Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton expressed disappointment about missing the playoffs despite their victory over the Chargers, describing the situation as unfortunate and bittersweet.

Fireworks erupted from the top of the video board at Empower Field, evoking cheers of celebration from fans. Despite the jubilation, the specter of missing the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season cast a shadow over everything following the Broncos’ 16-9 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday afternoon.

Inside linebacker Alex Singleton encapsulated the conflicting emotions, stating, “They are NFL games (and) they are still hard to win no matter what. It still sucks and it is bittersweet.”

As Broncos quarterback Jarret Stidham took a knee at midfield, securing his first career win as a starter, the Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers notched victories, extinguishing any remaining hope of the Broncos participating in meaningful football in January.

Broncos nose tackle Mike Purcell believes the team’s season might have unfolded differently if they hadn’t encountered setbacks earlier. The Broncos faced challenges with a 1-5 start, a significant loss to the Dolphins, and squandered halftime leads against the Raiders, Commanders, and Jets at home.

Purcell reflected, “We are where we are.”

Despite the rocky start, the Broncos managed to turn things around and find themselves in playoff contention. Their five-game win streak included victories over formidable opponents like Kansas City, the Buffalo Bills, and the Cleveland Browns. The defense transformed from one of the league’s weakest to among the best. By Week 14, after defeating the Chargers on the road, Denver was just one game behind Kansas City for the top spot in the division.

However, after a disheartening loss to the Patriots, head coach Sean Payton made the decision to bench Russell Wilson, aiming to inject a “spark” into the offense.

Despite high expectations, the Broncos’ offense on Sunday mirrored its prior performances, registering its lowest point total since Week 6. Denver struggled with a meager average of 3.1 rushing yards per carry, managed only one touchdown (an impressive 54-yard catch-and-run from Lil’Jordan Humphrey), and converted 3 of 4 field goal attempts.

Once again, it was the defense that propelled the Broncos to victory, but this effort fell short of salvaging their playoff aspirations.

Head coach Sean Payton acknowledged the disappointment, stating, “Certainly, that’s a goal (to make the playoffs) when you start the beginning of the year. It was a goal of ours. Yes, it’s disappointing.”

For quarterback Jarret Stidham, the win was significant as he secured his first NFL victory after four seasons. Stidham hadn’t experienced a victory since 2018 when he led the Auburn Tigers to a 63-14 triumph over Purdue in the Music City Bowl. Following the win against the Chargers, he took a moment to text his wife.

Although Denver’s playoff hopes dissipated in the process, Stidham remained focused on the immediate goal. He expressed, “The objective was to come in here and get our eighth win, and we did that. It’s disappointing that we can’t continue after next week, but the goal is to get another win. That’s all we got.”

Despite Denver facing another season finale without playoff implications for the eighth consecutive year, the players are determined to find meaning in their Week 18 matchup against the Raiders. The franchise has not experienced a winning season since 2016, but the players are focused on the significance of finishing with a 9-8 record.

Tight end Adam Trautman emphasized the importance of the upcoming game, stating, “9-8 means something to us…from where we started to where we are now. We’re gonna go out there guns blazing and give it our all next week.”

Head coach Sean Payton shares the sentiment, approaching the season finale with the mindset of an early-season contest. He stressed that if a player is healthy, he expects them to suit up in Las Vegas. Payton emphasized the importance of winning, stating, “…We would approach this injury-wise as if it was Week 2 or Week 6.”