In New England, we learned why the 2020 Broncos are different than their predecessors

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — It’s ironic that a game with so many missed opportunities might stand as the most tangible evidence that the 2020 Broncos could be different than their immediate predecessors.

Four drives that crossed the New England 30-yard line ended in Brandon McManus field goals.

Three drives started in New England territory because of defensive takeaways, and the Broncos had just two field goals to show for them.

A goal-to-go opportunity provided by a Stephon Gilmore holding penalty ended with a 20-yard McManus field goal after three runs netted just two yards. Two potential Drew Lock touchdown passes sailed through the outstretched hands of intended targets; another potential touchdown was dropped.

And after three quarters of missed opportunities in building an 18-3 lead that could have been 30-3 or greater with better execution, the self-inflicted wounds became gushing gashes, with Lock throwing downfield interceptions on what turned out to be his final two passes of the day.

In the post-Peyton Manning years, the Broncos grew accustomed to losing when such miscues accumulated into a three-foot snowdrift of despair. Consider this: Prior to this month, the Broncos had lost 17 of their previous 19 games when they turned the ball over at least twice.

Three turnovers against the New York Jets? Two fourth-quarter interceptions by the New England Patriots? These would have been death sentences for the Broncos.

The defense being asked to hold a one-score lead in the final moments? Ditto, at least in the last two seasons. Broncos fans would have been justified in squirming in their seats when their defense took the field with a 2-point lead in New Jersey and a 6-point edge in Foxborough.

This was where you got accustomed to defeat.

Instead, the Broncos now have two wins, with an 18-12 triumph over the Patriots on Sunday giving them their first win in New England in 14 years.

Two wins in situations that usually augured collapse.

Two wins that were sealed by gutsy fourth-down blitzes — including a bring-the-house call Sunday that saw Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson crash into the box, part of a collective tsunami of pressure that forced Patriots quarterback Cam Newton to throw well before he was set.

Two wins despite a king tide of injuries that only now shows signs of ebbing.

Two wins in empty stadiums, where all the energy must come from the reservoir of spirit within each player.

These rebuilding Broncos are not yet anyone’s idea of an elite team. But they’re learning how to win — whether it’s by piling up points and getting one key stop against the Jets or by neutralizing an effective New England offense while their own attack failed to capitalize on its chances.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that you have to learn how to win, but that’s a three-phase operation that has to do that,” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said. “We have to do better in the fourth quarter there to close that out, but, hey, sometimes it’s going to happen that way.

“Sometimes the offense is going to struggle and the defense is going to have to continue to go back out there and finish the game. Sometimes you’re going to get into a shootout where the team that has the ball last has the chance to win the game, and that might have to be us someday.”

The best teams do not win one way. To borrow the sentiment of a Poet Laureate who called New England home, the Broncos could take one of two roads that diverge in a yellow wood — and each could lead to a game day’s desired destination.

They’re learning how to win — even when they’re not their best. That’s what winners do.