The Broncos had so many chances to put New England away Sunday night.
If they had, who knows how much different this week might be?
Itap hard to imagine Jarrett Stidham would be starting or that Russell Wilson’s benching would be among the biggest NFL storylines of the week.
Among the last chances the Broncos had: A third-and-3 for New England after coach Sean Payton had taken a pair of timeouts on the Patriots’ last-minute drive.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe threw the ball down the left sideline for DeVante Parker, who came back to the ball over All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II for a 27-yard completion that flipped the complexion of the waning seconds.
Suddenly the Patriots only needed a couple of plays — two short completions, as it happens — before a game-winning, 56-yard field goal.
Surtain on Thursday lamented the catch and said he needed to play better in that critical moment.
“I just think it started with my technique,” he said. “My technique was off and I could have done better at the catch point, obviously. You know me, I hold myself to a very high standard and obviously that catch should have never been made.
“It happens and I just move on from it and learn from it.”
Surtain, like any player, has had a couple of tough moments in his first three seasons, but overall he’s turned in a splendid campaign. How does he handle hardship?
“You just look to get better,” he said. “You can’t look back on it too much because obviously we’ve got two games left to prove what we’re about.
“You’ve just got to move forward, look forward.”
The Broncos, of course, will be looking to prove what they’re about with Stidham playing quarterback now rather than Wilson. Surtain kept his thoughts on the move relatively close to the vest Thursday.
“There’s changes that are made throughout the season,” he said. “I can’t really give my input about it. In general, itap a team move. Russ is one of the hardest workers I know. He’s a great player. I don’t know, I guess thatap the move and we’re going with it going forward. Can’t say much about it.”
Simmons out Thursday. The Broncos injury list is growing.
Denver on Thursday had perhaps its lengthiest report of the season, including a high-profile addition in safety Justin Simmons, who did not participate due to illness and wasn’t in the locker room after practice.
The Broncos had seven players who didn’t practice Thursday, five because of injury or illness. They are: Simmons, receiver Courtland Sutton (concussion), outside linebacker Baron Browning (concussion), running back Dwayne Washington (illness) and tight end Greg Dulcich (foot/hamstring). Defensive lineman Mike Purcell and tight end Chris Manhertz got veteran rest days, as has become the norm late in the season.
Sutton appeared to make progress through the protocol, working out with training staff during practice.
Rookie wide receiver Marvin Mims has dealt with hamstring issues on and off over the course of the season and on Thursday was listed as a limited participant.
In more promising news, outside linebacker Nik Bonitto (knee) practiced fully for the first time since injuring his left MCL Dec. 10 at Los Angeles. He returned to practice Wednesday and saw his workload ramp up Thursday.
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