That was …
a debacle.
Losing to the Raiders sucks.
Losing to a winless Raiders team head coached by Josh McDaniels is like a thousand slashes in the eye…
Really damn painful.
And yet the Broncos seem to enjoy inflicting pain on themselves because most of those losses feel like they came from big mistakes rather than better opponents.
After a chance to hold first place in the AFC West, improve to one of the best current records in the NFL, and most importantly, build an emotional comeback win last week, the Broncos instead opted to return to mean — stagnant attack and an overwhelmed defense.
As you can imagine, Bronco’s Twitter was apocalyptic.
Nobody in Broncos Country likes to lose to the Raiders.
This one will sting…
The Broncos lose to the only 0-3 team in the NFL.
The Broncos lose to the Raiders.
The Broncos lose to Josh McDaniels.
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) October 2, 2022
And so the finger pointing began…mainly with Melvin Gordon being roasted for coughing up the ball when the score was 10-10 and the offense having to change momentum.
Unfortunately, the “scoop and score” that followed the fumble gave Raiders a quick TD and all the momentum.
I’m pretty sure this should be the last carry Melvin Gordon ever had as a bronco…
No, I’m not being dramatic…
— Tyler Polumbus (@Tyler_Polumbus) October 2, 2022
This is the third time a Melvin Gordon fumble has been returned for a touchdown in the last 12 games.
It’s his fifth fumble in his last five games dating back to last year.
No matter what he can do in Pass Pro, you can’t play a guy fumbling around at such extreme speed.
—Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) October 2, 2022
The Broncos defense was also a prime target after running Josh Jacobs over, through, around and past once again.
Probably even more so and certainly over and over again.
Jacobs was rushing for 144 yards with 28 carries and two touchdowns just as the Broncos defense ran out of gas.
The Broncos’ defense was poor on the day the offense actually scored.
Characters.
— Scotty (@Skotty_Payne) October 2, 2022
Josh Jacobs makes Broncos defense look lousy.
It feels like I’ve seen this opera before.
—Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) October 2, 2022
The Broncos’ defense allows for a brutal 42-yard run from Jacobs, but comes up HUGE in the red zone and pins the Raiders on a FG.
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) October 2, 2022
Josh Jacobs, landing. Straight to the gut. The Broncos’ red zone defense is finally breaking. 2:02 remain and the Raiders are one PAT away from a 2 point lead.
—Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) October 2, 2022
The Broncos’ defense was poor on the day the offense actually scored.
Characters.
— Scotty (@Skotty_Payne) October 2, 2022
Outside of Surtain, the Broncos’ defense is terrible.
Jimmy Garoppolo got people thinking they were a top unit lol
— Alex (@SadNinersFan_) October 2, 2022
Bradley Chubb: “I think we kind of needed that. Last week I called us the best defense in the league. And we have to live up to that.” #broncos
— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) October 3, 2022
But Broncos Twitter didn’t have much love for the offensive line either — even fumbling aside.
Although Russell Wilson’s day was statistically decent — he went 17 of 25 for 237 yards and two touchdowns — he couldn’t get the offense out of trouble often enough.
This Broncos offense is disappointing.
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) October 2, 2022
The Broncos’ offense keeps getting in their own way
— Sayre Bedinger (@SayreBedinger) October 2, 2022
There aren’t enough words in the English language to describe how terrible the Broncos are on offense
— Jack Farner (@jackfarner_) October 2, 2022
Shouldn’t Hackett put the West Coast Offensive and the Zone Blocking Scheme on the offensive? Does anyone see the principles that make these crimes work? #broncos plays?
— Thomas Hall (@ThomasHallNFL) October 2, 2022
Wilson for Gordon short – out of hands.
Every color of the feel-bad rainbow for the Broncos offense today
—Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) October 2, 2022
“Every color of the rainbow to feel good about for the Broncos offense”…lol, Mase.
Leave it to Brandon Perna to at least find the silver lining.
The Broncos’ job of saving Josh McDaniels is the long game. All part of the plan
— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) October 2, 2022