With rookie quarterback Bo Nix at the helm, the Denver Broncos have performed exceptionally well this season. This week, too, they maintained their footing against the last undefeated team as of now — the Kansas City Chiefs. The Broncos were mere yards away from defeating their divisional rivals, but the Sean Payton-led team fell short at the very end.
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It was “obviously a tough loss,” Payton said in the post-game presser. He was very much on point, as Denver boasted a four-point lead at halftime. The Chiefs then added six points with two, 28-yard and 20-yard, field goals in the final 30 minutes. At that point, all the Broncos needed to do was score a field goal and secure the win.
They had the possession of the ball as well, and Nix balled out, converting three consecutive third-downs. It put the team in a comfortable field-goal range. Unfortunately, Wil Lutz missed the goalpost, and that too, from 35 yards out. His game-winning attempt was blocked by Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams, with no time left in the clock.
Payton certainly had faith that Lutz would pull it off. “Felt like we outplayed them, but we didn’t finish,” he said.
However, the head coach isn’t planning to remain seated with a frown. He acknowledged that the team played well on the road and converted key third downs, something he knew would be a challenge.
Sean Payton after the Broncos devastating 16-14 loss to the Chiefs.
“I thought we outplayed them” pic.twitter.com/jYK1DP4Wpx
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) November 10, 2024
He now hopes that the team continues this pace and finds themselves on the right side of history. Rookie quarterback Nix also shares a similar statement.
Bo Nix is ready to go back to work
“You gotta go back to work… We’re going to continue to fight and battle,” Nix said in a post-game interview when asked how he plans to deal with this week’s loss.
The former Oregon playmaker stated that he and his teammates will continue showing “efforts, passion, intensity, and love for the game of football.” It is something they’ve been doing all season, and that’s why Nix believed the loss against the Chiefs hurt the most.
“It doesn’t hurt you if you don’t care. Everybody in that locker room is hurt. The easy thing to do is give in and stop, but I feel like our locker room is going to respond”
Nix will be hoping to bounce back against the 6-4 Falcons next week. The rookie quarterback will have the NFC South team right where he wants them—at Empower Field at Mile High—so the advantage is there. A win is crucial if the Broncos wish to surpass the Chargers in the highly competitive AFC West.
