Justin Edmonds/Associated Press
Stephen GostkowskiDavid Zalubowski/Associated Press/Associated Press.
It marked the 4th defeat in the Broncos last 16 games in which they lost the lead in the last 30 seconds, but that might not have been the case if no-longer-a-rookie head coach Vic Fangio didnt make a novice mistake by declining to utilize his timeouts on defense when the Titans moved inside the red zone in the last 90 seconds of the fourth quarter..
Fangios puzzling choice to save all 3 of his timeouts for Hail Mary tries does not come close to covering the chokery that took place late Monday night in the Rockies..
The Broncos put on a foot-shooting clinic that also consisted of:.
When Gostkowski was provided an opportunity to redeem himself with a chip-shot, consent basket, the Broncos had only 17 seconds with which to work.
Fangios several descriptions– that he didnt want to extend Tennessees drive, that Titans back Derrick Henry headed out of bounds anyhow on one particular play, and that the Titans were having kicking problems– were both complicated and an indictment of his confidence in his defense.
Those explanations also didnt account for that fact that he should have utilized at least one timeout well before Henry headed out of bounds with 24 seconds remaining. His clock mismanagement would not have actually been considerably less outright had he chose to stop the clock just 7 seconds earlier than the Titans eventually finished with the insufficient pass that preceded Gostkowskis potentially career-saving game-winner..
Cedric Golden @CedGoldenVic Fangio has been in this league for 35 years and that was some of the worst clock management in league history. The Broncos leave the field with two timeouts staying, the timeouts he ought to have utilized when Tennessee was running down the clock. Sorry but thats inexcusable.
Cedric Golden @CedGoldenVic Fangio has actually remained in this league for 35 years which was some of the worst clock management in league history. The Broncos leave the field with two timeouts remaining, the timeouts he ought to have used when Tennessee was running down the clock. Sorry however thats untenable.
The Tennessee Titans handed the diminished Denver Broncos a present in Monday nights season opener at Mile High, and a Denver team that lots of expected to break out in 2020 responded by doing what it did best in 2019..
Choke..
Despite the truth that Stephen Gostkowski missed out on 3 mid-range field goals and an extra point to cost his team double-digit points in the legendary kickers Titans debut, the Broncos found a way to lose simply their 3rd home opener in the last 21 years..
Jerry JeudyJustin Edmonds/Associated Press/Associated Press.
Thats what makes this such a stop working. Denver didnt fall to 0-1 due to the fact that it was without Miller, Sutton, Lindsay, Bouye, promising novice wideout KJ Hamler or COVID-19 opt-out take on JaWuan James.
The Broncos didnt carry out badly on either side of the ball, and they actually flashed more often than one might have expected from a team currently down superstar edge defender Von Miller (leg) and Pro Bowl receiver Courtland Sutton (shoulder) before losing essential beginners Phillip Lindsay (toe) and A.J. Bouye (shoulder) prior to crunch time.
They balanced 5.5 backyards per play (compared to 4.8 for Tennessee), they kept balance on offense and didnt enable a sack..
Thats what makes this such a stop working. Denver didnt be up to 0-1 due to the fact that it lacked Miller, Sutton, Lindsay, Bouye, promising rookie wideout KJ Hamler or COVID-19 opt-out tackle JaWuan James. Outside of some bad coaching moves and a couple of careless errors, the Broncos played well sufficient to defeat a tough opponent that fell one video game brief of the Super Bowl last year..
A Melvin Gordon fumble inside the Denver 25-yard line that straight caused a first-quarter Tennessee touchdown..
A series of questionable play calls that put too much on young quarterback Drew Lock and caused a Titans goal-line stand and absolutely no Denver points late in the very first half..
A ruthless third-down drop from rookie pass receiver Jerry Jeudy that killed Denvers chance to set the tone on the first series of the second half..
Two third-quarter personal fouls on defense, among which– a flagrant face mask on Josey Jewell– began the Titans second goal drive..
That challenger tried its finest to hand the Broncos yet another home-opening success too. As The Athletics Matt Schneidman noted on Twitter, Gostkowskis performance was the worst single-game proving by a kicker in almost two years..
But the Broncos were unable to capitalize..
This stays a young team that is, unfortunately, less healthy than numerous others. However that doesnt alter the fact that these Broncos have yet to discover how to do one extremely essential thing..
They can run, they can cover, they can use pressure, and it even appears theyve discovered how to pass protect and get the ball downfield. Theyve got most if not all of the crucial components to be a winner..
Now, if they could just figure out how to win.
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Brad Gagnon has covered the NFL for Bleacher Report since 2012. Follow him on Twitter: @Brad_Gagnon.
