Instant reaction: Broncos’ season comes to an end with tough loss to Patriots

The Denver Broncos and New England Patriots went head-to-head in a hard-fought, defensive powered gridiron battle in this afternoon’s AFC Championship Game. A second half snowstorm significantly had an impact on both team’s game plans and turned the matchup into a white out. After four quarters, it was the Patriots who came out victorious defeating the Broncos 10-7. Here are some instant reactions from today’s game.

Miscues hamper Jarrett Stidham’s outing in AFC Championship Game.

First things first, a tip of the hat to the New England Patriots on a well-played game. They put together a gritty performance to earn the right to represent the AFC in Super Bowl 60. With Bo Nix being out due to a broken ankle, a lot of added pressure was placed on veteran quarterback Jarrett Stidham.

On the second drive of the game, Jarrett Stidham was able to connect with Marvin Mims Jr. on a 52-yard pass that put the Broncos in scoring position. Ultimately, the drive was capped off with a 6-yard touchdown to Courtland Sutton. That gave Broncos Country some optimism early on the game. Alas, that proved to be the only quality drive of magnitude in the entire game.

Mistakes, miscues, and a lack of running game thwarted Denver’s offensive efforts. Stidham’s backwards pass that resulted in a turnover was a major turning point in the game. That led to a Drake Maye touchdown moments later was the big momentum change the Patriots needed.

Dropped passes also stalled some Denver drives. To make matters worse, multiple missed field goals by Wil Lutz were a backbreaker for the Broncos. Not just that, but Head Coach Sean Payton’s decision to go for it on fourth-and-one in the first half instead of kicking a field goal resulted in points off the board. I was not on board with that decision at all. Factor in those three things, and that’s nine lost points by Denver.

Truth be told, this was a winnable game. In many ways, the Broncos simply beat themselves by failing to execute with the opportunities they had. That’s a tough way to lose and makes this one sting even more than it already does.

Running the football makes a difference—especially in the postseason.

If anything can truly be learned from today’s loss, it’s the importance of being able to run the ball effectively. Especially late in the postseason when cold weather can impact a gameplan. The Broncos’ defense did a good job limiting Drake Maye and the passing game. He completed just 10-of-21 passes for 86 yards. That was a huge plus.

However, they struggled against the run especially in the second half. The Patriots’ initial second half drive took over nine and a half minutes off the clock. They had 22 plays and had the ball for over 13 minutes. On the flip side, the Broncos had just 4 plays in the entire third quarter. Denver had 24 carries for 79 yards. New England had 38 for 141 yards.

What’s the big thing Denver needs to do this offseason? Get better at defending the run and find a true number one running back they can rely on. It’s absolutely clear their running game struggled once J.K. Dobbins went down. Quite frankly, it’s a surprise they were able to get this far considering how inconsistent they were toting the rock down the stretch.

It’s officially the offseason, Broncos Country.

This was a memorable season. In fact, I’d argue the Broncos are ahead of schedule. Even so, coming up short will certainly leave Broncos Country with a poor taste in their mouths over the course of the offseason. For many, Denver’s 2025 campaign will forever be seen as “What if?” moment—leading those to ponder if things would have turned out differently had Bo Nix been able to play.

A large point of emphasis for the Broncos this offseason will be adding to the running back position. Denver needs a true workhorse back capable of making plays. They also need to get stronger in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Keep adding there. They need to get bigger up front on defense.

On top of that, I think making a swing for another big-time playmaker on offense is a must. The offense simply has to be more consistent next season for Denver to be able to compete and make another run. While I like the players they have in-house, a couple of outside additions here in via free agency, the NFL Draft, or through a trade would be ideal.