2018 Denver Broncos season

After poor offensive statistics that resulted in a 5–11 record during the previous season, the Broncos hoped for improvement at the quarterback position, with the offseason signing of Case Keenum as well as the breakthrough of undrafted rookie running back Phillip Lindsay.

However, key late-season injuries to cornerback Chris Harris Jr. (fractured fibula) and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (ruptured Achilles tendon) derailed those hopes, sending the Broncos to a season-ending four-game losing streak and a 6–10 record – only a one-win improvement from 2017.

At the two-minute warning, Janikowski missed wide left on a 51-yard field goal, however, he got a second chance as the result of an offsides penalty on Broncos' cornerback Tramaine Brock.

Three plays later, the Broncos' reached the Seahawks' 26-yard line, and were hoping to increase their lead heading into halftime, however, Keenum was intercepted by safety Bradley McDougald.

On the second play of the fourth quarter, the Seahawks reclaimed the lead, with Wilson launching a 51-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tyler Lockett.

Following an offensive holding penalty that drove the Broncos back to their own 10-yard line, Keenum engineered a 10-play, 62-yard drive, culminating in McManus kicking a game-winning 36-yard field goal with only 10 seconds left.

The Broncos committed three costly penalties on their next drive – offensive holding on Garett Bolles that negated a 39-yard pass completion from Keenum to wide receiver Demaryius Thomas at the Ravens' 11-yard line, a holding call on Connor McGovern at the Ravens' 31-yard line and an unnecessary roughness flag on Ronald Leary that pushed the Broncos out of field goal range.

The Broncos reached the Ravens' 5-yard line on their first possession of the fourth quarter, but Keenum was intercepted by Patrick Onwuasor, who ran 89 yards for a touchdown.

Mahomes then engineered a 12-play, 75-yard drive, culminating in a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce to narrow the Broncos lead to 23–20 with 6:30 remaining in the game.

The drive featured a critical third-down conversion, in which Mahomes threw left-handed to wide receiver Tyreek Hill while being pursued out of bounds by Broncos' linebackers Von Miller and Shane Ray.

After forcing a fumble on the Jets' opening drive, the Broncos took the early lead, with an 8-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Case Keenum to wide receiver Courtland Sutton.

From the second quarter onward, the Broncos' offense only managed a 30-yard field goal by placekicker Brandon McManus and a 42-yard touchdown pass from Keenum to wide receiver Demaryius Thomas – the latter of which occurred after the game had been decided in the Jets' favor.

Near the end of the first quarter, quarterback Case Keenum completed what was initially ruled as a 44-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who was immediately flagged for a taunting penalty against Rams' cornerback Troy Hill, which would have been penalized on the kickoff.

The Broncos reached the Rams' 28-yard line on the first possession of the second quarter, only to have a holding penalty on offensive tackle Garett Bolles push them out of field goal range.

The Chiefs got on the board, with a 24-yard field goal by placekicker Harrison Butker, a drive that was aided by a defensive pass interference penalty on Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby on a 3rd-and-19.

The Chiefs took the lead in the second quarter with two touchdown passes by quarterback Patrick Mahomes – a 9-yarder to tight end Travis Kelce and a 13-yarder to wide receiver Sammy Watkins – the latter with a missed extra point attempt.

The Chiefs then increased their lead to 30–14 on their first two possessions of the second half, with two more touchdown passes by Mahomes – a 10-yarder to Watkins, followed by a 23-yarder to running back Kareem Hunt.

However, after running back Devontae Booker lost a fumble deep in Broncos' territory early in the second quarter, the Texans capitalized, with Watson connecting with wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins on a 16-yard touchdown (with a missed extra point attempt).

The Broncos took their first and only lead of the game, with quarterback Case Keenum throwing a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jeff Heuerman, which was the only scoring play of the third quarter.

Following an exchange of punts, the Broncos, trailing 19–17, had one last offensive possession, and reached the Texans' 33-yard line, however, McManus missed wide right on a 51-yard field goal as time expired.

The possession was extended by a fumble from wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders that was reversed by instant replay and ruled as an incomplete pass, as well as a Keenum interception that was nullified by a defensive holding penalty on Chargers' safety Jahleel Addae.

With 1:51 remaining in the game and the Broncos backed up to their own 8-yard line, Keenum engineered a 7-play, 76-yard drive, culminating in placekicker Brandon McManus kicking a game-winning 34-yard field goal as time expired.

The Broncos donned their orange color rush uniforms in the Week 12 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were victimized by several missed scoring opportunities.

The Steelers then drove down the field, attempting to take their first lead, with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completing a pass to tight end Xavier Grimble along the sidelines.

[111] Following an exchange of punts to begin the second half, the Steelers grabbed their first (and only) lead of the game, with Roethlisberger launching a 97-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

However, on the third play after the two-minute warning, Roethlisberger's short pass intended for wide receiver Antonio Brown was intercepted by linebacker Shelby Harris for a touchback – the Steelers' fourth turnover of the game – to seal the win for the Broncos.

Following an exchange of punts to begin the second half, the Broncos increased their lead, with quarterback Case Keenum connecting with wide receiver Courtland Sutton on a 30-yard touchdown pass.

The Broncos fell behind 20–0 at halftime, and the defense allowed 210 receiving yards to 49ers' tight end George Kittle – 85 of which came on one play, which resulted in a 49ers' touchdown.

After forcing a three-and-out, the Broncos were attempting a rally, however, Keenum was intercepted by safety Marcus Gilchrist, and a 45-yard field goal by Carlson increased the Raiders' lead to 27–14 with 4:42 remaining in the game.

The Broncos got a reprieve after Keenum was intercepted by safety Jahleel Addae in the end zone, who lost the fumble on the runback and was recovered by offensive tackle Elijah Wilkinson.