Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson wasn’t in the mood to dive into his team’s playoff prospects after a disheartening loss to the New England Patriots in Week 16. The Broncos’ playoff aspirations suffered a significant blow, and Wilson expressed his disappointment in the aftermath.
“I haven’t crunched the numbers,” Wilson told reporters, as reported by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “I’m feeling the weight of this loss right now. We believed we should have won this game. The best thing we can do now is regroup, spend time with our families, and then refocus on our next two crucial games. These matches are significant for defining who we are, showcasing our resilience, and illustrating how we’ll bounce back.”
Despite trailing 23-7 at one point, Denver mounted a comeback, scoring 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to tie up the score. Nevertheless, New England clinched the victory with a last-second field goal.
What’s Next For The Denver Broncos?
The defeat dropped the Broncos to a 7-8 record, making the playoff picture challenging. While Denver is just one game behind the Indianapolis Colts for the AFC’s seventh and final playoff spot, three other teams are also ahead by one game.
Earlier in the season, Denver struggled with a 1-5 start, initially appearing destined for a top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. However, the team rebounded, winning six of seven games to reach 7-6 and re-enter playoff contention. Unfortunately, consecutive losses to the Detroit Lions and the Patriots have put their playoff hopes in doubt.
Denver’s path to the postseason remains viable, but requires victories against the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders in Weeks 17 and 18, along with help from teams competing against those ahead in the standings.
Against the Patriots, Russell Wilson completed 25 of 37 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns. His season totals include 3,070 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Make sure to tune in next week as the Broncos take on the Chargers at home. You can watch the game at 4:25 p.m. EST on CBS.
