The Broncos suffered a tough loss to the Chargers on Thursday. Denver dominated the first half, scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions by leaning heavily on the run game. However, the Chargers took control in the second half, adjusting their defense to shut down the run and forcing Denver to rely on the pass.
Rookie quarterback Bo Nix struggled, refusing to throw the ball downfield. While it’s understandable that he wanted to avoid turnovers, his cautious approach hurt the offense. In previous games, Nix had thrown five interceptions—three against the Colts and two against the Browns—yet Denver still managed to win. While avoiding interceptions is important, failing to stretch the field allows defenses to stack the line and limit the offense, as the Chargers did. If Nix doesn’t start taking shots downfield, other teams will copy that strategy, and the Broncos will continue to struggle.
The end of the first half was marred by a coaching mistake and a costly special teams penalty. Instead of running out the clock and heading into halftime with momentum, Denver’s errors gave the Chargers an opening. Penalties plagued the Broncos throughout the game, either extending Chargers drives or putting Denver in difficult situations. This was a golden opportunity to secure a playoff berth, and they fell short.
Fortunately, Denver still has two more chances to make the playoffs—they need just one win. Their next opponent, the Bengals, are also fighting for a postseason spot. The NFL season is a grind, and this young Broncos team is in unfamiliar territory. Mistakes are magnified in high-stakes games, but they can’t let the fear of errors prevent them from taking big-play opportunities. Nix will learn from this and improve, and the Broncos must clean up their penalties to perform better next week. Go Broncos!
Karl Mecklenburg originally shared this post on his social media pages and it was re-shared here with permission. Mecklenburg played for the Denver Broncos from 1983-1994, earning six Pro Bowl nods and five All-Pro selections during his decorated career in the NFL. Mecklenburg is now a motivational keynote speaker. You can book Mecklenburg on his website.
