Jeff LegwoldESPN Senior Writer Oct 13, 2023, 1:06am ET3 minutes read
Russell Wilson describes his two ball losses as “unacceptable”
Russell Wilson reflects on the Broncos’ 19-8 loss at the Chiefs.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On a night when the beleaguered Denver Broncos defense played well enough to win against the powerful Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night, quarterback Russell Wilson had one of his worst games of his career, a 19: 8 loss that dropped the Broncos to 1-5.
“We had a chance, we have to play better and cleaner,” said a somewhat grumpy Wilson. “I have to play better.” It starts with me.”
Wilson, who had two 300-yard passing games in the first three games of the season and seemed to find some comfort in coach Sean Payton’s offense, had four sacks and 196 yards with the Broncos last Sunday -Day some problems’ loss to the New York Jets.
And Thursday became a throwback to the struggles of 2022, as Wilson finished with a career-low 16 touchdown passes and a career-high 55 sacks.
Against the Chiefs, Wilson completed 13 of 22 passes for 95 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. It was the first game of Wilson’s career, now in its twelfth season, in which he rushed for fewer than 150 yards and had two interceptions.
Wilson also had four passes intercepted at the line of scrimmage and was sacked four times on Thursday.
In total, the Broncos had eight possessions against the Chiefs that went 34 or fewer yards, and the Broncos didn’t have a scoring drive until the fourth quarter. Courtland Sutton made a one-handed snare for a touchdown with six minutes and seven seconds left in the game.
All on a night when the Broncos defense limited the Chiefs to one touchdown.
“Offensively, we had trouble throwing the ball, our third-down numbers were poor,” Payton said. “We had a game where we certainly played well enough defensively, but offensively… from a third-down perspective, we had trouble sustaining drives.” Until late in the game… To win in our league , you have to be able to throw the ball better. “I don’t think the wind played that big of a role.”
“They did a lot of different things,” Wilson said of the Chiefs defense. “The first.” [interception] was aimed at me, they made a great play with the ball bouncing up [the second interception] … That’s part of the game … They made good plays tonight, they’re a good defense.”
The Broncos are now 4-16 in Wilson’s 20 starts with the team. The Broncos traded five draft picks, including two first-round picks and two second-round picks, along with three players in 2022 to the Seattle Seahawks to acquire Wilson.