DENVER — Understandably rusty and a bit jittery early, new Broncos starting quarterback Jarrett Stidham remained patient until the natural flow of the game came to him.
Although the Broncos held on to beat the Los Angeles Chargers, 16-9, on a chilly (41 degrees), gloomy Christmas Eve Sunday afternoon before 67,221 (9,007 no shows) in the final home game of the season at Empower Field at Mile High, Denver was eliminated from the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season. Upon entering their victorious home locker room, the Broncos learned the Kansas City Chiefs had clinched their eighth consecutive AFC West Division title by beating Cincinnati.
The Broncos are 8-8 and finish their season next Sunday afternoon at Las Vegas against the Raiders.
"It's tough knowing we're not going to the postseason, that's why we're playing,'' said safety Justin Simmons who came up to make six tackles. "We were our own enemies in that regard. We had our shots in home games. We had Washington, the Jets and just recently the Patriots. Lost a tough road game against Houston.
"We controlled our own destiny for the longest time and it's tough, but, man, what a big win for us at home. To sweep against the Chargers is huge and a chance for us next week to close out the season on a positive going 9-8."
The Broncos were also eliminated from the AFC wild-card race after the Steelers beat Seattle. Eight years and counting for the Broncos without a playoff berth.
“I mean, look, we kind of had that opportunity [to win] a week ago and then ‘ugh,''' head coach Sean Payton said in reference to his Broncos losing to underdog New England at home on Christmas Eve. "I think more importantly than any of that, and that’s very important, is our focus heading into next week and getting our 9th win. That’ll be a good challenge. Certainly, that’s a goal [to make the playoffs] when you start the beginning of the year. It was a goal of ours. Yes, it’s disappointing.”
The moment in the game here Sunday for Stidham came on third and 8 at his own 46. The game between the Broncos and the visiting Chargers was a yawning, 3-3, with less than 7 minutes left in the first half. Feeling some pass-rush pressure -- Payton credited fullback Michael Burton for stepping up and making a block on a down-the-middle blitzer -- Stidham stepped up to the right of the pocket and had so much green grass in front of him he probably could have ran for the first down.
Instead, he kept his eyes down field and saw receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey shake free on a crossing route, left to right.
Stidham hit Humphrey in stride.
“I saw them bring the blitz, and I had a lane to step up and I thought about taking off and running,'' Stidham said. "I just saw him out of the corner of my eye and gave him the ball, and he made an incredible play.''
With a head of steam, Humphrey cut one way, spun away fron a tackle, then cut another, picked up a couple downfield blocks and kept striding until he reached over the goal line for a 54-yard touchdown.
"I’m just like, ‘Got to make it to the endzone,'' Humphrey said.
"At first, I thought he was down on the 1, so I was kind of bummed, but then I saw that they called a touchdown,'' Stidham said. "So heck of a play by him and the rest of the guys for blocking down field.”
Stidham could exhale.
“Super excited, obviously, to get another opportunity,'' Stidham said. "This is my third opportunity to start in five years, so it hasn’t been much, but obviously was super excited for the opportunity this week. Just tried to play with emotion and get a win, and thankfully, we did.”
The week of Broncos' quarterback drama had finally concluded.
In a game that would vindicate either Payton for benching Russell Wilson, or Wilson for strongly implying he was benched for financial reasons, the Broncos had a season-best 235 yards in total offense at halftime. But only 16 points for the game.
"It didn't really effect us,'' said defensive tackle Zach Allen, who defelected a fourth quarter field goal attempt. "That situation, that's not going to help us do our job better. We just let that play out and focus on playing good defense."
Stidham played OK. Not great. But he's made some big throws and played turnover-free.
Before the catch-and-run with Humphrey, Stidham was only 6 of 12 for 44 yards. By halftime, he was much better, completing 12 of 22 for 165 yards and a touchdown. Wil Lutz missed a 48-yard field goal attempt as the half ended or the Broncos would have been more comfortably ahead.
Stidham finished 20 of 32 for 224 yards with the TD to Humphrey and no interceptions or lost fumbles.
“I thought he was good,'' Payton said. "I thought he was collected, calm. I thought he played with really good poise. ... I thought he was efficient in and out of the huddle. I thought he made some good throws for us overall until I see the tape. I thought it went pretty good.”
Stidham was starting for the first time this season in place of the benched Wilson. He missed a couple open receivers early, most notably throwing behind receivers a couple times on slant patterns.
With the teams having played just three weeks earlier, the Chargers’ defense seemed familiar with Payton’s playbook as the Broncos’ depleted receiver group was usually well-covered.
The Broncos did have one nice, first quarter drive that reached the Chargers’ 13 but ran out of downs there and settled for a 32-yard Lutz field goal and a 3-0 first-quarter lead.
"We left some points out there,'' Stidham said.
The CBS broadcast had a camera firmly focused on Wilson, who was standing on the sideline wearing a parka while Stidham was huddling up the offense on the field. Payton made the much-discussed decision this week to bench Wilson, a 12-year starter and likely Hall of Famer, in favor of Stidham, who had just two previous NFL starts in his five seasons.
To his credit, Wilson was constantly slapping hands with his teammates as they came off the field.
"When that type of thing happens it's really, really tough to deal with,'' said Broncos' tight end Adam Trautman. "He's handled it better than I think anyone can. You're super successful, you've been a starter for X amount of years and then you get benched and it's never happened. And then you wonder, how will he react? And quite honestly, that's exactly what I expected from him. He's a true professional and he's been great every since it happened.''
Bronco Bits
- Right tackle Mike McGlinchey took a shot to the ribs from a friendly fire helmet of running back Javonte Williams in the first quarter and did not return. He was replaced by veteran Cam Fleming. Payton said he tought McGlinchey would be fine.
- Two of the Broncos’ top three receivers didn’t dress. Courtland Sutton was out with a concussion and rookie Marvin Mims Jr. missed the game with a late-week hamstring injury.
- Broncos’ special teams standout Delarrin Turner-Yell suffered a left knee injury in the first quarter and did not return. He left on crutches with his left knee in a heavy brace. He will undergo an MRI on Monday morning.
- The Chargers tried a fourth-and-1 fake punt in the second quarter but upback Nick Niemann fumbled the snap and was quickly tackled by Broncos' rookie linebacker Drew Sanders. The Broncos converted the mishap into a field goal.
- The Denver defense in it's five games against AFC West opponents this year have allowed just 12.2 points per game. The Broncos finish next week at Las Vegas against the Raiders.
PHOTOS: The Denver Broncos beat the LA Chargers 16-9 at Empower Field at Mile High.
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