Peyton after the Ravens outclass the Broncos – “This is where we’re at”

BALTIMORE – Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton had said the team's trip to Baltimore this weekend would allow the team to “see where we're at.”

And after Sunday's 41-10 loss to the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium, it seemed clear that the Broncos (5-4) couldn't come close to matching the Ravens on both sides of the ball, at least on a sunny November afternoon.

Payton said he will hold a mirror up to everyone involved, including the coaches, this week to find out why.

“We've had tough losses… (but) there's that courage coming back and you embrace the adversity a little bit sometimes,” Payton said. “You just can't bullshit yourself, including the head coach.”…you get on the plane and get back to work (Monday)…That's where we're at.”'

“There are a lot of what-ifs in this game, but the fact is we kicked our butts,” Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said. “…We just have to do better.”

The Broncos' plan to keep the ball on offense for as long as possible didn't work, and their plan to contain the Ravens' league-leading rushing attack also failed. And their desire to show they're ready to compete with the league's heavyweights is still unfulfilled.

Lamar Jackson left the game in the fourth quarter with a good performance, completing 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns for a perfect passer rating of 158.3, while Derrick Henry had 106 yards rushing with two touchdowns.

There was a stretch in the game when the Ravens had a 17-10 lead late in the first half until the Broncos' offense extended that lead to 38-10 with just over a minute left in the third quarter had given everything from four pieces.

Their attempts to be aggressive largely failed, and when they had opportunities to make game-changing plays on offense or defense, they didn't take advantage of them.

“One of my guys always says, 'If there was a fifth, we'd all be drunk,'” wide receiver Courtland Sutton said.

“There are going to be games where you play on Monday and it’s not going to be good for any of us,” Payton said. “We won't like it, but that's life.” We have to bow out and get ready to play next week. “No excuses.”

Nix's first pass attempt of the game was tipped first by Broncos wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey – Humphrey said after the game he should have made the catch – and then by Ravens' safety Ar'Darius Washington at the 37th line Broncos intercepted. yard line. The Broncos defense did force the Ravens to punt on the next possession, but that was the climax of things.

Baltimore scored on its next seven possessions.

“They pretty much beat us in all three phases, we didn't do a good enough job as coaches, we lost to a good football team and that's disappointing,” Payton said. “…You end up in a game where you have to be one-dimensional and obviously that's what happened to us (Sunday).''

Nix completed 19 of 33 passes for 223 yards and was sacked four times after that interception. The Broncos have now lost four games this season when Nix threw an interception.

The Broncos face the Kansas City Chiefs (7-0) on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

“(Payton) hit it exactly right, that’s miserable, you never want to lose games like that,” Nix said. “…We have to face it, you can sit there and point the finger at someone else or.” You take responsibility for it. “The only way to overcome this situation and find ways to improve is to look within.”