Denver Broncos: 5 inexcusable mistakes in loss against Steelers

Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos, Teddy Bridgewater
Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

Denver Broncos: 5 inexcusable mistakes in loss against Steelers

2. Delay of game on the first play for the offense

It wasn’t enough that the Pittsburgh Steelers had just marched right down the field for a touchdown, a long pass from Ben Roethlisberger, and a breakdown in coverage by cornerback Kyle Fuller.

It wasn’t enough that the Denver Broncos entered this game having gone 23 straight games without an opening-drive touchdown.

It wasn’t enough that the Denver Broncos’ offense has been slow-going every single week of the 2021 regular season.

There are plenty of reasons this unit should have come out fired up and ready to run their scripted plays (if Shurmur is a scripted plays guy, it’s impossible to know that based on the lack of success).

Unfortunately, they came out anything but fired up.

As a matter of fact, the Denver Broncos’ offense got a delay of game the first time they lined up to run a play.

How? How does that happen?

How are you not ready to run your first play of the game?

Obviously, the delay of game put the Broncos five yards behind the sticks and the offense ended up going three-and-out on the first series.

After the Steelers scored on their opening possession, a delay of game on the first play was a microcosm of how outcoached the Broncos would be throughout the game.