The Denver Broncos were literally and metaphorically beaten by the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

“Obviously a tough, tough game,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said after a 41-10 road loss. “They basically beat us in all three phases. We didn’t do the coaching well enough. We lost to a good football team. It’s disappointing.”

Denver's offense turned the ball over four times on downs. Broncos' rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw an interception on the game's first drive when the pass went through the hands of wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey.

“(There were) a lot of what-ifs in this game, and the fact is we got our asses kicked,” Nix said after the game.

Plain and simple: Denver was cheered in Baltimore.

“Look, this is a tough league,” Payton said. “You work all week and I think the most important thing – and I just told them this – is that even beyond playing football, there will be games that you have to compete in on Monday and that's not about everyone to taste good to us. We won't like it, but that's life.

“We have to pull ourselves together and get ready to play next week. That's why it's so important that we bring the right type of player and the right attitude. It's not about making any excuses. We were cheered today.”

Losing always hurts, but going into the game with a 5-3 record and then getting ejected was an added pain for the Broncos' players.

“This is miserable; It’s not fun,” Nix said. “You never want to lose games like that. You never want to lose, period, but of course sometimes it is unavoidable. But you don't want to lose like that, so it's miserable and we have to deal with it. Either you sit there and point the finger at someone, someone else, or you sit there and take responsibility for it.

“The only way to get over being out of the situation and continue to look for ways to improve is to look within. This is what we will do, starting with ourselves and starting with me. There are a few different things you can do, but it's just a more important and valuable decision to say, “I as an individual need to get better,” and that starts with every person, and eventually you start playing those kind of changing games. “

Now Denver must turn Sunday's loss into a learning experience.

“You know, football is a humbling game and that’s the beauty of it,” cornerback Riley Moss said. “The highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Everyone in the locker room loves this game and we can't forget that. Especially when your teeth get smashed like that. It's something that says, 'Okay, it happened.' Okay, how can we make sure it doesn't happen again?' Because that’s what winning teams do and I think we have the guys who can do it.”

Next up for the Broncos is another tough away game, this one against the Kansas City Chiefs.

“(We) really need to look at this and figure out why it happened and try to fix our mistakes,” Nix said, “so that this doesn’t happen to us again, otherwise we’ll be in the same situation again.”