Woody Paige: Broncos’ success will depend on a ‘better bunch’ of players

By Woody Paige January 8, 2024 | updated 2 years ago

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The Broncos couldn’t run and couldn’t hide, and certainly didn’t ride.

Like the majority of gamblers, the Broncos haven’t won yet in Lost Vegas.

And their season ended just as badly as it began.

On the Broncos’ opening play Sept. 10, 2023, new coach Sean Payton tried trickery by calling for an onside kickoff against the Raiders. The Broncos’ special teams illegally touched the football before it went 10 yards. The Raiders got possession at the Denver 44-yard line and would score the first touchdown, and eventually win 17-16.

On the Broncos’ final play Jan. 7, 2024, quarterback Jarrett Stidham tried to throw into traffic against the Raiders. But with the quarterback’s feet snarled and his arm skewed, the ball became a Goodyear blimp and was intercepted.

From alpha to omega the Broncos weren’t quite effective enough to fulfill Payton’s potential playoff plan.

For the eighth season in franchise history the Broncos finished with exactly nine defeats, and Payton has been on the losing side in nine games five times in his head coaching career.

The good news is the Broncos will have a first-round selection. But the bad news is the choice is at middling No. 12, and the Broncos possess only six picks and just two in the first two draft days. By beating the Broncos Sunday, the Raiders earned a duplicate record of 8-9 and have the draft’s 13th choice.

The Broncos have fallen this season by 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 11, 25, 50 and, Sunday, 13.

The Broncos couldn’t run against the Raiders, gaining only 48 yards on 20 attempts. Javonte Williams rushed on only nine plays for 32 yards and a touchdown.

Meanwhile, the Raiders, who held out injured running back Josh Jacobs, ran for 129 yards (4.2 per play), with Zamir White rushing for 112 on 25 carries.

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The Broncos couldn’t hide their deficiencies against the run. They rank last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed at 137 a game.

And the Broncos haven’t been able to ride during the Russell Wilson Error Era, which concluded with the Quarter-Billion-Dollar Quarterback standing silently on the sideline. He won’t ride out. He will be run out, but not before June 1 unless Russ is traded before – which he can block. And why would he want to help the Broncos now? The later release will save the Broncos some salary-cap money that can be spread over two years. But they will be in a severe bind because of one of the worst trades in the league’s annals.

Wilson’s successor wasn’t successful Sunday. Stidham didn’t fling a pick until the final offensive play of the season, and he was 20 of 34 for 272 yards with connections to Jerry Jeudy for 27 to score the Broncos’ first touchdown and 47 to set up the second score. Payton may have Mile High hopes for Stidham, but he doesn’t seem like the third coming of John Elway and Peyton Manning. Stidham is more like Jake Plummer, who did lead the Broncos to one AFC Championship game.

Stidham will return, as will Ben DiNucci, who himself announced he will sign again with the Broncos on Monday.

But, sooner than later, the Broncos must draft a quarterback of the future, not rely on passable passers of the present or the past.

Next season the Broncos must become more offense-oriented than offensive. Even with the Visor Advisor who is advertised as brilliant, the Broncos still scored 21 points or fewer in more than half their games. Against the Raiders this season 16 and 14 were not sufficient. The Broncos surpassed 30 just twice against lousy opponents.

There was a time when the Broncos scored more than 30 in 13 games.

Defensively the Broncos must become tougher and meaner up front, and they need a pass rusher extraordinaire.

Wilson won’t be the only Broncos’ player to be banished. Veterans such as Garett Bolles (who would be the highest-paid player remaining after Wilson at $20 million), Courtland Sutton, (injured) Tim Patrick, D.J. Jones and Mike Purcell probably will be on the move, along with several tight ends and marginal backups.

The Broncos have to bring a better bunch to Las Vegas if they intend to break the streak and not crap out.

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Woody Paige: Broncos’ success will depend on a ‘better bunch’ of players

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