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Offensive incompetence sinks Broncos 2021 season

We all know which side of the ball hasn’t been pulling their weight.

NFL: Denver Broncos-Training Camp Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

With Sunday’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Denver Broncos are all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. While it’s its somewhat refreshing to have made past Christmas before the unofficial end of relevancy, Sunday’s debacle in Las Vegas was yet another shining example that Pat Shurmur’s offensive scheme is nothing short of a catastrophic failure.

Till disaster do us part.

Despite mounting evidence that offensive play has been the Broncos Achilles heel, Coach Vic Fangio stood next to his struggling offensive coordinator. As losses mounted and points didn’t, it became apparent there would be no accountability for poor performance on the offensive side of the ball. Rather than make a staff correction and move on, Fangio inexplicably clung to lifeless unimaginative offense and now it’s too late. That should be the hallmark of his undoing.

When it comes to the quarterback debate, it really doesn’t matter much who is back there. Do I favor one over the other? Sure, but really after Sunday, does it really matter? Neither quarterback has been given anything to work with and so growth at the position has been stymied from the get-go. Bad leadership has brought us bad quarterback play. We will finish out the season, pretty much how it started: In desperate need of a serious solution at quarterback.

Defensively, the Broncos are exhausted and I don’t blame them for being so. Were it not for Bradley Chubb’s interception and near-touchdown, Denver would have ended Sunday’s game with fewer than 7-points total. The defense can’t do it all and they are justified if they are mad as hell that they’re being asked to do so. Yet again, the defense held an opponent to fewer than 20-points, and yet again Denver couldn’t secure the victory.

When you play like that, you don’t deserve to go to the playoffs. You don’t deserve nationally televised games. You don’t deserve pro bowlers. When you play like that, you don’t deserve to coach the Denver Broncos.

HORSE TRACKS

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McDaniels' work with rookie QB Mac Jones has helped raise his stock

2021 NFL season, Week 16: What we learned from Sunday's games
Around The NFL breaks down what you need to know from all of Sunday's Week 16 action.

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Stumbling Pittsburgh Steelers left with questions involving future after being routed by Chiefs
After being routed by the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers are stumbling out of the postseason race and left with questions about their future, Jeffri Chadiha writes.

Bucs WR Antonio Brown following return from suspension: 'I don’t want to talk about that'
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Rams, Cardinals clinch NFC playoff spots in Week 16
The streaking Los Angeles Rams have booked a trip to the NFC playoffs following their Sunday win over the Vikings. The Arizona Cardinals are also in by virtue of losses by the 49ers and Vikings.