CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- Broncos coach Vance Joseph isn't on Twitter. That's probably a good thing. At this point he might block more people than a pulling guard on a Student Body Right sweep. Fans began this season expecting the Broncos to return to the playoffs. Instead, the Broncos are saddled with a five-game losing streak -- they are 5-10 over their last 15 games -- and this close to falling out of the postseason race.
"I get it. I feel the same way the fans feel. I am disappointed in how it's gone. We started 3-1, and it was going pretty good. We had a bye and a game we should have won (against the previously winless New York Giants), and we didn't and we haven't won since. I am disappointed. So I get it," Joseph said. "It's a hard job. My only goal is to win football games. I get the criticism, and I don't mind it. The criticism is well-deserved if you are not winning. That being said, we have seven weeks left, and we will all be judged by what we have done in the season."
A defining characteristic of this ugly stretch remains slow starts. The Broncos have been outscored in the first half 106-24 over the past five games, and have not scored a first quarter touchdown since Oct. 1. Linebacker Todd Davis admitted trailing in games has influenced opponent's game plans, leaving them no reason to drop back and expose their quarterbacks to a pass rush. But Davis, like most in the locker room, is staying positive. He conveyed a message to Broncos' fans in my one-on-one interview with him Thursday.
"What is it that one guy (Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers) said: 'Just relax.' Just relax. We have time. We have got things in the works. We have switched some things around, and we have definitely got the right mindset," Davis said. "You look at our schedule and there’s no reason we can’t win seven straight. Keep the faith. It will be good.”
Footnotes
Paxton Lynch threw the ball well in practice and remains on track to serve as Brock Osweiler's backup on Sunday. ... Broncos defensive coordinator Joe Woods admits it "makes no sense" that the Broncos rank near top in fewest yards allowed and near bottom in points yielded. The Broncos defenders are focusing on playing within their assignment, eliminating freelance plays that have made bad moments worse.
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Want Broncos news? Denver7 Broncos insider Troy E. Renck is your source. He talks to the players, covers the games and reports scoops on Denver7 and the Denver7 app. He is a CU grad who has covered pro sports in Colorado since 1996, including 14 years at The Denver Post. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and TheDenverChannel.com’s Broncos page. Troy welcomes most of your emails at Troy.Renck@kmgh.com.
