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Jarrett Stidham #8 of the Denver Broncos on the field after losing to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
The Denver Broncos expressed the utmost faith in Jarrett Stidham, but the former New England Patriots fourth-round pick was unable to live up to what was required of him against the team that drafted him in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday.
Stidham went more than two years between starts, and he had never started a playoff game.
Despite all of the positive things the Broncos had to say about him pregame, Stidham’s lack of experience showed.
Jarrett Stidham Gets Honest After Broncos’ Loss
GettyJarrett Stidham #8 of the Denver Broncos warms up before facing the San Francisco 49ers.
Stidham finished the Broncos’ loss with 133 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception on 54.8% completion.
He began well enough, overcoming a three-and-out on the Broncos’ first possession with a touchdown drive on their second. Staked to a 7-0 lead in the second quarter, though, Stidham turned the tide of the game with a mistake.
Attempting to throw out of a sack, he was found to have thrown a backward pass on review.
“Obviously, I can’t put our team in a bad position like that. I was trying to throw it away to TB [Tyler Badie]. He was in the area,” Stidham told reporters on January 25.”He [Christian Elliss] just got up on me real fast, and I was just trying to get rid of it. And like I said, just can’t–I can’t put the ball in a position like that. So, that was completely on me.”
Stidham said that he did not think that he threw the ball backward. The Patriots cashed in on two snaps later. He said that he should have taken the sack and let the punt team “flip the field.”
Stidham is a free agent this offseason, and there was some speculation about him possibly playing himself into a starting opportunity next season. His performance on Sunday may have done more to underscore that he had four starts, all in the regular season, before the game.
Stidham praised the Broncos’ defense, which allowed just three points the rest of the way.
“Obviously, the defense, they played their tails off tonight. It was pretty remarkable to see. New England has a great offense, great coordinator, great quarterback, a lot of great players. So, what they were able to do tonight was super impressive. I just felt like whenever I gave them the short field, really hard for me to swallow that one,” Stidham said.
“I just put them in a terrible spot. So, hats off to them. They played outstanding, and played good enough to win.”
The Broncos had the ball with a chance to tie or take the lead when Stidham threw his pick.
Jarrett Stidham Not Making Excuses
GettyJarrett Stidham #8 of the Denver Broncos warms up before a game against the Houston Texans.
Stidham and the Broncos operated fine at the start of the game, when conditions were mostly clear. As the weather worsened, with snow and wind picking up throughout the contest, Stidham and Co. struggled.
However, noted Stidham, so did the Patriots.
“The conditions are what they are. Both teams were playing in it. So, I think we only had a handful of plays in the third quarter when we were going into the wind that way. And in the fourth quarter, it was just back and forth, back and forth, and trying to make plays. So like I said, the conditions are what they are. Both teams had to do it,” Stidham said.
“It’s hard to say one thing. You can’t really say it’s the footing. Everybody’s got to run around, and cut, and do those types of things. I think it’s just one of those times where you got to find little completions here and there. Or if it’s running the ball, you just got to find something that kind of sticks. And we were trying to do our best to find that, and just weren’t able to move the ball in the second half.”
Stidham said there are “certainly” complications whenever the weather is a factor. However, both teams and fellow QB Drake Maye dealt with it, “so, you can’t really make an excuse for it.”
Bo Nix Shows Leadership Through Adversity
GettyBo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos looks on after defeating the Las Vegas Raiders.
Stidham drew the start in place of Bo Nix, who underwent season-ending surgery to address a broken bone in his ankle, which he injured during the Broncos’ win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.
Stidham and fellow backup Sam Ehlinger checked in with Nix after the latter learned of his fate.
After the Broncos’ loss to the Patriots, it was Nix who was there in a show of support and solidarity for Stidham.
“Yeah, we talked in the locker room as soon as I came in, and yeah, had a good little convo. I’ll keep that private,” Stidham said. “He was supportive all week, and he’s an incredible human, incredible teammate, and, yeah, very lucky to have him here.”
Nix is expected to be healthy in time for next season.
Still, his recovery and the injury that led to it will almost certainly factor into the Broncos’ plans at quarterback this offseason, with Ehlinger joining Stidham in free agency.