Denver Broncos

The Broncos can't hold on to a first-half lead anymore

Published Dec. 21, 2015 11:23 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Denver Broncos held a sizable three-touchdown lead at Heinz Field last weekend.

Their biggest mistake? Exiting the locker room to play the second half, where so many of their leads have evaporated in December.

Denver has been outscored 36-0 in the second half this month. It's no surprise they're tail-spinning down the AFC West standings.

That includes a 21-0 deficit against the plucky Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday. Quarterback Brock Oswiler stalled; he couldn't piece together a drive of over 30 yards or more time-consuming than 2:18.

That was all Antonio Brown and Co. needed. No. 84 drew a crucial 26-yard pass interference call in the third quarter; on the next play, he beat cornerback Chris Harris Jr. for his first surrendered score in over two years.

Head coach Gary Kubiak, via Broncos.com: "In the second half, we just weren’t doing anything. So they just kept going back out there, and I’m sure they were worn out. We just couldn’t put anything together."

Their lead evaporated. And, scarier still, so did any momentum the team might've carried into its postseason run.