"Denver Broncos: Missed Mile High Opportunities"

A great team is often defined by how you're built in the trenches. 
Winning gritty and ugly; even if it means taking aggressive play calling 
to extreme measures. When adversity arrives, how do you respond in 
the magnitude of circumstances? This was how the top seeded Denver 
Broncos ended their season versus New England in the AFC title game. 

Broncos head coach Sean Payton made a very uncharacteristic play
call midway through the second quarter. Up 7-0 and facing a crucial
fourth down inside the thirty yard line, leaving your second string
quarterback out for a gamble versus taking the field goal. Well, it
backfired and put the Patriots in solid field position. Calling timeout to
regroup; while being overly aggressive. Now, any smart head coach is
taking the points by kicking the field goal. But...

Denver failed to convert that one play and ultimately came back to
haunt them later on. For what it's worth, going up 10-0 with a double
digit lead would've put pressure on New England's offense to respond.
This was more than a missed opportunity, Payton's ego got in the way
versus taking a field goal. Margin of error has been crucial regardless of
how fans may feel.

One bogus play call shifted the momentum in New England's favor and
they were able to get a touchdown just before halftime. You could feel
fans getting anxious, nervous and this Super Bowl team slipping away.
As the snowstorm moved in, Denver's offense went stagnant. No
positive yardage or grim of hope as it became a slugfest. Adversity had
arrived, but nobody was able to overcome one simple mistake which
doomed the morale. Analytics took away simplicity in just settling for the
points.

With a defense playing well and keeping New England out the end
zone, you couldn't ask for a better performance. In the end following a
disastrous offensive performance, Joe Lombardi was fired by Payton.
Along with another staff member who aided in Denver's lackluster
scoring effort. When things like this happen, everyone takes
accountability for their actions. Not without being held to the fire and
drilled with heated questions.

For Payton, it's simple: ego, pride and wanting to be greedy cost Denver
a Super Bowl berth. A good enough defense with players who'll go
possession for possession with any offense. The biggest hiccup was not
having your back-up quarterback Jarrett Stidham in a better situation on
a very crucial play which came back to do more harm than good.

Old school coaches who didn't need analytics to explain situational
football would've took the points. I've heard those guys say time and
time agin: "If you need analytics to help you coach, you shouldn't be on
the sidelines. Basic X's and O's still matter and personnel for those
crucial downs." Today's coaches have become co-dependent on trusting
brains who aren't exactly smart enough in making the right decisions.

Missed opportunities in a snow storm cost Denver ending their season
hoisting the Lombardi Trophy two weeks from Sunday. In the world of
sports, being aggressive is one thing; overly aggressive has
repercussions. Even if you try and cover ground, there's no guarantee in
getting another opportunity. In Denver's case, well... What more needs
to be explained?