After a solid Week 1 win over the Tennessee Titans, the Denver Broncos have lost back-to-back games against the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Chargers.
Both losses were heartbreaking, and Denver had both teams on the ropes. The Colts and Chargers stole victories on walk-off field goals.
Denver’s defense had Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert reeling for most of the game until a crucial personal foul flipped the script. ESPN’s Jeff Legwold detailed the late collapse:
“With a 20-13 lead and just over four minutes left, the Broncos had the Chargers in a third-and-10 at the Los Angeles 24-yard line,” Legwold wrote Monday. “Herbert completed an 11-yarder to receiver Keenan Allen for the first down, and the Broncos added to the damage when safety Talanoa Hufanga body-slammed Allen to the turf. Hufanga was flagged for the personal foul, adding 15 yards to the reception. It moved the ball to the 50-yard line. The Broncos never regained their balance, and the Chargers tied the game at 20-20 four plays later. The Chargers drove for the winning field goal on their next possession.”
The devastating penalty created a 10-point swing for the Chargers and led to their victory.
“Honestly, just making a tackle,” Hufanga spoke about the personal foul after the game. “I gotta be smart and understand that’s on me, not sure what I did exactly so I have to talk to the coaches, but I got a penalty, so I have to own it.”
Legwold explained that head coach Sean Payton emphasized the importance of starting the season hot but that the Broncos have a lot of work to do to overcome these losses.
“Broncos coach Sean Payton spent an offseason pounding away at the importance of a fast start to the season,” Legwold wrote. “Good teams, he said, the real playoff threats, come out of the gate strong. However, after the Broncos let leads slip away against the Colts and Chargers, they are 1-2. That follows an 0-2 start last year and a 1-5 start in 2023 -- Payton's first season in Denver. Complicating things, the Broncos have two of their next three games on the road and the Chargers now have three AFC West wins. So, the Broncos have some work to do.”
The Broncos host the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4. Denver desperately needs to win against a team that is seemingly broken without Joe Burrow at quarterback.
Cincinnati’s defense isn’t good, so if the offense can keep the pressure on in all four quarters, this will be a good matchup for the Broncos to get back in the win column.