BALTIMORE — There’s no extra credit or demerits in the NFL.

One win is one win, no matter how bad New Orleans might be. One loss is one loss, no matter how resoundingly Baltimore delivers it.

Even though it all counts the same, Broncos wide receiver and captain Courtland Sutton acknowledged that he considers games like Sunday’s 41-10 loss to the Ravens to be in a different category.

“For us, it’s on us to figure out our identity in these playoff games,” said Sutton, referring to the quality of the opponent. “We’ve had success in some of these other games. But I think in this atmosphere and going against a team like Baltimore and then walking into Kansas City next week, we have to figure out the way to maximize our opportunities when they do arise in every phase of the game.

“It takes all three phases to go out there and take care of these teams that year in and year out are in the playoffs.”

None of the three phases did their job Sunday. That sets up a Monday back in Denver that head coach Sean Payton predicted would be unpleasant.

“It’s not going to taste good for any of us,” he said of reviewing the film. “We’re not going to like it, but that’s life.”

There’s no one thing in a 31-point game that could have turned the tide, but Payton didn’t like the Broncos’ final offensive sequence of the first half.

Javonte Williams had just plowed forward 7 yards to set the Broncos up with first-and-10 from the Baltimore 12-yard line with 80 seconds left in the half and the Ravens leading 17-7. The Ravens took their first timeout after that play, angling to get the ball back before halftime.

Payton and the players all week talked about the importance of capturing opportunities when they arose and controlling the pace of the game.

Here were both on a silver platter, especially since the Ravens were getting the ball to start the second half. The task: Get a touchdown. If time comes off the clock, too, all the better.



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