Broncos go 'backwards' in loss to Raiders
"We can't go backwards," said Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett following a 32-23 loss to Raiders. However, the Broncos did go backward in more ways than one.
A costly Melvin Gordon III fumble was returned for a 68-yard touchdown making the snowball roll in the second quarter. The Broncos failed to recapture the lead for the rest of the game.
Penalties crushed their momentum. The Broncos had seven penalties for 50 yards.
These mistakes have come to define the Broncos' season through four games. They have 37 penalties making them one of the most penalized teams in the NFL. They also have five fumbles, three have been recovered by their opponents.
"Those are self-inflicted wounds," Hackett said when discussing the offensive miscues in a post-game news conference.
This sloppy execution overshadowed Russell Wilson's best performance as a Bronco. The quarterback threw two touchdowns and rushed for another.
The usually upbeat Wilson revealed some frustration because even when he plays lights out, he can't overcome repetitive mistakes.
"We hurt ourselves," said Wilson in a post-game news conference. "Third-and-19 something like that, you don't wanna be in those situations. If we could stay on schedule in those situations we give ourselves a really good chance."
The Broncos didn't stay on schedule, they fell behind and dropped a game against a divisional rival.
If they don't find a way to fix these problems, they will continue to fall short of their potential.
"This one will sting," said DNVR's Zac Stevens.
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