Instant reactions: Broncos blown out of the water by Dolphins in Miami

It was just another typical Sunday for the Denver Broncos, who dropped their eighth straight game and endured a self-inflicted meltdown on the road against the Miami Dolphins. When it was all said and done, Denver was blown out by Miami by a score of 35-9. You read that right — the Broncos were blown out by a Dolphins team that had lost five straight games and were giving up thirty-five points a game.

With four games left to go in their forgettable 2017 campaign, it’s safe to say that today’s pitiful effort signaled that the franchise has finally embraced the tank.

Quite simply, nothing this season has changed but the week. The offense was pathetic as usual. Nobody could realistically expect much from them, but to only muster up three points against one of the league’s worst defenses is absolutely shameful. Trevor Siemian had himself a horrible day on the gridiron, going 20/42 and three interceptions, one of them being a pick-six.

To make matters worse, he led the offense to only one third down conversion out of fourteen attempts. I can’t remember the last time the Broncos were that bad on third down, but when it rains it pours, right? It took me quite a while to come around to the notion that the Broncos have wasted two years with attempting to develop him at quarterback, but I finally agree with what my colleague Ian St. Clair has been saying for well over a year.

It has been a waste.

Though it wasn’t just that phase of the game which was an issue for the Broncos, as their special teams was an unmitigated disaster once again. Penalties galore, a blocked punt, another fumble by Isaiah McKenzie (his sixth of the year which resulted in a safety) and a plethora of missed tackles continuously put the defense in precarious positions all game long. It’s one thing to lose a game, but to lose like that — by beating yourself up is just flat out unacceptable.

The execution in that phase of the clearly game wasn’t good, but I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — Brock Olivio is the biggest problem. Without question, each and every week, he isn’t doing a good enough job to prepare his players to succeed on the field. If Mike McCoy can get sent packing for not meeting the standard in Denver, what is it going to take for Olivio finally be given a pink slip of his own?

Speaking of bad coaches, let’s focus our attention on someone who deserves to walk back home after today’s loss. Head Coach Vance Joseph, the supposed “leader of men” is clearly unfit for command. Every time the camera focused on him, it appeared as if he didn’t even know where he was or what was going on. The dumbfounded deer-in-the-headlights facial expressions perfectly sum up his approach to his position — aimlessly clueless.

It makes sense, because through the entirety of this failure of a season, he has consistently proven that he has no idea what the Hell he is doing. It’s almost unfathomable how this man still has a job given how terrible the team has performed all season long and after today’s blowout in Miami. After today’s game — a firing from his position is a guaranteed certainty. Now it’s not a question of if, but a matter of when. Hopefully sooner than later, because honestly what could he possibly do to save his job?

Truth be told, the only thing good about today’s loss that the Broncos have inched closer to securing a top five selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. Expect an update on #EmbraceTheTank after this week’s games and we will have a clearer picture of where the team stands in respect to the draft. Let’s cross our fingers and toes that they don’t find a way to waste that opportunity, one that will give them the ability to find a franchise quarterback, just like they have wasted away the entire season.

It’s been a rough year to be a Broncos fan, but thankfully, this nightmare season is almost over.