Broncos season on the line in 'must win' game against the Chargers

That message reverberates throughout Denver. 

"Failure is not an option against the Los Angeles Chargers," wrote Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla.

These quotes sound like dialogue in a cheesy sports movie, but the Broncos must save their season before it becomes a disaster. 

It's already falling short of expectations, with many believing they were a Super Bowl sleeper. However, they're not living up to their potential with a 2-3 record.

What makes the slow start more frustrating is they're not getting blown out, but beating themselves by botching clutch situations late in games. 

A questionable 64-yard field goal attempt in Seattle and a failed fourth-down conversion against the Colts sealed two defeats. The margin of victory in the Broncos' three losses has averaged 4.3 points. If they had won those games, the ugly storyline could have flipped.

"We could've had a chance to possibly be 5-0," quarterback Russell Wilson said in a Thursday news conference. 

Although the Broncos aren't a completely lost cause, losing these close games could come back to haunt them. Their remaining schedule is brutal. Denver faces the Chiefs twice as well as the Ravens, Chargers and surging Jets. 

"Drop to 2-4 and the Broncos' playoff dreams could teeter precipitously on the brink," Kiszla wrote.