The Broncos became the first team in 35 years to fumble twice from their own goal line in one game. Sep 12, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon III (25) is stopped shy of the goal line on a fourth down play against the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
NFLBy Michael Dixon on

The abysmal clock management shown by the Denver Broncos will be what gets most heavily dissected in the aftermath of Monday night’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks — and deservedly so. But we can’t overlook something else. The clock management was an issue because the Broncos’ play at the goal line might have been even worse.

Trailing 17-13 in the fourth quarter, Denver drove deep into Seattle territory. Russell Wilson found Javonte Williams for a 10-yard pass to set up a first-and-goal from the Seahawks’ three-yard line. Wilson threw three incomplete passes and receiver Courtland Sutton was flagged for a false start. While Brandon McManus did make a short field goal, that’s about as bad as an offense can do in that situation. But given what had happened on the previous two possessions, it didn’t seem so bad.

Twice in the third quarter, the Broncos drove to the Seattle one yard-line. Twice they fumbled. On the first one, Melvin Gordon lost control of the ball just before being tackled and crossing the goal line. The second time, Williams coughed the ball up. Both times, Seattle’s Michael Jackson recovered the loose ball.

How rare is a team fumbling twice at the opposing team’s one-yard line? It hasn’t been done in 35 years.

It’s also worth mentioning that Week 4 of the 1987 NFL season was during that year’s strike — when replacement players were being used. The 2022 Broncos aren’t using replacement players, though if Monday was your first exposure to them, we couldn’t blame you for thinking otherwise.

The historically bad outing from the Broncos’ red-zone offense was hilariously panned by the NFL world.

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