Rotten luck for the Broncos is a reminder sports can be cruel

The Denver Broncos won the battle against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday.

They may have lost the war.

That was the feeling after one hour of elation followed immediately by heartbreak.

You’ll always remember where you were when you heard the news that Broncos QB Bo Nix had fractured his ankle in the OT victory.

The revelation was so stunning, a second Sean Payton trip to the podium postgame, that the legendary Peyton Manning thought it was a hoax.

That’s how many in Broncos Country felt, constantly checking their phone again and again, praying it wasn’t real.

But it’s indeed the reality we live in. Nix is done for the season and now Denver is left with backup Jarrett Stidham battling for a chance at the NFL’s ultimate prize. This is not how it was supposed to be.

It’s the definition of rotten luck, in fact it even feels a little cruel. It’s a good reminder that sports, much like life, aren’t always fair. This league waits for no one. The Broncos will have to take on the Patriots while Nix watches with the rest of us.

First and foremost, you feel for Nix. He’s the one who has put in all the hard work since July to get to this spot. And poof, in an instant, it’s over. Imagine how disappointed you are then put yourself in Nix’s shoes. This has been a life-long dream to win a Super Bowl and now he doesn’t get the chance.

Sure, if the Broncos hoist the Lombardi Trophy, Nix will be a big reason why. He’ll be on the field in Santa Clara celebrating with the rest of his teammates. Still, it won’t feel right. He was robbed of the opportunity to see this journey through.

Can Denver beat New England with Stidham leading the way? Anything’s possible, but this appears to be a death blow. Perhaps the only way for the Broncos to win the AFC Title Game is a heroic performance from their defense and the rushing attack getting back on track.

There was a sign of hope on Monday, with running back J.K. Dobbins having his practice window opened to potentially return from IR. Run like the wind J.K. because the Broncos desperately need whatever you can provide.

But pretending like Dobbins is going to instantly look like himself again feels like grasping at straws. It’s no sure thing he even plays, with more clarity coming later this week.

Sometimes, it’s just not meant to be, and right now it feels like the powers that be ripped away the Broncos chances. Maybe as kickoff creeps closer optimism will return. But even a few days later, there’s no denying what a gut-punch the Nix injury was. It’s hard to wrap your mind around that it even happened.

And it’s okay for Broncos Country to feel a little sorry for themselves. The blind faith in Stidham that some have is appreciated in one sense. Fans are backing their guy no matter what.

On the other hand, it’s slightly annoying. Stidham has one career win. He might have looked okay in training camp and the preseason, but a playoff game with a spot in the Super Bowl on the line is a massively different atmosphere. There’s no evidence that he’s going to take the field and shine. That’s simply folks wishing for the best.

Hopefully, Stidham dishes out a nice plate of crow. The season feels over, but he can prove a lot of people wrong.

However, if the game goes how many expect, a tough dose of reality will hit the Broncos and their fans. This year was a great chance to throw a parade and it all came crashing down due to Nix’s fractured ankle.

That’s sports and that’s life. We don’t always get what we want.

It doesn’t make it any easier to swallow.

Related

Broncos 15th most valuable franchise in NFL, worth more than $9 billionA Week 1 win in Kansas City would change the national Broncos narrativeJonah Coleman looks like a first-round running back during training campIf Broncos need an emergency center, Quinn Meinerz is readyBo Nix says running the football early ‘immerses me in the game’Biggest question with Walton-Penner’s Rockies ownership remains