Jewell Critiques Broncos' End-of-Game Defense: 'Guys Need to Stay Locked In'

For another week, the Denver Broncos snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, suffering a second consecutive, one-point preseason loss during which its defense failed to close in crunch time.

In case you missed it: the Broncos were leading the San Francisco 49ers, 20-18, with about two minutes remaining in Saturday's exhibition affair. What ensued was an eight-play, 64-yard drive that ended with a Niners walk-off field goal. Game over.

The result would have been different if the players on the field — Denver's third- and fourth-stringers — simply clutched up against 49ers reserve quarterback Trey Lance, who accounted for 57 passing yards on the drive.

One of the players not on the field, starting inside linebacker Josey Jewell, was ticked they didn't.

“Guys need to stay locked in," Jewell lamented in his post-game remarks. "There’s some blown coverages here and there by guys not doing the exact right thing. We just need to be able to key on that stuff. Even if they’re new guys, they need to be able to still do that and get the small details down.”

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Saturday's script followed that of the preseason-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals — an 18-17 outcome predicated by the defense allowing a late-stage 75-yard touchdown march and subsequent two-point conversion, and displaying a similar lack of killer instinct.

After seven straight non-playoff seasons, the Broncos must learn how to win again. And it starts with the most fundamental concept of football.

“It’s going to probably be communication when it comes down to the last two minutes," Jewell said. "We need to be able to get everybody on the same call. There’s a couple of times where I saw people doing different stuff. We need to make sure everyone’s on the same call and everyone’s communicating. Especially this week, when we have the Rams come and practice with us. We can get more game-like stuff during the week.”

A final tuneup will take place before the real bullets begin flying and the standings actually count. Their last chance to correct a worrying trend that's antithetical to snapping the aforementioned drought.

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