RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostDenver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) comes out of the tunnel with a smile during pregame at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostDenver Broncos wide receiver Seth Williams (19) watches his teammate warmup during pregame at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostDenver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58), center, comes out of the tunnel for pregame at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostDenver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio head out onto the field to face off against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostCleveland Browns quarterback Case Keenum (5) hands the ball off at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostDenver Broncos tight end Noah Fant (87) tries to gain more yards on Cleveland Browns middle linebacker Anthony Walker (4) at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostDenver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) makes a move toward Cleveland Browns quarterback Case Keenum (5) at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021. The Broncos lost 17-14 to the Browns.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostDenver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58), left, has a hard time getting around Cleveland Browns guard Blake Hance (62) at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostCleveland Browns free safety John Johnson (43), left, intercepts a pass from Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) in the endzone at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostDenver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (53) spits out water as the Broncos take on the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021. The Broncos lost 17-14 to the Browns.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostDenver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio walks the sidelines at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostDenver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) tries to keep warm on the sideline at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostCleveland Browns quarterback Case Keenum (5) passes down field against the Denver Broncos at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021. The Broncos lost 17-14 to the Browns.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostDenver Broncos defensive end Shelby Harris (96) celebrates a play against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021. The Broncos lost 17-14 to the Browns.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostDenver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) passes down field at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021. The Broncos lost 17-14 to the Browns.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostDenver Broncos running back Javonte Williams (33) draws a face mask call from Cleveland Browns middle linebacker Malcolm Smith (56) at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021. The Broncos lost 17-14 to the Browns.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostDenver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (53) loses his footing as the Cleveland Browns score at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021. The Broncos lost 17-14 to the Browns.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostDenver Broncos running back Javonte Williams (33) runs down the field against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021. The Broncos lost 17-14 to the Browns.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostCleveland Browns running back D'Ernest Johnson (30) runs down the field against the Denver Broncos at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021. The Broncos lost 17-14 to the Browns.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostDenver Broncos cornerback Nate Hairston (27) puts a towel on his head while on the sidelines at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021. The Broncos lost 17-14 to the Cleveland Browns.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver PostDenver Broncos cornerback Nate Hairston (27), center, looks down toward the end of the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021. The Broncos lost 17-14 to the Browns.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
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Denver Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) comes out of the tunnel with a smile during pregame at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Oct. 21, 2021.
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By RJ Sangosti | rsangosti@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
The Denver Broncos lost to the Cleveland Browns 17-14 at FirstEnergy Stadium in the NFL’s Week 7 matchup Thursday night.
Facing back-up Cleveland quarterback Case Keenum and third-team running back D’Ernest Johnson, the Broncos folded in the Lake Erie wind, never leading.
The Broncos (3-4) are back in a position they have become familiar with: Under .500, looking up at the rest of the AFC West and appearing out of answers. Their 3-0 start looks more like fool’s gold with each passing week. The Broncos have lost four consecutive games for the fifth time since the start of 2017 and are staring at a sixth consecutive year out of the playoffs.
Click here to read the full story.
