Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy was all set to argue with NFL Network’s Steve Smith before kickoff on Thursday and then show off his dance moves on the sidelines.
Though perhaps not the most significant, that was telling. It encapsulated the Broncos of 2023.
The Broncos are not very good. You can’t watch them. Neither before the game nor during it, they don’t seem to be really interested in being a respectable team.
The Broncos did what they normally do and lost the game against the Kansas City Chiefs after Jeudy was distracted by Smith prior to the game. Despite playing poorly, the Chiefs prevailed 19-8, dropping the Broncos to 1-5 on the season. At the half, Jeudy had one yard on two catches. For the sixteenth consecutive game, the Chiefs defeated the Broncos. As he has done so well this season, Jeudy is undoubtedly somewhere, scrolling through social media, hoping to ignite another flame war with a Broncos legend.
Denver fans are growing tired of the Broncos. It’s understandable why.
The Broncos have a recurring pattern. After publicly disparaging the coaching staff from the previous season, Sean Payton was defeated by Nathaniel Hackett, the head coach of the New York Jets and current offensive coordinator. After deciding that everything Smith had stated about him was true, Jeudy wanted to rage at Smith.
The Broncos have a great ability to talk the talk. Not very adept at doing the stroll.
Denver’s performance on Thursday wasn’t its worst of the year. In the red zone, the squad made a few defensive plays. The Broncos engaged in some competition. And at halftime, they were still behind 13-0.
The offense drastically failed on Thursday, in contrast to the defense, which has been the main issue most weeks. At halftime, Russell Wilson’s passing yardage was just 37. At halftime, Denver had 94 yards, while Travis Kelce, the tight end for the Chiefs, had 109 yards.
Specifically, Wilson had a terrible night. In the first half, he hit linebacker Nick Bolton with an interception. In the second half, he threw another one that was tipped at the line. Wilson didn’t do much on a night when the Broncos defense genuinely kept the team in the game against Patrick Mahomes. His total yardage was 95. Wilson hasn’t played all that poorly this season, but his performance on Thursday will give credence to those who maintain he is the issue.
