‘Frustrating’ turnovers again the difference for Broncos in loss
Dec 25, 2017, 12:00 AM | Updated: 9:19 am
A season-long theme of losing the turnover battle reared its head again Sunday for the Denver Broncos in a loss on the road, 27-11, to the Washington Redskins.
In 10 games this season, the Broncos have turned the ball over more times than their opponent, resulting in a 2-8 record, including a loss Sunday in Washington.
“Again, our three turnovers — we took it away twice — but that costs you points. If we’re not playing smart, clean football, that’s your result,” head coach Vance Joseph said after the game.
“That’s the frustrating part.”
When the Broncos either push or win the turnover battle in 2017, the team is 3-2. And when they’ve had more takeaways than giveaways, Denver’s won a franchise-record 32 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NFL.
“What we have done well the last two weeks, it was working again, but obviously turnovers appeared again,” Joseph said. “That kills you.”
It’s the story of the season, Joseph said.
“When we play good football — run the football, play good defense — we’re hard to beat,” Joseph said.
But the Broncos “can’t give a team so many chances,” cornerback Chris Harris Jr said, which is what happened Sunday.
“We’ve got to play better as a defense though, and we can definitely eliminate a lot of things they are doing and get on the same page,” Harris said. “We’ve got one more week to have fun and play football.”
Next week’s season finale at home could end up being a challenge for the Broncos, as they welcome in the Kansas City Chiefs, who not only just clinched the AFC West for a second consecutive season but also boast the second-best turnover differential (14) in the NFL.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
