Long after the snow fell Sunday night, though, Moss\u2019s normally bulging pupils were dull.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt sucks,\u201d he muttered postgame, \u201closing it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Safety Talanoa Hufanga made clear, earlier this season, that this defense\u2019s standard was to hold opposing offenses to zeroes. By that admission, sure, Vance Joseph\u2019s unit did not do enough in a season-ending 10-7 loss to the Patriots Sunday. Moss said his unit knew coming in that it might have to beat New England on defense alone. But the competitor in Moss said they could\u2019ve done more, as the Broncos didn\u2019t generate a single takeaway against Drake Maye and the Patriots.<\/p>\n
But did they live up, in effort and mentality, to a bat game?<\/p>\n
\u201cFor sure,\u201d defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike said . \u201cFeel like everybody gave what they had. I can only speak for myself \u2014 but I feel like I gave everything I had.\u201d<\/p>\n
Uwazurike rolled his bottom lip between his teeth, a 320-pound man who could barely raise his voice above a whisper.<\/p>\n
Eventually, the standard this Broncos defense had set for itself became impossible. They allowed a top-ranked Patriots offense to score a single field goal Sunday, after a 16-play drive that lasted 9:31 and ended in Jonathon Cooper sacking Maye. They held New England\u2019s MVP-candidate quarterback to a 10-of-21 line for 86 passing yards \u2014 just 41 in the first half, before snow blanketed both passing offenses \u2014 and held starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson to 71 rushing yards on 25 carries.<\/p>\n
And yet it wasn\u2019t enough. Three points and a touchdown, two plays after Jarrett Stidham fumbled the ball backward, was all it took to beat these Broncos. The defense could no longer play hero, without Nix to shoot fourth-quarter lightning bolts from his fingertips.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt sucks,\u201d tight end Engram said, shaking his head. He waved his hand, gesturing across the locker room. \u201cIt sucks looking at them, right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Pat](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TDP-L-BRONCOS-PATRIOTSAO2_7026xx.jpg\")
Pat Surtain II (2) of the Denver Broncos breaks up a pass intended for Kayshon Boutte (9) of the New England Patriots during the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz\/The Denver Post)<\/p>\n
Defensive tackle Malcolm Roach, postgame, slammed his hand against his locker and put his head in a cubby out of despair. Linebacker Justin Strnad said he was at \u201ca loss for words.\u201d Uwazurike repeated that he was heartbroken, and looked it.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause, they \u2014 I mean, they\u2019ve been doing it all year. And they \u2014 \u201d Engram said, trailing off. There wasn\u2019t much left to say.<\/p>\n
The foundation of this Broncos season caved in on Sunday night. Midseason, defensive players stood fast after tightrope games about their ability to shut off the spigot on most any offense that came through Denver. Offensive players offered warning signs, though, with veterans acknowledging that they couldn\u2019t continue winning games on the back of their defense.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not helping them,\u201d running back J.K. Dobbins said after a 10-7 win over the Raiders in early November. \u201cWe\u2019re not doing them any justice. Like, I feel bad the way we play on offense and the way they play on defense, because they\u2019re doing so great, and we\u2019re doing so bad. And they\u2019re our brothers too. So, like, it just sucks.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause they\u2019re out there, so many plays, playing their butts off \u2014 keep, like, we can\u2019t keep doing it to them. We\u2019ll figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n
At times, they did. But the foundation collapsed on Sunday as the snow piled up. Backup quarterback Stidham, who ignited Empower Field with a first-quarter 52-yard bomb to Marvin Mims and a subsequent touchdown, couldn\u2019t throw the ball downfield in the snow. Receivers couldn\u2019t cut. Rookie running back RJ Harvey had a valiant 60 total yards, but couldn\u2019t generate any traction on the grass.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefense played great today,\u201d Harvey said postgame. \u201cJust, offense, we needed to execute better up there. Shoutout to the defense. They played their butts off.\u201d<\/p>\n
Indeed, every season-long contributor in Joseph\u2019s unit made his presence felt. Understated nose tackle D.J. Jones led Denver with 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss. Edge rushers Cooper and Bonitto completely collapsed New England\u2019s offense in the first half by beating their tackles. Cornerback Pat Surtain warded off two deep balls, and safety Hufanga recorded seven tackles and two passes defensed. Even rookie outside linebacker Que Robinson got in on the party, with a tremendous first-quarter sack of Maye.<\/p>\n
![\"Drake](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/TDP-L-BRONCOS-PATRIOTSAO2_5697xx.jpg\")
Drake Maye (10) of the New England Patriots reacts to being sacked by Malcolm Roach (97) and Eyioma Uwazurike (96) of the Denver Broncos during the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz\/The Denver Post)<\/p>\n
\u201cThey wrote us off, and we continued to keep our head down and grind,\u201d Moss said. \u201cAnd they\u2019re going to say what they want to say, because we lost this game. But I\u2019m proud of every single guy in this locker room. And we fought our asses off. And it\u2019s going to be great motivation for this offseason.\u201d<\/p>\n
A timeless defense, though \u2014 finishing 2025 with 76 total sacks in 19 combined regular-season and playoff games \u2014 will be lost to time. Joseph could well be tabbed for another job, as could secondary coach Jim Leonhard. Starting defensive end John Franklin-Myers is set to earn a big free-agent payday elsewhere. Linebackers Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad are on expiring contracts.<\/p>\n
On Monday, they\u2019ll all clear out their lockers and stash the bats somewhere, physical reminders of the wood they knocked until they couldn\u2019t knock any longer.<\/p>\n