It seems that the only streak the Broncos are on is losing. The Broncos missed the postseason for a fourth consecutive year, which is the longest such stretch since 1960-76, when the organization failed to secure a postseason berth in its first 17 years of existence. There were several scenarios when the day began for the Broncos to avoid joining the 1978 Redskins and the ’03 Vikings as the only teams since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to miss the playoffs after a 6-0 start. This was the first time the Broncos failed to win a division game at home.
The Broncos were also missing two offensive weapons on Sunday. Head coach Josh McDaniels held wide receiver Brandon Marshall and tight end Tony Scheffler out of the game, due to disciplinary reasons.
Marshall, McDaniel’s best offensive player, was accused of exaggerating a hamstring injury two days after making his second straight Pro Bowl and four weeks after setting an NFL record with 21 catches at Indianapolis.
Promoted from the practice squad 24 hours earlier, were Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Stokley, Brandon Lloyd, and Matt Willis. These four players had combined for 58 catches and five touchdowns this season, which is about half of watch Marshall has done alone.
Allowing Kansas City to score its first offensive touchdown in the first quarter all season with a four-play, 86-yard drive, it was clear that defensive leaders and Pro Bowl teammates Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins were not on the same page on Denver’s first defensive series.
But the Bronco’s defense was as responsible as its depleted offense for keeping Denver out of playoffs for the fourth straight season For the Broncos, it was eerily reminiscent of last season’s finale, when they were routed 52-21 by San Diego with a playoff berth on the line, a loss that led to Shanahan’s departure and McDaniels’ arrival.
Mike Shanahan’s last season ended the same way Josh McDaniels’ first season started: with a late-season flop and an embarrassing blowout that wasted a strong start and kept the Broncos out of the playoffs.