Broncos Vs. Patriots, Week 5: Denver fans frustrated with coaches

The Denver Broncos lost to the New England Patriots on Sunday, 31-21, falling to 2-3 on the season and further dampening the optimism that was created when Peyton Manning was signed.

The game featured miscues on both sides of the ball, including three lost fumbles on offense, that led to a 31-7 deficit before the Broncos managed to start closing the gap. One of the major storylines after the game was the play of the Broncos defense, with much of the focus falling on Joe Mays and the linebackers in general. After the Broncos easily handled the Oakland Raiders in Week 4, Denver fans were frustrated with the coaching of John Fox and Jack Del Rio.

Mile High Report reader Kgrone feels the same as many other fans, that Fox and Del Rio are not adjusting to well to the changing NFL:

We have a HC and DC who are older, and possibly not adjusting well to the ‘new' NFL; and we have an OC who is scared to screw up, and calls plays scared until the game is out of hand.

I'm not sure I 100% agree with what I just typed, but I'm certainly moving that direction.

MHH reader hvis agrees with this line of thinking as well, expressing his frustration with the coaching of the defense:

What I'm embarrassed about is that the gameplans and playcalling (especially on defense) were absolutely god awful. The Patriots offense was so unbelievably predictable I was calling the plays out before they happened. If I can do that as a leyman I wonder what Del Rio is looking at. If he's over thinking it, or maybe because of the hurry up the Pats ran he decided just to sit back and be conservative. It made it like watching Oregon - people sit back and get picked to pieces. When you counter their aggressiveness with aggressiveness of your own you can actually do something about it.

The Broncos travel to San Diego to take on the Chargers in Week 6 on Monday Night Football on ESPN.