5 self-inflicted wounds that have kept Broncos from being 3-0

The Broncos have been given multiple chances to win each game they've lost but shooting themselves in the foot has led to an 0-3 start.

The Denver Broncos are 0-3 with their playoff hopes now a distant memory. But the expectation never should have been playoffs. 

Despite the three losses, the Broncos haven't been playing badly, so to speak. This team had a chance to win each of those games, but for differing reasons, they came away with the loss. 

Those reasons? In one form or another, the Broncos shot themselves in the foot. Time and time again they would make a mistake, drop the ball and hurt themselves.

Penalties

Penalties are a big reason they have shot themselves in the foot. Through the three games, there have been multiple times the Broncos have been in scoring range, only to get hit with a penalty and taken out. See Garett Bolles' four enforced penalties in Week 2's loss to Chicago. 

Those missed chances would have really helped the Broncos, or at least improved their chances, to walk away with a win. 

Each game there gave been a few instances of this happening. In the case of Week 3 vs. Green Bay, a phantom holding call on Emmanuel Sanders negated a touchdown run by Royce Freeman and the drive ended with a field goal.

Situational sacks

That isn’t the only thing that has taken the Broncos out of scoring range, though. There have also been a few cases of the offense being in scoring position only to relinquish a bad sack, taking themselves out of scoring range. In one instance vs. the Oakland Raiders, it was third down and instead of throwing it away for 4th-&-2, Joe Flacco took a sack, making it 4th-&-9. That took away any chance of scoring, or even going for it.

Turnovers

Turnovers are another way the Broncos have shot themselves in the foot. Against the Bears, Flacco had a bad interception on the goal line. 

Against the Packers, there were two fumbles and an interception that led to 14 points for Green Bay. You can’t turn the ball over three times on the road and expect to walk away with the win, especially if your defense isn’t forcing any turnovers themselves.

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Lapses & miscues

That brings us to performance lapses that have led to missed opportunities. A dropped pass by DaeSean Hamilton in the end zone, a bad run decision by Phillip Lindsay in the red zone, and blown coverage on a 4th-&-15 with seconds left are all mistakes you can’t have. The Broncos are not talented enough to overcome multiple mistakes, especially when the players themselves are making them.

Questionable coaching

Lastly, the Broncos are shooting themselves in the foot with some poor decisions from the coaching staff. Vic Fangio is a believer in getting pressure with as few rushers as possible, but on multiple 3rd-&-long situations, the Broncos rushed three and failed. Fangio refuses to bring additional pressure, which, when the edge rushers are struggling, is a way to manufacture pressure.

This Broncos team is the first NFL squad in 50 years to not have a takeaway or sack in the first three games of the season. Some of that falls on coaching. 

Fangio can help his front seven generate pressure with blitzes. It will help garner some sacks, or force opponents to make mistakes to create turnovers. It isn’t happening and moving forward, it needs to be examined. 

On offense, the Broncos have a play-caller who likes to get a little too cute, and also doesn’t run play-action, which is supposed to be a big part of the offense.

Bottom line

The Broncos are so close to being 3-0, but they’re not because they commit so many self-inflicted wounds. If they want to turn this around, they need to cut back on those mistakes. 

This team has shown tremendous potential, but they can’t fully realize it without cutting out the mistakes. There has to be a focus on righting this ship and stop shooting themselves in the foot. 

Maybe the Broncos could end up pushing for a playoff spot if they can turn the ship around, but I wouldn’t bet on them improving that much. 

Follow Erick on Twitter @ErickTrickel and @MileHighHuddle.