LAS VEGAS — As the Broncos walked off the field following a season-ending loss to the Raiders, the team’s disappointment was palpable.
“I thought we’d rush the ball better, and I thought we would certainly defend better than we did,” Head Coach Sean Payton said in the moments after the 27-14 defeat. “That’s the thing that was disappointing.”
Added safety Justin Simmons: “It hurts, and it hurts the way that we lost today. We didn’t play well enough on defense to even give us a chance to win that game. It stinks. It’s a bitter feeling.”
And yet, as the Broncos closed the 2023 campaign with an 8-9 record, they still believed in the foundation they built for what comes next.
“You are what your record is in our league,” Payton said. “That’s just the truth. Like I said, you’re disappointed. Not discouraged, but disappointed, because you do have an expectation. And then we go from there. We begin this offseason, which is going to involve a lot of work.
“… This isn’t the industry to get discouraged. It would’ve been real easy to get discouraged with the start of the season. No one said this was going to be easy.”
Cornerback Pat Surtain II acknowledged the Broncos didn’t have “the finish that we wanted,” but he also recognized the positives the Broncos could take from a 2023 season in which Denver rebounded from a 1-5 start to win seven of their final 11 games.
“We moved a step forward this year — obviously winning more games than we did last year — but we still have a lot to work on,” Surtain said. “That’s the main key going into the offseason.”
The Broncos’ Week 18 loss seemed to reflect the team’s season, as Denver posted some highlight plays and yet also struggled in several areas. Quarterback Jarrett Stidham connected with wide receiver Jerry Jeudy for a first-half 24-yard touchdown and a 47-yard catch-and-run in the fourth quarter to set up another touchdown. Stidham, though, was…
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