Paxton Lynch sat on alone on the frozen grass in disbelief. His back was to the south end zone, where the Chiefs were celebrating the touchdown they had made out of the latest crippling mistake by the Broncos’ quarterback.
Lynch had just absorbed a sack late in the third quarter at his own 21-yard line, his team trailing by a touchdown. He fumbled the ball after he was leveled by Kansas City lineman Chris Jones. He then sat powerless on the ground as linebacker Ramik Wilson scooped up the ball and hopped across the goal line, delivering a major body blow in a Broncos season marked by bruises.