The Broncos head into Week 5 carrying plenty of noise, and not much of it has been good.
Sean Payton has already made the biggest move of the week by taking play-calling duties away from first-year offensive coordinator Davis Webb, a decision that has dominated the conversation around Denver. Webb has handled the shakeup well and continues to back Payton and the offense. Now the pressure falls squarely on Payton to get the unit moving again as the Broncos visit Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers.
Payton’s track record against the Chargers since arriving in 2023 is 1-5, with the lone win coming last season in Denver when Harbaugh rested Justin Herbert and most of his starters. That makes this trip to SoFi Stadium a clear target for Payton, who has spent two decades in the head-coaching seat and knows exactly what comes with the job.
The Broncos could also leave Los Angeles with a few names in the record book.
Payton is tied with Knox for the 12th-most regular-season wins by a head coach in NFL history. One more victory would move him into sole possession of that spot.
Bo Nix has a chance to hit a Broncos milestone of his own. If he throws two touchdowns against the Chargers, he would tie Brian Griese and Jake Plummer for the fourth-most passing touchdowns in franchise history.
Nix has not looked like himself this season, but the numbers still hover around him every week. That’s because his first two NFL seasons were the most prolific by a quarterback in league history, making him the only quarterback to throw for 7,500-plus yards and 50-plus touchdowns while winning 20-plus games through his first two seasons.
Courtland Sutton is also within striking distance of a team mark. With one catch, he would move past Ed McCaffrey for fifth on the Broncos’ all-time receptions list.
Through four weeks, Sutton has only nine catches for 86 yards, a quiet stretch by his standards, but one that could be set up for a turn. Payton likes big-bodied X receivers, and Sutton has long been one of his favorites.
Then there’s Waddle, who has already shown what he can do in flashes. If he reaches 100 receiving yards in Los Angeles, he would become only the fifth player in Broncos history to post multiple 100-yard receiving games in his first season with the team, and the first to do it since Emmanuel Sanders in 2014.
Under Webb, Waddle has had two games with two or fewer catches, but he also put up 138 yards in Week 3 and scored his first Broncos touchdown last week against the San Francisco 49ers. Payton even told his wife, Skylene, to draft Waddle in fantasy.
On defense, Jonathon Allen is chasing a notable mark of his own. One sack would make him the first interior defensive lineman to record at least four sacks in each of the last six seasons. He leads the Broncos with 3.0 sacks and has been one of the few players on that side of the ball to bring steady production every week.
Allen and linebacker Alex Singleton will also both hit the 100th game of their careers on Sunday, when the Chargers run their first play.
And finally, kicker Wil Lutz has a shot at a special teams milestone. If he makes his first extra point, he would tie Bass for the second-longest made point-after streak since 2015. His extra-point work has been steady, though his field-goal numbers have not matched that consistency; he is 5-of-7 on field-goal attempts and will be looking to clean that up in a hurry.
In Other News...
Justin Herbert Faces More Pressure Than Ever In Chargers Must Win
The Chargers are already in a precarious spot heading into Week 5, sitting at 0-4 and heading into Denver with no room left for another stumble if they want to keep even faint playoff hopes alive. For Justin Herbert, the pressure is heavy before the first snap. He has thrown interceptions in five straight games, the longest active streak in the league, while trying to navigate an offense dealing with injuries around him and an offensive line that has not been fully healthy.
Denvers defense has its own issues entering the matchup, which adds another layer to a game that suddenly feels bigger than a normal early-season meeting. Still, Herbert is the central figure here because the Chargers need a clean performance from their quarterback more than ever, and every mistake only deepens the urgency around a season that is already slipping. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Fans Are Starting To Worry About J.K. Dobbins
J.K. Dobbins first month in Denver has not given Broncos fans much reason for comfort. Through four weeks, the veteran running back has managed 161 rushing yards without a touchdown while averaging 3.5 yards per carry, and he is splitting work with fellow back RJ Harvey as the offense continues sorting out its ground game.
Dobbins has acknowledged the slow start and said he is healthy, even after a soft-tissue injury in training camp that briefly clouded his preparation. He has not leaned on that as an explanation, either, choosing instead to frame the issue as one of performance and improvement as the Broncos try to get more out of a run game that has yet to find its rhythm. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Face Two Chargers Problems That Could Wreck This Matchup
The Broncos head into their matchup with the Chargers carrying a couple of concerns that could shape the whole afternoon, starting up front where protection has already been an issue. Denver needs cleaner play on the edge to give its offense a chance to function, and that becomes a tougher ask against a Los Angeles front that can create heat in a hurry.
The other pressure point is on the back end, where Denvers cornerback picture has been thinned by injuries at a bad time. With the Chargers bringing a receiver group that can test depth and communication, the Broncos may have to lean on some less familiar names in coverage and hope the matchup does not force them into constant repair mode. [Read more 🡒]