The Denver Broncos got back on track with a tough 25-23 win against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

The finish to the game was unbelievable, but the game did not need to be that close. Denver needs to find a way to put games away when they’re playing as well as they did during the first half on Sunday.

Late in the first half, the Broncos were driving and could have gone up 13-0 or even 17-0 to really put the dagger in New Orleans. Instead Denver gave the Saints life. Trevor Siemian threw an interception, and the Saints drove down the field and kicked a field goal at the end of the half, giving them momentum for the first time all game.

Mistakes like this can be overcome against a team like New Orleans, but it won’t fly against the likes of the Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots.

The Broncos were dominating the first half against the Saints. The defense was confusing Drew Brees and stopping the run. The offense looked the best it has since probably the game against the Houston Texans. There is absolutely no reason that game should have been a seven point game at halftime. There is no reason that New Orleans should have had any hopes of winning in the second half.

Unfortunately, this is the way the Broncos are. When Denver is dominating, you would rarely know it by the score. When the Broncos are getting dominated, the score is still usually close. It has just been this way since Gary Kubiak took over in 2015.

Perhaps everything will work out for Denver the way it did a season ago. If it does, the defense will again deserve all of the credit, because this offense refuses to give the defense even a series off. It was a gutty, gutty road win for the Broncos. I just wish it didn’t have to come down to a returned extra-point when the Broncos turned New Orleans over four times.

Catch Weekend Drive with Sean Walsh these weekend from 2p-4p on Saturday and 6p-8p Sunday on Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 or stream live any time for the best local coverage of Colorado sports from Denver’s biggest sports talk lineup.