Wilson: 'I've got to play better' after 2-INT, 95-yard showing in TNF loss
Russell Wilson's improved play was one of the Denver Broncos' lone bright spots this season prior to Thursday's game with the Kansas City Chiefs.
But the quarterback's apparent revival came to an abrupt end in the prime-time loss, with Wilson producing one of the worst games of his career as Denver fell to 1-5.
"We had a chance, we've got to play better, cleaner," Wilson said after the 19-8 defeat, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN. "I've got to play better. That starts with me."
Wilson completed 13 of 22 passes for just 95 yards and one touchdown against two interceptions. He was sacked four times while struggling to extend plays with his legs in his signature style.
The 34-year-old also yielded the lowest EPA per dropback rate of his career, per Larry Holder of The Athletic.
Denver's much-maligned defense held its own against the high-flying Chiefs, limiting Patrick Mahomes and Co. to just one touchdown on 11 drives.
The Broncos' offense, however, failed to get on the board until wide receiver Courtland Sutton made an athletic one-handed touchdown grab to cut the Chiefs' lead to eight points with just over six minutes to go.
Mahomes then quickly led Kansas City into field-goal range, and Harrison Butker put the game away for the reigning champions.
"I thought our defense played great tonight," said Wilson, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "They battled all night. They came up with a pick, our defense did, and could have had two. They did a really great job keeping us in the game. Offensively, we had some really good things, and then the two turnovers by me were unacceptable. That can't happen."
Wilson appeared to have put his 2022 struggles behind him following the arrival of head coach Sean Payton. In the first five games of the season, he threw for nine touchdowns against two interceptions and produced two 300-yard performances.
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