Through four weeks of the 2026 NFL season, the Denver Broncos have made life far too difficult on themselves on offense. The one encouraging note is that they are 2-2 despite running into four top-10 scoring defenses.
That stretch is about to keep easing up. Denver’s October 15 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks is the final game in the six-game run that was already circled before the season. If the Broncos still can’t get anything sustainable going on offense, the rest of the year could quickly get knocked off course.
The good news, at least from a Bo Nix standpoint, is that the fix is not some mystery buried under layers of film study. The Broncos’ quarterback has been far more productive when the run game is working.
Denver had 12 games in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons with at least 100 rushing yards, and the team has only one such game this year. Since 2024, the Broncos are 68 percent in games when they reach that 100-yard mark on the ground. Nix has started 38 NFL games, and in the 13 games where Denver did not get to 100 rushing yards, the Broncos are 9-4, which is actually a better winning percentage.
That odd split does not change the bigger point: Nix has produced at a much higher level when Denver can run the ball effectively. Over a 25-game stretch, his numbers translate to a 12-5 pace with 382 completions on 581 attempts, 3,788 yards, 32 total touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
He also threw 40 passing touchdowns across those 25 games, which works out to 27 touchdown passes over a 17-game season.
The problem in 2026 is that Denver simply has not been able to create that kind of balance. The reasons appear to be pretty plain: missed assignments up front and a running back group that has underperformed. It has not looked like a simple fix, even if it sounds like one from the outside.
Still, there is reason to think the rushing problems do not have to define the whole season. The schedule is softening, which should give J.K.
Dobbins and the rest of the backfield a better shot at getting something rolling. Rookie running back Jonah Coleman can also return from IR on October 25 against the Arizona Cardinals, and that could help as well.
Nix’s situation is hardly unique. Around the league, some of the best quarterbacks are backed by strong run games that make everything easier.
James Cook helps Josh Allen. Kenneth Walker III, now with the Kansas City Chiefs, has already made an impact.
Christian McCaffrey gives Brock Purdy room to breathe. Derrick Henry does the same for Lamar Jackson.
That is the basic formula. When the run game is real, defenses have to respect it, bring more bodies toward the line, and leave themselves more vulnerable on the back end. Right now, opponents are almost daring Denver to run the ball and selling out to stop the pass.
So yes, Nix can play better. That is part of it.
But it is not the whole story. Even the league’s best passers benefit from an offense that can threaten defenses on the ground.
For the Broncos, the path to unlocking Nix is not complicated. It starts with a functioning run game, and the data backs that up.
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 🡒]