From surprise team to big disappointment: After a successful start to the season, the Denver Broncos experience an unexpected series of defeats. Of all things, the renowned defence is developing into a weak spot.

Cleveland/Munich – Emotions can change so quickly.

After the first three days of play, it still seemed as if the Denver Broncos were well on their way to breaking the drought of five years without a playoff appearance. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater led his team to a 3-0 record.

But the winning streak came to a quick end. The 14-17 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football in Week 7 was their fourth straight defeat.

Head coach Fangio criticises the defence

“It’s very disappointing,” said Head Coach Vic Fangio. With 17 points allowed, you’d think at least the defense would have done a decent job

“But we didn’t play good defence. We allowed way too much, way too many third-and-1’s. We were not good enough to win this game,” the coach found critical words.

The defence is actually considered the showpiece of this team. However, there was little to be seen of it recently.

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While they allowed a total of only 26 points in the first three games, they averaged 25.25 points per game in the following four games.

The reasons for this lie not least in the bad luck of injuries.

Outside linebacker Bradley Chubb had to undergo an operation on his ankle after the first two days of play. Inside linebacker Alexander Johnson and Josey Jewell are also injured.

Von Miller couldn’t keep his promise

What remained was superstar Von Miller, who is the best pass rusher on his team with 4.5 sacks. But if the pressure only comes from him, the defence is easy to count out. Against the Browns, Shelby Harris managed Denver’s only sack.

And it got even worse: Miller suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter against Cleveland and had to leave the game early.

At the beginning of the week he had announced that he would lead the Broncos to victory with several sacks.

“My pride is hurt,” said a visibly crestfallen Miller after the game. “I said a lot of things before the game because I wanted to build that animosity. I really wanted to win.”

After all, his injury doesn’t appear to be serious. He should be back on the field in Week 8, when the Broncos face the Washington football team.

Until then, it’s a matter of getting the defense back on track.

Even the secondary, which was bolstered in free agency with Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller as well as first-round draft pick Pat Surtain II, does not exude much security. Darby has had injury problems in the interim and Fuller has not been used at all in the last two games.

Back-up for Bridgewater

In the first three weeks, at least, it still seemed as if the offense could score reliably.

Quarterback Bridgewater, who came from the Carolina Panthers, posted 827 passing yards in the first three games, had an average quarterback rating of 115.3 and went without a turnover.

Again, the confidence was lost.

In the last three games, six ball losses went to his account. In Cleveland, Bridgewater, who was plagued by a foot injury, threw two touchdown passes but only managed a total of 187 passing yards.

Still, 147 yards of that came in the third and fourth quarters. As a result, Fangio said, “I thought he played well, especially in the second half.”

Preempting any talk of a change at the playmaker position, since Drew Lock was also considered a potential starter before the season, Fangio added, “He’s our quarterback. “

Fangio calls for increase

He said it was now a matter of working through the losing streak as quickly as possible.

“We have to collect ourselves. We have to overcome our injuries. We can’t use this as an excuse. We have to play better football again, as a team,” Fangio said.

In doing so, he included himself: “We have to play better, we have to coach better and we have to coach better.”

Perhaps then the emotional situation would turn once again – and in the desired direction.