Broncos adrift from winning ‘culture’ after dropping 6th straight
Nov 19, 2017, 9:25 PM | Updated: Nov 20, 2017, 1:29 am
The 2017 Denver Broncos may go down in the annals of the club’s history as one of its more memorable seasons, but for all the wrong reasons.
On Sunday, Denver dropped its sixth consecutive game to the Cincinnati Bengals 20-17, following up back-to-back 40-plus point thumpings from the Eagles and Patriots — which were proceeded by divisional losses to the Chiefs and Chargers and a home loss to the winless Giants coming off a bye week.
“It’s a tough situation. It’s just a tough game. It’s just a tough deal that we’ve been dealt all the way,” linebacker Von Miller said after the game.
The failed comeback earned the Broncos its first six-game or longer losing streak since the 1990 season, and just the second such skid in the Super Bowl Era.
It’s also just the fifth time in franchise history a Denver squad’s lost six or more consecutive games (2017, 1990, 1967, 1963 and 1961).
And perhaps more precarious, the Broncos find themselves flirting with uncharted territory in terms of the organization’s culture of winning.
“This isn’t the culture here. The culture and the standard is to win — win championships, win division championships, get to the playoffs every year, and contend for Super Bowls,” quarterback Brock Osweiler said after the game.
“And right now, we’re not playing football like that, so it’s very frustrating.”
This is a franchise that touts more Super Bowl berths (8) than losing seasons (5) since Pat Bowlen took over as principal owner in 1984.
It’s a Broncos organization that, until last season, rattled off five consecutive AFC West championships.
“It’s not a good mood at all,” cornerback Chris Harris Jr said of the locker room atmosphere after the game. “We lost (six) straight in a row. We can’t figure out how to win.”
But despite the low point, Miller said he still has hope that the Broncos can salvage the 2017 season.
“I still feel like there is hope. The best we can do is 9-7, that’s the very best we can do. Like I said, if I’m a betting man, I’m going to bet on the Broncos to win out. That’s just the type of guy I am,” Miller said.
“I’m going to reload and get back in there tomorrow and keep pushing. That’s just how I’m built.”
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
