But these are not the good times, friends — which largely explains the deep ambivalence that greeted Denver's 19-17 win over the Green Bay Packers on October 22. A sizable percentage of loyalists are actively upset that the Broncos, whose record stood at 1-5 coming into the game, didn't simply roll over and die, since the W lessens their odds of drafting USC quarterback Caleb Williams, the latest supposedly can't-miss prospect set to emerge from the college ranks. And while many other diehards have ripped those espousing such sentiments, maintaining that true Broncos lovers should celebrate triumphs under any and all circumstances, they don't exactly seem overjoyed, either.
These mixed emotions are understandable, since the contest followed a familiar formula for heartbreak until the closing clock ticks. Offensively, besieged quarterback Russell Wilson and the Broncos dominated the first half but repeatedly failed to push the ball over the goal line during trips near or into the red zone, with one notable quasi-exception; a Javonte Williams touchdown was nullified by the sort of holding penalty Denver seems to reserve for the worst possible moments. As a result, the squad led only 9-0 at halftime — and the margin would have been three points smaller had Packers rookie kicker Anders Carlson not hooked an extremely makeable field goal in the second quarter.
The biggest surprise when Russ and company got the ball after intermission was that Denver scored a TD; Wilson fired a strike to receiver Courtland Sutton, who offered up his best performance in recent memory. Sutton's success delighted the Suck as Much as Possible Brigade, since it presumably raises his value should general manager George Paton decide to jettison him and his fellow starting wideout, disgruntled whiner Jerry Jeudy, prior to the rapidly approaching Halloween trade deadline.
This score put the Broncos ahead 16-3, but the lead evaporated soon thereafter, with the Packers' Jordan Love — a case study, at least thus far, in putting too much faith in a young field general — engineering a touchdown drive moments later and notching another amid the next possession.
Suddenly, the Broncos were down 17-16, and while Wilson's forces managed to squeak back in front again thanks to a long-distance Will Lutz field goal, the Pack had almost four minutes to change that equation. Denver only survived this challenge after a panicky, ill-advised Love hurl wound up in the arms of orange-clad defender P.J. Locke.
At that point, citizens of Broncos Country erupted, with plenty of pundits blasting the Broncos for not throwing themselves across the railroad tracks and waiting for the Green Bay Express to squish them. In the view of this crew, it wasn't too early in the season (which still has ten games left) to begin tailspinning, especially since the likeliest alternative given Denver's future schedule challenges is a mere mediocrity.
That's not the way the reflexively optimistic Wilson sees things. But if the Broncos fall next Sunday to the Kansas City Chiefs (possibly in the presence of Taylor Swift again!), grumpy head coach/blame-shifter Sean Payton and the rest of the Denver brain trust will be under more pressure than ever to start selling off parts of the squad for whatever the traffic will bear.
In the meantime, fans continue to squabble over an eternal question for NFL also-rans: To tank or not to tank? Sample the debate through picks for the twenty most memorable online takes posted on the Service Formerly Known as Twitter.
Number 20:
Seems to me y’all don’t. Want Caleb Williams
— (@El_Serio5) October 23, 2023
Number 19:
When I want the @Broncos to win, they lose.
— Jon (@UtopiaCafeJon) October 23, 2023
When I want the @Broncos to lose, they win.
Get it together!#BroncosCountry
Number 18:
The bronco fans that want the broncos to lose are doing so so that they hopefully draft star qb to break them out of this cycle of sub-mediocrity and win again. I dont think we should accuse them of not being true fans.
— David Lee (@dlee3050) October 23, 2023
Number 17:
There’s no one way to be a fan for sure but most fans don’t openly hope and root for their team to suck. I guarantee all Chiefs fans and Raiders fans and Chargers fans hope we lose every game and completely suck. Most Broncos fans aren’t in that same camp
— Avalanche of Broncos Nuggets (@avs_broncs_nugs) October 23, 2023
Number 16:
The Broncos are it solid position to fuck up drafting Caleb Williams and do something stupid like draft Marvin Harrison Jr
— The DameTime Skeleton (@ThePeterVu) October 23, 2023
Number 15:
The chances that the Broncos lose the next two are quite high. A win feels good for the fans who have forgotten what it feels like to be victorious but in the long run, it’s pretty much pointless. I hope I’m wrong.
— Griffin Conant (@griffin_conant4) October 23, 2023
Number 14:
Lets be happy that we arent a complete embarrassment and didnt lose to a terrible packers team. We have plenty of more games we are going to lose and be miserable about
— (@HotTakeBroncos) October 23, 2023
Number 13:
Broncos lose = broncos fans cry
— Joel Johnston (@Joel_Johnston) October 23, 2023
Broncos win = broncos fans cry
Some people just like to be miserable I guess
Number 12:
Stop calling yourselves broncos fans if you’re rooting for them to lose. Getting these two QBs will not save our franchise. Learning how to win and building a culture is how.
— Adriftswift (@Justicefordave) October 23, 2023
Number 11:
Number 10:Hmm this sure looks like rooting for the Broncos to lose back when we beat the Bears pic.twitter.com/bpicg56EfZ
— Nick Hornberger (@NickHornberger) October 23, 2023
Hey #Broncos fans, I know we’re all very polarized right now between wanting a better draft pick and not wanting to root for the team to lose.. How about for a middle ground we just don’t want any more ugly wins? With that being the case I’d argue this was not an ugly win
— Kevin Sadekoski (@KevinSadekoski) October 23, 2023
Number 9:
I believe in the broncos (to find ways to lose games).
— PoissonDistribution (@PoissonianDist) October 23, 2023
Number 8:
It’s like a sickness. Rooting the Broncos to lose? Insanity and shameful
— dmaudioeng (@dmaudioeng) October 23, 2023
Number 7:
Lose? What’s winning?
— Mervsone (@mervsone24) October 23, 2023
Number 6:
Nah. It's a really weird feeling to see Broncos "fans" actively root for the Broncos to lose for a fantasy that Caleb Williams might be elite one day.
— Marc Louis (@MA7290) October 23, 2023
Number 5:
So if the Broncos win, we’re mad, but if they lose, we’re also mad?
— Patrick Chiotti (@PatrickChiotti) October 23, 2023
What sense does that make?
Number 4:
I'm tired of this Broncos team being the Just Enough team.. they aren't scary and will do just enough not to lose a big lead. Just enough to win 1 too many and not get their highest draft pick. Just enough to get fans hopes up only to destroy them. Just enough to embarrass us.
— CoryMyrtleBeast (@CoryMyrtleBeach) October 23, 2023
Number 3:
Happy. Obviously it’s good for them to lose games in regards to draft status but a win is a win and I am allowed to be happy about it
— GO BRONCOS (@collinm1227) October 23, 2023
Number 2:
Broncos win when it matters - fuck yeah
— SK (@SeanPKCO) October 23, 2023
Broncos lose when it matters - fuck yeah
I’m doin this right
Number 1:
I know people aren't happy the Broncos won, but you're a fucking idiot if you're upset that the teams players & coaches who are literally performing for their jobs, aren't actively trying to lose to be replaced in the future.
— larry (not a stripper) Reed (@L_The_Ideal) October 22, 2023
