The Denver Broncos earned a big win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday by a score of 28-14, putting them at 5-3 on the season. Nothing will overshadow the Broncos Are at this point, which poses a viable threat for the AFC to at least make the playoffs. That said, even head coach Sean Payton was fed up after the game after the performances of his wide receivers, which included a pair of fumbles by Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Courtland Sutton.

Even if Sutton racks up 100 yards in this game — perhaps his best of the year overall — a fumble at the goal line is excruciating. And Lil’Jordan Humphrey’s fumble resulted in the Panthers’ only touchdown before garbage time in the fourth quarter, a touchdown that put the Broncos in an early 7-0 hole.

Ultimately, fumbles by the receivers cost the Denver Broncos a total of 14 points in this game, and other missteps from the receiver position hurt the team even worse. Sutton had a botched pass, Lil’Jordan Humphrey had a botched pass, Marvin Mims didn’t expect the ball to be thrown to him in a two-minute drill before halftime, and Troy Franklin dropped in a surefire touchdown or huge gain. .

Running back Javonte Williams also dropped a beautiful pass from Bo Nix late in the game.

Thank goodness the Broncos tight ends stepped up in this game or it might have been ugly. And Sean Payton acknowledged after the game that they can still play better, but he was especially critical of the team’s wide receivers fumbling the ball…

This isn’t a “new” problem for the Broncos this year. The receivers may not be messing around every week, but there is a pattern of missed opportunities and missed passes that has cost the Broncos points. If some of these things had happened in more exciting games, it could have ultimately been the difference between a playoff spot.

For the Broncos, rookie running back Audric Estimé walked through the facility last week with a football in his hands after fumbling for the second time in just nine career carries. Javonte Williams has had fumbling issues (again) this season. The Broncos were finally able to overcome turnovers in this game against the Panthers, the first time they have won this season while turning the ball over at least twice.

It’s a testament to how well Bo Nix and the offense in general have played, but after considering the wide receiver room as the team’s deepest group in training camp, I’m not sure how long Sean Payton will be able to tolerate these issues . . Josh Reynolds is currently on injured reserve with an injury and is thankfully okay after being shot, but no one knows what his timetable for a return to the field looks like.

And Payton is right. At some point, “My bad” just doesn’t cut it anymore.

My suggestion is that the Broncos should go after someone and make a move to acquire a receiver, maybe even Diontae Johnson, who was on the other sideline (in sweats) for this game against Carolina.

We should be close to seeing AT Perry, who the Broncos brought in after being cut by the Saints, get his first regular season action of 2024. We should be close to the point where Payton could actually have a general action. manager George Paton pulls the trigger on a transaction to bring in someone to raise the floor of the room.

We’re definitely past the point of regret with the decision to release Tim Patrick, who would help this team immensely even if he didn’t get 100 yards per game or something ridiculous like that. Patrick certainly provided a reliable option in the passing game.

And that’s something the Broncos desperately need right now.