Broncos inexplicable loss to the Colts may haunt them all season

Broncos Country is still stick about what happened against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

Denver had it.

Then blew it.

In a variety of different ways.

The 29-28 loss is hard to wrap your mind around. The interception from Bo Nix late when a field goal would’ve done the Broncos a world of good.

The next possession, when they actually did get a kick off, but Wil Lutz doinked it off the upright.

And of course, the final play of the game, when Denver’s special teams unit was way too aggressive trying to block a 60-yard field goal at the buzzer. By now you know Dondrea Tillman was called for leverage, Indy got a second chance from 45-yards out, and the Broncos are 1-1 on the season.

Head coach Sean Payton took the blame on Monday, also noting the refs made the right call, but that’s not going to make anyone feel better. It was a long, long kick with a fairly new NFL player in Spencer Shrader. The odds were low he was going to bang it through from 60, he didn’t, and Denver should still be undefeated.

While one loss isn’t going to define a season, the hard truth is this disaster might haunt the Broncos all year. It could have significant postseason ramifications, whether it be trying to win the AFC West or secure a playoff spot.

The Chiefs are 0-2 after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles. A two-game lead on Kansas City in the division? That’s unheard of over the last decade. Instead, the Broncos are just one game ahead and Patrick Mahomes will always be lurking.

Plus, this was a defeat at the hands of a potential AFC playoff team. If Denver is once again in the wild card race, they no longer hold the tiebreaker over the Colts, which will be head-to-head. Say both teams finish 9-8 as the No. 7 seed in the conference — Indy is going to the playoffs and the Broncos will watch from their couches.

The schedule doesn’t get much easier coming up. Denver did catch a break that the Bengals will be without superstar QB Joe Burrow in a couple of weeks on Monday Night Football, but a trip to Los Angeles to face the unbeaten Chargers in Week 3 looms.

After playing Cincinnati here, the Broncos have to take on the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles in Philadelphia. They will then head further East, going over the Atlantic Ocean to square off against the Jets in London. Anything can happen in international games.

I’m not saying Denver will be 1-5 by the time they finally return to the Mile High City to face the Giants on Oct. 19, but 2-4 is in play. 3-3 might be the best case scenario. This would all feel so different if they had simply executed in the fourth quarter against the Colts.

The Broncos are a good team, but they’re not great. And good teams can’t just give one away. There are only 17 of these opportunities for a reason, and Denver failed in the clutch moments.

That’s not something that should be happening in year three of Payton running the show. It’s a very similar roster to a season ago — these guys should’ve learned to put opponents away. Unfortunately, the evidence suggests they haven’t.

I have a sick feeling that as we watch the postseason race in November and December, we’ll keep looking back on the fateful day in Indianapolis in September. The Broncos gave the Colts a gift and the holidays are still months away.

Nothing is going to change it now. But that’s the one baffling loss Denver is allowed this season. Any others, and some hard questions might need to be asked about the direction of the team.

Let’s hope in a few months this meltdown will be a distant memory, but it’s hard to envision that being the case.

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