The Denver Broncos are sitting at 6-2 and alone atop the AFC West, but the numbers behind that record tell a very different story. Through eight games, Denver has been one of the league’s least efficient offenses at simply staying on the field.
The Broncos rank 31st in the NFL in three-and-out rate, with 30.3% of their offensive possessions ending before they can pick up a first down. Only the Philadelphia Eagles are worse at 34.1%, according to NFL Researcher.
That puts Denver in stark contrast with the teams that do this best. Buffalo leads the league at 7.9%, with Indianapolis next at 10.1%.
Cincinnati sits at 12.3%, while New England and Dallas are tied at 14.3%. Denver’s figure is nearly four times Buffalo’s, a clear sign of how often drives are dying early.
The problem showed up again in the Broncos’ third quarter against Kansas City. Denver went three-and-out on all three of its possessions in that stretch, and the Chiefs pushed the lead to 24-13. NFL.com’s analysis pointed to the running game as a major issue in those stalled series.
Denver managed only one yard on its first rushing attempt in each of its first two third-quarter possessions. The third drive never got going at all, ending after three straight incompletions.
And yet, the Broncos still found a way to win.
That has been the story of their season in a lot of ways. Denver has now won 15 straight regular-season games decided by one score, matching an NFL record. The team has shown it can hit explosive plays when it needs them, especially late in games.
Still, the margin for error would get a lot wider if the offense could string together more drives instead of leaning so heavily on fourth-quarter heroics. With a trip to the Carolina Panthers coming Sunday, cleaning up early-down execution and cutting down on empty possessions should be right at the top of the list.
For now, the Broncos keep winning despite the inefficiency. But the stat sheet makes it clear there’s a problem underneath the 6-2 start.
In Other News...
Broncos Veterans Suddenly Raise A Troubling Question After Chiefs Loss
The Broncos came out of their loss to the Chiefs with a familiar mix of frustration and concern, and a few veteran names were at the center of it. J.K. Dobbins, Mike McGlinchey and Justin Strnad all drew attention for the wrong reasons, as Denvers offense and defense both had stretches where experienced players simply did not hold up the way the team needed.
Dobbins has not looked like the steady back the Broncos were counting on since dealing with a foot injury, while McGlincheys recent decline has started to show up in the protection in front of the quarterback. On defense, Strnads missed assignment was part of a sequence that left Denver exposed, adding to the sense that the Broncos have to sort out whether these are one-game issues or signs of something more troubling as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos 6-2 Start Is Hiding One Offensive Problem Fans Cant Ignore
A 6-2 start and a spot atop the division usually buy a team a little breathing room, but Denvers offense is still drawing hard questions from one of its own. FOX college football analyst and Broncos fan Joel Klatt said he was surprised the club has reached this point while ranking so low offensively, a sign that the record is masking some real issues on that side of the ball.
Klatt pointed to the offensive line as the central concern and said the passing game has been slowed by Bo Nix leaning on checkdowns, a pattern that speaks to confidence and trust. He also flagged the Broncos low third-down conversion rate, though the schedule ahead could offer a chance to clean some of that up before the season gets any tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Face One Trap Game Concern Heading Into Carolina
The Broncos head to Carolina riding a four-game winning streak and sitting atop the AFC West after knocking off the Chiefs, but this is the kind of spot that can quietly test a teams discipline. With Denver coming off a statement win, the matchup on the outside looks like one of the more important parts of the week, especially with Courtland Sutton set to be a central piece of the Broncos passing game and Patrick Surtain II again looming as the defenses top cover man.
Carolina brings its own high-end talent into the equation, with D.J. Moore a major threat and Stephon Gilmore still capable of changing how an offense attacks. For Denver, the concern is less about the standings and more about whether it can stay sharp in a game that has all the ingredients of a trap if the Broncos let the matchup game drift away from them. [Read more 🡒]