The Denver Broncos are hovering around .500 as they approach Week 6 of the 2022 season and injuries are starting to pile up. The team’s poor start compounded with the growing list of injured players has some fans convinced that the season is already lost.
Broncos guard Dalton Risner does not see it that way.
After a disappointing 12-9 loss to the Indianapolis Colts last week, Risner pointed to the team’s 2021 game against the Cincinnati Bengals as evidence that the team’s season is far from over.
“Look at the Bengals last year, they were 7-6, and we were 7-6,” Risner said last Thursday. “They come here, play us at home and we barely lose. Everyone knew the winner of that was going to go to the playoffs. They ended up in the Super Bowl.
“I know that is a crazy comparison, but at the end of the day what I am trying to say is that this thing is long from over. It hurts to lose tonight. We have to figure that thing out on offense. I am going to do everything that I can to help in that issue.”
Denver lost to Cincinnati by less than a touchdown last year and dropped to 7-7. The Bengals improved to 8-6 and they ended the season with a 10-7 record, which was good enough to make the playoffs. And once you reach the postseason, anything can happen.
The Broncos have started poorly, but a win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 6 could help the team begin to turn their season around. It’s going to be tough to make the playoffs in a competitive conference, but Denver’s not out of it just yet.