After the Broncos' 16-3 loss to the Patriots on Sunday, Denver players apparently were so frustrated that they took out their anger on each other.
Via NFL Media's Michael Silver:
When the beaten Broncos spilled into the locker room, before the door was opened to reporters and other outsiders, coach Gary Kubiak gathered his players and asked if anyone wanted to address the team. Veteran left tackle Russell Okung, who signed with the Broncos last March, stepped forward to speak, and cornerback Aqib Talib strongly objected. According to several witnesses, that set off a spirited shouting match between the team's defensive backs and offensive linemen — one which Kubiak had to diffuse before it turned ugly.
One unidentified player called it "your classic offense vs. defense divide."
WATCH: Broncos explain loss to Patriots
As @MikeSilver points out, tension rising between @Broncos offense & defense. My @sn_nfl column on that very thing: https://t.co/U3AHYJAT9h
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) December 19, 2016
This "divide" makes sense after Sunday's effort, considering Denver managed to score only three points. The Broncos are used to relying on their defense, but at some point, the offense needs to step up. The defense did its part, holding the high-powered Patriots to just 16 points (they average 26.1).
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Denver is in the bottom 10 in total offensive yards per game, and the defensive backs apparently are fed up with the poor play. Silver notes cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Chris Harris were among the players shouting toward the offensive players. But the CBs admitted that won't solve anything.
"Beefing with the offense, that’s not going to get us anywhere," Talib said, via USA Today. “We’re going to ride. We’re going to stick together.”
