BRONCOS

Hackett downplays sense of urgency for Broncos, because that’s every game

Sep 16, 2022, 1:45 PM

Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett isn’t panicked.

Even if some in Broncos Country are.

Sunday against the Houston Texans can’t come fast enough, as Denver desperately needs to wash away the taste of the bitter Seahawks loss. The 17-16 defeat feels like it was a month ago, not four days, but that’s what happens when you lose in heartbreaking fashion.

At his final press conference on Friday before the Texans game, Hackett was asked if there was a sense of urgency with the Broncos. Especially because history isn’t kind to 0-2 teams when it comes to making the playoffs.

“I mean, every game we’re urgent. I don’t think it’s just one situation. If it’s the first week of September, October, November, December, all of those. In the end we’re out there to compete every day and win every single game. That’s our focus, that’s our mindset. But it’s one game at a time. Anything can happen in this league,” Hackett said.

Anything can happen, indeed. Week 1 was proof of that, as the Broncos shutout the Seahawks in the second half, gave up just 44 yards of total offense and still lost. It was possession after possession for the offense that ended in heartbreaking fashion. The defense did its job.

Hackett was asked if guys can put too much pressure on themselves, and if too much urgency can be a bad thing. If players try too hard to make up for mistakes against Seattle, could that burn the Broncos?

“To me, it’s just about executing the plan. Knowing what we want to do, what we want to accomplish. Everybody being on the details and knowing what to do and how to do it. If we get that, we’ll be successful,” Hackett said.

That’s arguably the most “coach speak” answer Hackett has given since he’s be in charge, but maybe fun Hackett is gone. The coach seems to be a little more tense the last couple of days, clearly a product of what happened against the Seahawks.

He’s been the talk of the NFL world. And not in good way. The best recipe for fixing that is laying a beatdown on the Texans on Sunday, even if it’s just as urgent as every other game.

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