Bo Nix is taking plenty of heat for the Broncos’ sluggish offense, and it’s easy to see why. He hasn’t looked like the quarterback who helped push Denver to what should have been a Super Bowl appearance just nine months ago. Right now, his play has been more cautious than aggressive, more hesitant than fearless, and that’s a big reason the Broncos have stumbled out of the gate in a season that came with bigger expectations.
But the problems in Denver go way beyond the quarterback.
The run game has done little to steady anything. Veteran starter J.K.
Dobbins gave the ground attack a modest lift in last week’s win over the Chargers, but the numbers still paint a bleak picture: the Broncos rank 25th in the NFL in rushing yards per game, and Dobbins is averaging under four yards per carry. RJ Harvey, despite being the team’s best pass-catching back, has provided almost nothing on the ground, while Tyler Badie has only been on the field because rookie Jonah Coleman is on injured reserve.
Coleman may be the one who changes that mix if he returns in Week 7. When healthy, he looked like Denver’s best pure runner, and his comeback could ease some of the pressure on Nix while helping fix an offense whose pass-run balance got badly out of whack under now-former play-caller Davis Webb.
The offensive line hasn’t held up its end either. For a group that was supposed to be a strength, the Broncos have gotten uneven play almost across the board.
Garett Bolles and Quinn Meinerz have been the exceptions. The rest of the unit has struggled to move defenders off the spot, especially in the run game.
Ben Powers and Mike McGlinchey are performing at replacement-level standards, and Denver may soon have to think seriously about a future without the aging veterans. Center Luke Wattenberg, protected by his 2025 extension, has also had trouble with errant snaps and looks like the weakest link on the line.
That puts a growing spotlight on offensive line coach Chris Morgan. When the blocking isn’t working, nothing else flows the way it should, and Denver’s current setup is the opposite of that.
The passing game hasn’t offered much relief, either. Courtland Sutton found the end zone against the Chargers on a wide-open catch, but he hasn’t been consistently separating downfield the way he once did. The Broncos also still haven’t gotten real production from their big offseason addition, Jaylen Waddle, who has more drops (5) than games with at least 20 receiving yards (2).
Pat Bryant has been Nix’s most dependable target, but he’s on injured reserve for another three weeks and eligible to return in Week 11 after the Broncos’ bye. Behind him, Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin have largely disappeared in the passing game. Mims, in particular, has been a disappointment in a contract year.
The result is an offense that ranks 26th in yards per play and points per game, and 25th in passing yards per game. Nix is part of the problem, but he is far from the only one.
In Other News...
Bo Nix Admits The Mental Battle Behind Denvers Stalled Offense
Bo Nix is still working through a tricky stretch as the Broncos try to get their offense moving again, and the issue sounds as much mental as physical. The rookie quarterback has talked about the challenge of finding the right blend of assertiveness and caution, a balancing act that matters even more when a team is trying to climb out of an offensive rut.
Denvers struggles have come with defenses shrinking the field and making the Broncos earn everything underneath, while the ground game has not given Nix enough help to keep opponents honest. He has looked more aggressive late in games, which only adds to the sense that the answers are there, even if the process of getting to them is still a work in progress. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Offensive Warning Signs Are Getting Harder To Ignore
The Broncos offensive issues keep piling up, and the latest rough showing against the Chargers only added to the unease around a unit that has been too inconsistent for comfort. Bo Nix has been part of that concern throughout the season, with his play swinging from drive to drive, while Wil Lutz and RJ Harvey have also had their own stretches that have left Denver searching for steadier production.
Jaylen Waddles recent form has been another layer to watch, especially because the drops and the frustration around him have become harder to overlook outside of the Rams game. For a team trying to find any sense of rhythm on offense, the bigger question now is whether these are isolated slumps or signs of something more troubling taking hold. [Read more 🡒]
Bo Nix Faces A Growing Broncos Question Sean Payton Can't Ignore
Bo Nixs first season has already given Sean Payton plenty to evaluate, and the Broncos coach has made it clear he wants more conviction from his rookie quarterback. Nix has been managing the offense, but the downfield element has lagged behind, and the numbers reflect it. Through this point in the season, he is averaging 5.8 yards per attempt, a figure that places him 28th in the league and helps explain why the passing game still feels like it is searching for another gear.
Paytons message has been consistent: be more aggressive and let it rip. For Denver, that is the real hinge point now, because the Broncos need to know whether Nix can grow from a steady starter into the kind of quarterback who changes defenses rather than simply works around them. The wider AFC West picture only adds to the pressure, with teams around the division always looking for ways to upgrade and force answers, which makes Denvers own answer at quarterback feel even more important. [Read more 🡒]