As the Broncos concluded another disappointing year with a 32-31 loss to the Raiders to finish 5-11, here’s a look at the four defining moments of the franchise’s fifth consecutive playoff miss, one for each “quarter” of the season.
Week 2 (at Pittsburgh)
Joe Sargent, Getty Images
Bud Dupree (48) of the Pittsburgh Steelers forces a fumble after hitting Drew Lock (3) of the Denver Broncos during the first quarter at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on Sept. 20, 2020.In an early-season road test against an AFC powerhouse, quarterback Drew Lock had completed just one pass when he suffered a shoulder injury that knocked him out of that game and cost him two more. Lock was hurt when he rolled out of the pocket, slipped, and was crunched by Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree. The injury not only put the Broncos behind the eight ball against a superior opponent in Pittsburgh, it sunk their chances the next week, too, as Denver fell to 0-3 after a blowout loss to Tampa Bay.
Week 7 (vs. Kansas City)
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Denver Broncos Garett Bolles (72) and quarterback Drew Lock try to take down Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark (55) as he recovers a dropped ball during the third quarter of the game at Empower Field at Mile High on Oct. 25, 2020.What was supposed to be a litmus test for the Broncos turned into another rout in a series that’s been decidedly one-sided as of late, as the Chiefs have now won 11 straight over Denver (including December’s win at Arrowhead). In this meeting at Empower Field, Kansas City cruised to a 43-16 obliteration that was sparked by safety Daniel Sorensen’s pick-six off an ill-advised second-quarter pass by Lock. Honorable mention: The 34-27 Week 9 defeat to hapless Atlanta, which followed a comeback win over the Chargers and squandered Denver’s first chance at .500 since December 2018.
Week 12 (vs. New Orleans)
AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post
Kendall Hinton (2) of the Denver Broncos drops back against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of New Orleans’ 31-3 win on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020.If there was any game that perfectly summed up the trainwreck that was the Broncos’ 2020 season, it was the beatdown by the Saints at home in a game where Denver had to start a practice squad wideout at quarterback. Kendall Hinton was forced to make his NFL debut on less than 24 hours notice after the Broncos’ four QBs on the roster were all sidelined with COVID-related issues. With Hinton at the helm, the Broncos were clobbered 31-3 as the rookie finished 1-of-9 for 13 yards through the air, with two interceptions and a 0.1 rating.
Week 15 (vs. Buffalo)
David Zalubowski, The Associated Press
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen gets away from Denver Broncos linebacker Alexander Johnson during the second half of an NFL football game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Dec. 19, 2020.Buffalo marched into Empower Field on Dec. 19 and destroyed Denver, eliminating the Broncos from the playoffs and clinching the franchise’s fourth straight losing season. Josh Allen — whom the Broncos passed on in the 2018 draft in favor of linebacker Bradley Chubb — teamed up with Stefon Diggs and six other targets to tear up a depleted Denver secondary for 359 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Lock and the inconsistent offense had nowhere near the firepower to keep up, further proving the emergent Bills are who the Broncos hope to be.
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Four defining moments of Broncos’ fourth straight losing season - The Denver Post
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