This season, the Broncos allowed 70 points to the Miami Dolphins. They blew a 21-3 lead to the Washington Commanders and lost to a New York Jets team missing quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
But none of that seemed to matter in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against Kansas City.
When safety Justin Simmons intercepted quarterback Patrick Mahomes with under five minutes left in the fourth quarter and kicker Wil Lutz drilled a 28-yard field goal to solidify a 24-9 win, there was a sense of belief inside Empower Field at Mile High that hasn’t been felt all season.
“I’ve been in this organization (for a while),” said left tackle Garett Bolles, who played in his 90th career game for Denver. “I’ve sweated (and) I’ve bled. I love this organization more than anything. My family has grown up here. So for us to win a big game like that and knowing that there’s an opportunity to play in bigger games, God is good.”
The Broncos seemingly hit rock bottom after starting the season 0-3, punctuated by a 70-20 loss in Miami that suggested Denver needed to start looking to the future when the trade deadline arrived in late October.
Denver’s second straight win and first over the Chiefs since 2015 might have changed the narrative, with the Broncos arguing that the last two weeks proved there’s still reason for hope in 2023.
“I think we have the talent on the team as is,” Simmons said, “and we can definitely make this thing happen.”
Against the Chiefs, several players whose names have emerged in trade rumors had an impact. In the second quarter, inside linebacker Josey Jewell forced Chiefs wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling to fumble at midfield before Simmons made the recovery.
Wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton each had touchdown receptions. Meanwhile, Simmons picked off Mahomes for the fifth time in his career.
“(The win) changes a lot,” cornerback Pat Surtain II said. “We (are in) a good spot right now and we’re just looking to improve.”
With the deadline on Tuesday, the Broncos find themselves in a similar situation as last season. They defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars to improve to 3-5 heading into the bye week. Yet they traded away edge rusher Bradley Chubb and a 2025 fifth-round pick to Miami immediately afterward in exchange for a 2023 first-round pick, a 2024 fourth-round pick and running back Chase Edmonds.
“We’re not the team looking to buy,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton said. “We can’t control the buyers that call. We always pick the phone up — you have to professionally, but that’s it. … We’ve got a plan for how we see ourselves, and that’s an honest answer.”
Denver enters this year’s bye week after playing arguably its most complete game of the season. The Broncos forced five turnovers and rushed for 153 yards, and quarterback Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes.
More importantly, the Broncos’ defense has clicked over the past three games, allowing 15 points per contest while recording four interceptions.
“We need to keep this going,” Jewell said. “I think we can do this every single week. (We) can’t be losing sight during the bye week.”
Payton has said the team has a plan for the roster this year and next season. Even though the Broncos have found the groove, how many players are a part of the vision Payton has for the team? And is staying pat and pushing for a playoff spot worth it at the expense of acquiring future draft picks? According to the New York Times, Denver has a 6% chance of making the playoffs.
Simmons said whatever the Broncos do at the trade deadline is “above his pay grade.” But he hopes this group can stick together and turn the season around, even if the idea still seems far fetched.
“I’m just going to keep showing up for this team and keep trying to find ways to lead and to win,” he said.
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