, though, as they embrace their rocky road to the playoffs.

“We’ve got three good teams”, Fowler said, “and if we come out of this, we’re going to be really unsafe”.