Denver Broncos fail to convert third downs against Texans

DENVER — It was Mike Shanahan’s first year as the Denver Broncos’ head coach, Terrell Davis’ rookie year as a Hall of Fame running back.

For the first time since that 1995 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Broncos went oh-fer on third downs in the game Sunday against Houston.

Technically, the Broncos did convert a third down on a pass interference penalty against the Texans. But in a statistical oddity, first downs can be made penalty but penalties don’t count in the third-down conversion category.

Still, going 0-for-11 on the other third-down chances is concerning, especially when four situations were 4 yards or less.

“It’s not good enough. Obviously it’s frustrating,’’ Broncos head coach Sean Payton said Monday morning in his day-after-game media conference call. “It’s a combination of a handful things. Protection, guys open, us not making a play. But I felt like the yardage, the distances where it’s what we wanted. And yet we’ve got to be better in that area. Our third down plan is got to be cleaner. But it wasn’t a game where so many of them were third and longs.”

The third-down distances that were not picked up, in order:

• Third and 10
• Third and 3
• Third and 3
• Third and 5 (a run play at the 49 by Samaje Perine, who gains 1 yard)
• Third and 6
• Third and 6
• Third and 9
• Third and 3
• Third and 4 (actually converted on a defensive pass interference penalty but statistically ruled no play).
• Third and 8
• Third and 2
• Third and goal, 8 (interception)

So seven of the 11 third downs were between the manageable distances of 2 and 6 yards.

The Broncos were 3 of 3 on fourth downs.

If only they got to fourth down on their final series from the 8 yard line. Down 22-17 with 16 seconds remaining, Russell Wilson on third-and-goal from the 8 had his pass intended for tight end Lucas Krull intercepted in the end zone by Houston’s Jimmie Ward.

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