The Denver Broncos could’ve really used Aqib Talib in their loss to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

Everyone saw Talib yank the chain off of Oakland Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree’s neck for the second time in as many seasons. They saw Talib rip off Crabtree’s helmet and the two exchange punches. Everyone also saw Derek Carr pick on rookie corner Brendan Langley, Talib’s replacement, for the rest of the game.

It’s hard to be upset with Talib for taking the Crabtree situation into his own hands. The fact that he doesn’t let anyone push him or his teammates around is exactly why his teammates love him. But Talib himself admitted on Monday that it might not have been the best thing to do when it comes to a football standpoint.

“Definitely,” Talib said when asked if his altercation had an impact on the outcome of the game. “It would have been [Bradley] Roby or Chris [Harris] on one touchdown and it would’ve been Roby or Chris on the critical third down. Not saying that [Brendan] Langley can’t handle it, but a more experienced player in that situation might have put us in a better situation.”

Sunday marked the first time Langley seen significant playing time at cornerback, and it’s a day that he’d probably like to forget. Langley was beat for by Amari Cooper on a nine-yard fade route for the game’s first touchdown, and then again by Cordarrelle Patterson for a 54-yard reception on a crucial third down in the fourth quarter. Had the Broncos been able to produce a stop and force a punt, they would’ve had the ball one more time and an opportunity to tie the game at 21.

“We can’t lose our best corner in a game like that,” head coach Vance Joseph said on Monday. “It obviously hurt us down the stretch.”

It was announced on Tuesday that Talib’s two-game suspension was reduced to one game following his appeal, so it’s likely Langley will gain some more game experience when the Broncos head to Miami to take on the Dolphins.

To call the 2017 season a frustrating one would be an understatement. Losers of seven straight, the Broncos haven’t had many opportunities to win. While it makes sense to tank for a draft pick from the outside, those on the inside don’t want to lose. That’s why when an opportunity like the one on Sunday presents itself, it’s important to capitalize on it.

“We had a chance, we definitely had a chance at the end,” Talib said on Monday. “Just certain things didn’t go our way at the end, that’s kind of been the story of our season.”