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The Broncos didn’t learn they would be without a real QB until after practicing on Saturday, an unprecedented affair that forced offensive staff to scramble to install a heavy package built around Hinton within hours. The rookie, just a month away from the fundraiser sale, was raised off the practice squad and moved on to the position he started in but did not finish his college career.
“I can easily say it was the busiest 24 hours of my life, but when I got the call there was pure excitement,” Hinton said, according to the post-report. team match. “Of course there were nerves and disbelief, but the encouragement the team gave me and the guys just kept me awake the whole time. …
“Coming in, I knew I had no idea how fast the game was. I know our concepts but it’s very different from the quarterback. So coming in we knew it would be a tough situation for sure. It was a challenge that I wanted to take up. “
With Hinton unable to take as much as a QB practice rep before kickoff, his performance went as well as might be expected. Hinton completed only one of nine attempts for 13 yards with two interceptions.
It wasn’t the worst passing line in recent memory, however.
As a rookie in 1998, former Chargers No.2 pick Ryan Leaf completed one of 15 passes for 4 yards with a pair of picks and three fumbles lost to the Chiefs, according to NFL Research.
“He did all he could,” Fangio said of Hinton. “He was excited for it. We were excited for him. His teammates were excited for him. But it was a very big request.”
The Broncos also asked running backs Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman to run a lot of Wildcat, which was at times moderately effective but clearly unsustainable. It all added up to 112 yards of total offense (2.6 yards per play) and a basket that followed an interception and a 1-yard drive.
Denver (4-7), despite an inspired effort amid dwindling playoff hopes, wasn’t having much luck.
“I have a lot of love and respect for our players,” Fangio said. “They are competitors, they are fighters … and they did it until the end, under extreme circumstances … I love and respect them even more.”
Perhaps it was better if the interconference fight happened without fans in the stands. The sympathies of Saints coach Sean Payton have extended beyond the Broncos.
“It’s a difficult year”, Payton said. “I felt bad for the cardboard fans. That’s what it is.”
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