The Broncos might have ended up with more than 350 yards of offense in Sunday’s 28-16 loss, but it’s the handful of yards that they couldn’t come up with that seem to bother the team most.

Yes, the short-yardage nightmare is back.

Much like they did in the first month of the season, the Broncos struggled most in the shortest of down-and-distance situations against Indianapolis, and failed runs and incomplete passes killed several promising drives.

The Broncos converted only 6 of 18 total third downs, and only one when they needed less than three yards for a first down.

The Broncos were also stopped three times on fourth down, including twice on fourth-and-1.

“We talked all week about finishing every play and finishing every opportunity, and we certainly didn’t do that,” quarterback Kyle Orton said.

The short-yardage problems plagued the Broncos’ offense from the start, particularly on the ground.

Colts linebacker Gary Brackett wrapped up running back Correll Buckhalter for a 1-yard loss on a third-and-short on the Broncos’ first possession in the first quarter.

On the next drive, after a third-down pass from Orton to Eddie Royal came up a yard short of the first down, Brackett again burst into the backfield to tackle running back Knowshon Moreno for no gain on fourth down.

Then in the second quarter, Moreno again needed only a yard, but was stopped on back-to-back running plays, on third and then fourth down.

“It was good stops by the defense,” Moreno said. “All you can do is try your hardest and try your best for the team to try to get the first down.”

With Buckhalter out of the game by the middle of the second quarter with a sprained ankle, the Broncos used only Moreno, the rookie who has gained many of his 837 yards this season on runs between the tackles.

Those yards were not there Sunday though against the speedy Colts defense.

In fact, the Broncos’ only third-down conversion on the ground came in the fourth quarter, on Orton’s only attempt at a quarterback sneak. Orton caught the Colts’ defense unprepared, quick-snapped the ball and pushed forward for 2 yards.

But coach Josh McDaniels after the game defended Moreno and dismissed the idea of third tailback Peyton Hillis getting carries in short-yardage situations.

“No,” McDaniels said. “We had our best guy in there in that situation.”

Hillis, the Broncos’ biggest back, had one carry in short relief of Moreno on Sunday.

The Broncos also committed two penalties — a delay of game and a false start — on two other times lined up at third-and-1 in the third quarter. The team was unable to convert either time after moving back 5 yards when Orton was sacked to end one drive and then threw and interception at the 1-yard line to end the other.

“You can’t set yourself back the way we did today,” McDaniels said.

By Lindsay H. Jones, The Denver Post

Tagged with: Backfield • Broncos • Colts Linebacker • Conversion • Correll Buckhalter • First Quarter • Fourth Quarter • Game • Gary Brackett • Handful • Indianapolis • Kyle Orton • Nightmare • Possession • Second Quarter • Tackles • Three Times

Filed under: NFL

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