Yesterday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals was a hard-fought battle. A brave effort that showed some great positives, but unfortunately also had many flaws and drawbacks. Unfortunately, it ended in defeat and put the Denver Broncos in a difficult situation.

The Broncos made some big plays on offense and defense to put them in a position to win. Players like Bo Nix, Marvin Mims Jr., Patrick Surtain II and Zach Allen had individual performances that were certainly commendable.

But when it mattered most, the players didn’t act. They failed to record a first down on two possessions in overtime. Three-and-outs were a common theme for the team all season, especially when the stakes were at their highest. The loss to the Bengals marks the sixth game of the year in which they have lost by less than a point.

Additionally, questionable coaching decisions – such as not going for two at the end of the game – certainly play a big role. Head coach Sean Payton expressed his opinion in the press conference and felt that a draw would have been just as beneficial.

But after a wonderful game and with some momentum on your side, why not play to win? Isn’t that why you play the game – to win it? I don’t think there’s much of a good argument that overtime on the road against a Bengals team with a red-hot offense was the best course of action.

I think the sense of urgency and lack of aggressiveness, especially compared to Zac Taylor’s philosophy on Saturday when he coached the Bengals, really hurt the team. In addition, some strange game rules certainly contributed to the team’s failure to secure its tenth victory and secure its ticket to the postseason.

Luckily, the team still has a chance to get it right. Next weekend’s game will be the most important of the season. The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to rest their starters in Week 18. That should benefit the Broncos, but can you imagine the outrage if the team fails and can’t find a way to win against the Chiefs’ backups?

A three-game exit at the end of the year will leave a bad taste in the mouth of Broncos fans everywhere. While a winning season is nice, a loss at the end of the season will remind fans of past seasons in the Mike Shanahan era. Back then, there were a few cases where the team didn’t take advantage of the opportunities that came their way and completely disappeared from the playoff picture.

Sure, a winning season here is progress, but missing the playoffs would be a complete failure all things considered.

For the Broncos to beat the Chiefs, they will have to play complementary football. Getting better on first and second downs is a must. You have to stay true to the race and find a way to keep the momentum going and keep the chains moving. They just have to be better on defense. Last month they struggled to get off the field on third down and allowed too many big plays through the air.

The Broncos are running out of time. Honestly, there are also excuses for their poor play lately. The outcome of next weekend’s game will ultimately determine the team’s efforts in 2024. Will it be a success or a failure?