Ten things that shattered the Broncos' season

By the time the Denver Broncos’ season took another devastating hit Thursday with a 31-13 loss at Houston, nobody could be surprised anymore.

After an offseason filled with optimism, Denver is 6-8. The Broncos could be eliminated from the playoffs today with wins by San Diego and Cleveland, and need to win out to avoid their first losing season in eight years.

“I’m not surprised at what happened today because we’ve been doing that all year,” cornerback Champ Bailey said after Thursday’s game. “It’s been too inconsistent. Not playing hard enough and being outplayed in everything.”

There are many reasons the Broncos’ season fell apart, starting with these 10:

1. DEATHS TAKE EMOTIONAL TOLL

When Redskins safety Sean Taylor died Nov. 27, it was apparent the Broncos still weren’t over the offseason deaths of cornerback Darrent Williams and running back Damien Nash. The emotions came back when they discussed Taylor, offering a window to what the Broncos have been dealing with this season.

“There’s certain things that stay consistent,” receiver Brandon Marshall said when discussing what the Redskins would go through. “Every day those guys have to walk by his locker and walk by different things that are going to remind them of him, so it’s going to be tough.

“We dealt with it this year, and we’re still dealing with it.”

2. DEFENSIVE LEADERSHIP CHANGES

Whether the blame falls on new assistant head coach/defense Jim Bates or the players running his scheme, the defense has taken a major step back this season. After Thursday’s game, the Broncos ranked 30th in scoring defense. Last year, the Broncos finished tied for eighth in scoring defense under Larry Coyer’s leadership. The common excuse during the preseason was the team was slow to pick up the scheme, but eventually the players took responsibility.

“Coach Bates has done a good job with this defense,” cornerback Dre Bly said. “We’ve got to be more consistent. Guys have to be more consistent in their gaps, guys have to be more consistent in their coverages. We just have to execute.”

3. CHANGES BACKFIRE

The Broncos’ biggest offseason moves weren’t wildly successful. Tight end Daniel Graham has 24 catches, Dre Bly has five interceptions but also has given up some big touchdowns, running back Travis Henry has 247 yards since September and defensive linemen Sam Adams and Simeon Rice have been released. Some lesser heralded acquisitions such as receiver Brandon Stokley, defensive tackle Alvin McKinley and guard Montrae Holland have worked out better, but overall the Broncos didn’t have the talent they anticipated when they started the season.

“I think, to be flat out honest, some better personnel would help us be more consistent, and some more experience would help us be more consistent,” cornerback Domonique Foxworth said.

4. OFFENSE INCONSISTENCY

Thursday’s game was a microcosm of the season. Even though Denver didn’t run the ball well, quarterback Jay Cutler had 254 yards. Yet the Broncos scored only 13 points. All season the Broncos have had trouble scoring. After Thursday, they were 17th in the NFL in points per game despite being fifth in yards.

“It’s real frustrating because it seems like we’re not getting better, even though we emphasize it in practice,” Graham said. “One week we might be good, the next week we’re not. There’s no consistency on the offense.”

5. HENRY DISTRACTED

Henry was supposed to have a huge year. Aside from a few 100-yard games in September, he has had a tough season. From September to December, he fought the NFL over a positive drug test. He said he felt a weight lifted when he won his appeal. Henry also dealt with ankle, rib and knee injuries.

“He was going through a tough time,” coach Mike Shanahan said about Henry.

6. WALKER SIDELINED

Javon Walker had 1,084 yards receiving last year and had 220 yards through two games this season. Then a knee injury, which he says he suffered in Denver’s second preseason game at Dallas, got so painful he sat out some games, had surgery, then sat out some more. Walker has missed eight games this season and has 37 yards since the first two games.

“If that play didn’t happen in Dallas, I’d probably be at 1,000-whatever yards right now, still going, feeling great,” Walker said.

7. KICKING TO HESTER

Denver was on a two-game winning streak and on its way to winning a third Nov. 25 when two touchdowns from Chicago returner Devin Hester helped the Bears pull off an overtime win.

The Broncos wanted to kick near the sideline, but the two kicks Hester returned were kicked to the hashmark, making it easier for him.

But there is the theory that the best strategy against Hester is to kick the ball out of bounds and concede field position. That’s what Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren told the Philadelphia Inquirer he instructed punter Ryan Plackemeier to do.

“When we played the Bears with Hester ... I told Ryan under no circumstances was the ball to remain in play,” Holmgren said.

8. OVERTIME HEARTBREAK

Another difficult loss was a 19-13 loss to Green Bay on Oct. 29. Denver drove inside the 10-yard line in the final minute but couldn’t score the winning touchdown. After tying the score on a field goal, Packers quarterback Brett Favre threw deep and Greg Jennings beat Bly for an 82-yard touchdown on the first play of overtime.

“To lose it right then at the end like that in overtime was kind of hard,” McKinley said this week.

9. NO STOPPING THE RUN

Winning in the NFL is almost impossible when you can’t stop the run. Denver is ranked 29th in the NFL in rushing defense after giving up 158 yards to Houston. The Broncos had to adjust to a change at linebacker, when Nate Webster moved to the outside and D.J. Williams moved from the outside to the middle, a position he never had played. And the defensive line, built to be big up the middle, never panned out.

After a few good games, the run defense struggled again in a key loss at Oakland on Dec. 2, allowing 175 yards.

“We worked hard to do the little things the right way,” safety Hamza Abdullah said after that game. “It’s just one or two guys here or there.”

10. OFFENSIVE LINE CHANGES

Denver has had almost no continuity on the line this season. In training camp, guard Ben Hamilton suffered a concussion and never fully recovered. Center Tom Nalen joined Hamilton on injured reserve after five games because of a biceps injury. Among the starting offensive linemen, guard Chris Kuper, center Chris Myers and tackle Erik Pears had 10 combined career starts before this season, all by Pears. Tackle Matt Lepsis was coming off a major knee injury, and guard Montrae Holland is in his first year with the team.

The Broncos, who gave up six sacks in their first five games with Nalen, have given up 21 sacks in the nine games since Nalen got hurt.

“I definitely think it was a big challenge, with all of the big injuries that happened,” Myers said.

“No one has been overwhelmed or stressed out about it. They just look at it as their opportunity.”