They won, but how?

Even as the final seconds ticked away at the end of Sunday’s Broncos game against the Washington Football Team, I still had this sinking feeling in my gut that Denver could still blow it. In what was supposed to be a game-icing series of plays designed to run the clock and burn opponents timeouts, it turned into one of the worst series of play calls in recent memory.

1st down: Fumble, recovered by Denver.
2nd down: A pass that stops the clock.
3rd down: Fumble, recovered by Washington.

For a brief moment, the Football Team had great field position, two timeouts, and a chance to tie the game up to send it to overtime.

Incredible.

Play-calling, the Broncos living antithesis to situational football, breathed life into an opponent that had all but been vanquished. Don’t be fooled. The performance of the Denver Broncos on Sunday should have and would have netted them a loss against a broad swath of teams in the NFL. Perhaps, Washington just wanted it less.

Looking to the future with continued poor play and even worse play calling, not to mention key injuries to Bryce Callahan and Garett Bolles, The Broncos remaining schedule appears even more daunting. Denver still has to settle the score with the Las Vegas Raiders, play both the Chargers and Chiefs twice, and show up against struggling teams like the Lions and Eagles. Who knows what’s in store for the Broncos when they play the Bengals. Simply put, this schedule isn’t kind to Denver going forward.

Despite the win on Sunday, the level of Broncos play on every level has been lacking for the last 5-weeks (longer, but let’s just focus on this season). The time to try to salvage the season is to shake things up is right now. There is nobody on planet Earth that has watched Pat Shurmur call games that thinks he’s in any way about to turn a corner, has a plan, or has the slightest idea what he’s doing. 11,755 fans on Sunday all had seen enough and decided to do anything but see what Denver had to offer… on Peyton Manning ring-of-fame day no less.

No better time to make a change after a win. At least then, you have something to build on. This could be this season’s last chance to rally the Broncos back into contention. To do nothing at this point in the season is to just give up. You can go down swinging or you can go down napping, what the Broncos choose to do will define the remainder of this season.

HORSE TRACKS

Peyton Manning Denver Broncos Ring Of Fame Ceremony – CBS Denver

Denver Broncos relieved to be back to .500, but need to score more – Denver Broncos Blog- ESPN
Despite breaking a four-game skid, the Broncos encountered the same offensive production problems against Washington that have plagued them since 2016.

Denver Broncos vs. Washington Football Team NFL game story | 9news.com
The Denver Broncos are facing off against the Washington Football Team at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday, October 31, 2021.

‘They got it done’: Broncos’ defense comes up with two late stops to ice win for Denver
The Broncos got a much-needed stop late in the fourth quarter — and then they had to get another one.

Peyton Manning, honored by Denver Broncos before game, says he’s not involved with potential new ownership groups
Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, honored by the Denver Broncos prior to their game vs. Washington on Sunday, said he is not currently involved with any potential new ownership groups for the team.

NFL Week 8 scores, highlights, updates, schedule: Seahawks’ Travis Homer returns onside kick for TD vs. Jags – CBSSports.com
All the best highlights from Week 8 are right here

Jon Gruden mulling legal options following settlement with Raiders; NFL’s handling of WFT emails in question – CBSSports.com
As one league source put it, this is ‘anything but over’

Falcons’ Calvin Ridley announces he is stepping away from football to focus on his mental wellbeing – CBSSports.com
Ridley was a surprise inactive for Week 8

Saints’ Jameis Winston suffers reported ACL injury vs. Bucs, Sean Payton calls it ‘significant’ – CBSSports.com
Winston was replaced by Trevor Siemian

Jets stun Bengals behind Mike White’s big game, Robert Saleh says ‘anything is possible’ with the future at QB – CBSSports.com
White threw for 405 yards in his first career NFL start

Dolphins, Texans open to deal on QB Deshaun Watson as trade deadline looms
With the trade deadline just a few days away, the Texans and Dolphins have been in contact recently and both sides are open to a deal centered around Deshaun Watson prior to Nov. 2 at 4 p.m. ET, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports.

Panthers QB Sam Darnold exits win over Falcons early due to concussion
Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold exited Carolina’s 19-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons with a concussion after sustaining a hard hit in the fourth quarter.

Carson Wentz: ‘Beating myself up’ over late-game INTs in overtime loss to Titans
Colts QB Carson Wentz laments the two late-game turnovers which aided a 34-31 overtime defeat to the Titans.

AFC a glorious mess as 2021 NFL season nears halfway point
The AFC playoff picture got even more muddled in Week 8 after Jets stunned the Bengals and the Pats upsetting the Chargers. Judy Battista examines the landscape of the conference as season nears the halfway point.

2021 NFL season, Week 8: What we learned from Sunday’s games
Around The NFL breaks down what you need to know from all of Sunday’s Week 8 action.

Buffalo Bills’ Cole Beasley says deactivating his Twitter account was a ‘weight lifted’
The Bills’ Cole Beasley said he decided to deactivate his account earlier this month in part because “it’s good for me to get back to where I wanted to be.”

Dolphins coach Brian Flores says he’s not worried about job security as Miami loses seventh straight
Miami coach Brian Flores said he’s just worried about helping his players improve after the team lost its seventh consecutive game.

Pittsburgh Steelers ‘played a selfless game’ after kicker Chris Boswell’s injury threw off Mike Tomlin’s plans in road victory
Pittsburgh veteran kicker Chris Boswell exited the Steelers’ win over the Browns in Cleveland with a concussion he sustained when he took a hard hit during a fake field goal play, setting off a scramble for kicking duties on the road team’s sideline.

With Jameis Winston likely done for the year, Drew Brees says he’s not coming back – ProFootballTalk

Will Saints call Cam Newton? – ProFootballTalk