Broncos still having problems in red zone

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos’ red zone struggles led to some red faces at the NFL Network.

Even though his players heeded his admonition to channel their emotions in a more positive direction after losing their composure in a loss to the San Diego Chargers four nights earlier, Broncos coach Josh McDaniels’ expletive-filled harangue was accidentally aired for a national Thanksgiving audience of ear-witnesses.

After blowing their second first-and-goal opportunity of the night with three false starts by three different players that resulted in a short field goal, McDaniels was livid, as just about any coach would be.

After all, this was a home game, so crowd noise couldn’t be blamed for the false starts by tight end Daniel Graham, left tackle Ryan Clady and center Casey Wiegmann.

“It was frustrating to get down for the second time and to have some mishaps,” quarterback Kyle Orton said after Denver recovered for a 26-6 win that snapped a four-game losing streak. “We had some pretty much dumb penalties. That’s been our Achilles’ heel, penalties and the red zone offense.”

The Broncos are accustomed to McDaniels’ emotional sideline demeanor, so this blowup was no surprise.

“It’s great to have a coach like that, you know, emotional,” Orton said. “We’ve got a lot of emotion on our offense. I think our guys appreciate it and thrive off of it.”

Coming back from a commercial, however, the network showed a clip of McDaniels yelling at his offense and uttering two profanities that should have been bleeped out.

Against the Giants, it didn’t cost them as they rolled to a 20-point win, but during their monthlong losing streak, the Broncos’ proclivity for penalties cost them yardage, opportunities and composure.

As for McDaniels’ reaction to being caught on camera cursing at his bumbling team, the coach offered no apologies for his obscenities.

“That’s their business,” McDaniels said of the league network.