HOUSTON — Three hours earlier than kickoff, the scent of barbecue wafted within the parking zone, painted-face followers walked round NRG Stadium and a throng of orange dotted in every single place the attention might see.
This felt just like the playoffs.
The Broncos have performed few significant video games in December since Tremendous Bowl 50. This one checked all of the bins as Denver confronted off with upstart Houston. The pair shared the identical file and visions of a postseason berth. This was a two-for-one when contemplating the primary playoff tiebreaker is convention file.
After a forgettable first half, the competition lived as much as the hype. The Broncos made a spirited comeback. Alas, there was no pleasure of six. The win streak snapped in a 22-17 loss to the Texans, leaving the Broncos disenchanted however resilient.
“We have been sloppy,” stated Payton. “It is disappointing. We type of rebounded from the sluggish begin, however a troublesome loss.”
The Broncos didn’t convert a 3rd down, going 0-for-11. Russell Wilson threw three interceptions, his first since Oct. 12. And the protection didn’t get a takeaway for the primary time in six video games, failing to recuperate a fumble within the second half which may have allowed for a slippery escape.
And but, the Broncos had an opportunity.
Trailing 22-17 with 4:38 remaining, the Broncos took over. Wilson linked with a streaking Courtland Sutton for 32 yards down the seam, leaving the Broncos on the Texans’ 48-yard line. Moments later, a cross interference in opposition to Samaje Perine saved the drive buzzing. Wilson transformed a fourth down that led to a different one with 30 seconds remaining. Denver known as timeout – it burned one a number of moments earlier to ensure it was the best play – and wanted a two-yard achieve from the 13-yard line. The Texans, recognizing the magnitude of the second, countered with a timeout, working the gang right into a frenzy. Wilson transformed.
Nonetheless, two performs later, Wilson evaded a sack however threw off stability and quick to a coated Lucas Krull. Jimme Ward intercepted the cross, thwarting Denver’s huge for a sixth-straight victory. Krull tried unsuccessfully to wrestle the ball away from Ward.
“Anytime the ball is within the air is that it is my ball I’ve to go get it. You place the sport in my palms in that state of affairs, I’ve to be a playmaker and go get that ball,” Krull stated. “I’m somewhat disenchanted in myself. These are performs I do know I could make and anticipate to make.”
The matchup felt totally different. The observe, even in warmups, performed quick. This setup had fewer mudflaps and extra slicks. The Broncos lastly discovered their match within the third quarter, which has been a mud bowl this season.
They let down their hair and went to the air.
Trailing 16-3, quarterback Wilson linked with Sutton on a 45-yard landing, respiratory life right into a comeback. It represented solely their second third quarter landing of the season.
Momentum shifted, the Broncos responded on protection with back-to-back sacks of Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. Nonetheless, the final proved pivotal for what didn’t occur. Ja’Quan McMillian jumped on the quarterback’s again, knocking the ball unfastened. One way or the other in a mass of white jerseys, the Broncos, who lead the NFL in takeaways, didn’t recuperate their eleventh fumble of the season.
“He is a superb participant. I tackled him. I knew I obtained the ball out and I noticed a few of our guys leap on the ball,” McMillian stated. “After which on the final minute, it type of squirted out and the Texans participant obtained it.”
On the primary play after the punt quite a possession contained in the 30, Wilson fired an interception. Wilson completed 15 of 26 for 186 yards and one landing. He additionally rushed 10 occasions for 44 yards.
“We felt like we might have gained this recreation. The protection did an awesome job of maintaining us in there and battling,” Wilson stated. “The fact is that now we have to play higher and it begins with me. I’ve to play higher.”
Texans rookie Will Anderson deflected the cross on the primary choose, one other entry in his diary of havoc. Whereas he owned the sport defensively, Nico Collins wrote his title in 72-point Helvetica on offense. The previous third-round choose widened the Texans’ result in 22-10 with a 3-yard rating with 14:16 remaining earlier than the Broncos made it attention-grabbing.
Denver confirmed its hand by going deep twice to Sutton on back-to-back performs to start out the sport, the second that includes a painful drop by the veteran at midfield.
A 22-yard punt from Riley Dixon adopted because it appeared Anderson ticked the boot because it spiraled helplessly out of bounds. Following a protection lapse that left backup tight finish Brevin Jordan cruising for 27 yards, the Broncos stiffened, holding the Texans to a chip shot discipline purpose of 29 yards from Matt Ammendola.
Trailing 3-0 with 10:38 remaining within the first, the Broncos fizzled because the Texans stayed daring. Stroud linked with Collins who raced previous Fabian Moreau for a 52-yard reception. What unfolded subsequent positioned Denver in its most deprived state of affairs in six weeks. On fourth-and-2 from the seven-yard line, refs known as the Texans for a false begin. However earlier than the play was useless, Alex Singleton blitzed into Stroud, bumping his facemask because the quarterback talked trash to the linebacker. Offensive lineman Shaq Mason got here in to guard Stroud, taking a shot at Singleton. However the careless penalty punished Denver, leaving Houston with a recent set of downs on the 3-yard line. Dameon Pierce plunged in for a rating, widening the Texans’ benefit to 10-0 with 3:53 remaining within the first quarter.
To that time, it was a forgettable opening argument for Denver. The Broncos went nowhere offensively, with three consecutive three-and-outs, had a key drop by Sutton and Pat Surtain II damage his left knee on the Texans’ 10-play, 78-yard landing drive. Denver collected 23 yards within the first interval, 1 by the air, in comparison with 178 for the Texans, an onslaught that introduced again recollections of the Dolphins Debacle. Denver had permitted 326 yards a recreation throughout its five-game profitable streak.
Two performs articulated their first-half distress. Sutton’s drop. And Wilson underthrowing a wide-open Marvin Mims Jr. – he was 5 yards behind the defender – on what would have been a landing.
Denver lastly responded with a late-first half drive, shaving the deficit to 13-3 at intermission. Throughout the profitable streak, the Broncos by no means trailed by greater than eight factors. Worse, the third quarter is just not their good friend. Denver entered Sunday outscored 71-20 within the third and had by no means scored when opening the second half with the ball in 9 makes an attempt (Form of undermines their 9-3 file on coin tosses). Make it 10 occasions with no factors because the Broncos allowed two sacks and went three-and-out. Denver couldn’t block Anderson on Twitter. The Alabama rookie was having fun with a modest season with three sacks. He had two by three quarters on Sunday.
To the Bronco’s credit score, they fought again. However they left Houston with an issue, doubtless needing to win 4 of their closing 5 video games to achieve the postseason. They sit ninth in a playoff image that solely contains seven groups, a recreation behind the Colts and Texans. There are not any extra mulligans left.
“It is irritating, in fact. However I nonetheless know now we have a variety of coronary heart and a variety of confidence, on this locker room” stated Sutton, who leads the Broncos with 9 touchdowns. “Guys know we are able to compete with anyone. Transferring ahead, now we have an opportunity.”
Footnotes
The Texans misplaced speedy rookie receiver Tank Dell to an unpleasant ankle harm on Pierce’s first landing as was carted off the sector. …
The Broncos suffered a battery of accidents, however all of the gamers returned to motion, Speedy rookie Marvin Mims Jr. went into the locker room late within the first half with a rib harm, tight finish Chris Manhertz went into the blue medical tent after struggling a shoulder harm late within the first half and Quinn Meinerz damage his shoulder within the fourth quarter and performed once more.
The Broncos promoted quarterback Ben DiNucci on Saturday, however he was inactive on Sunday, suggesting that one other group might need wished him, or Payton did him a stable for his work in apply.
