The Denver Broncos have plenty to like after a rough Week 1 and a strong response in Week 2, but one issue keeps standing out: they start too slowly on offense. That’s the wrinkle that could keep them from reaching their ceiling, even with the way they’ve been able to finish games.
Against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2, Denver scored 17 of its 20 points after halftime. That late push fit a familiar pattern from the 2025 season, when the Broncos often looked far more dangerous as games wore on than they did coming out of the gate.
That split matters because it wasn’t just a one-game quirk. Since the start of the 2025 season, the Broncos have won 15 regular-season games, and in eight of those wins they scored more points in the second half than the first. Even so, last year’s 14-win run still came with plenty of drama: five fourth-quarter comebacks and seven game-winning drives.
The early-game numbers help explain why this keeps coming up. During the 2025 season, Denver averaged just 4.4 points in the first quarter, which ranked 21st in the NFL. By the fourth quarter, the Broncos were up to 7.3 points per game, good for 10th in the league.
Quarterback Bo Nix seems to settle in as games go on. Late in contests, he looks more comfortable pushing the ball down the field and using his legs. That part of his game has shown up enough to matter, even if it was barely visible in Week 2.
The challenge is getting that version of the offense from the opening drive instead of waiting until the second half. Denver’s aggressive approach late in games can put defenses on their heels, but if that pressure showed up earlier, the Broncos could force opponents into catch-up mode instead of relying on another rescue act.
Inside linebacker remains a major roster need, but the offense’s first-half sluggishness may be the most fixable issue on the board. If Denver can make the first half look more like the second half, the Broncos could put themselves in position to become a legitimate Super Bowl favorite in 2026.
In Other News...
Broncos Gain One Edge But Key Week 3 Questions Still Linger
The Broncos got a little healthier at a spot that has mattered to their early-season rhythm, with Javonte Williams and De'Angelo Henderson both returning to full participation in practice this week. For a Denver offense still trying to find its footing, any lift in the backfield matters, especially with a Sunday night trip to face a Rams team also working through its own injury list.
Even so, the injury report still leaves a few important questions hanging over Week 3. Tim Patrick did not practice, Baron Browning was limited, and the Broncos will be watching closely as the week moves on, because availability at wide receiver and linebacker can shape both game plan and depth. Los Angeles has its own concerns, including tight end Tyler Higbee and linebacker Ernest Jones, which only adds another layer to a matchup that already feels like it could hinge on who is healthiest by kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Backfield Suddenly Has A Health Question Fans Cant Ignore
Jonah Coleman made the most of his Week 2 workload, turning 10 carries into 39 yards and a touchdown while leaning on advice from veteran J.K. Dobbins about staying ready for whatever chance comes next. For a Denver backfield already trying to establish some rhythm, that kind of production matters, especially with Coleman working through a sprained ankle and Dobbins listed day-to-day with leg cramps.
The Broncos do not need a full-blown injury alarm to feel the pressure here, but they do need clarity on how the rotation holds up if either back is limited. Colemans emergence gives the offense something to build on, yet the situation also reinforces how quickly the picture can shift behind the line of scrimmage, where availability often matters as much as performance. [Read more 🡒]
Vance Joseph Faces Another Brutal Test Against A Loaded Rams Offense
The Broncos are heading into another tricky defensive assignment, this time with Matthew Stafford and a Rams attack that can stress a game in several ways. Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has seen plenty of elite quarterback play in his time with the team, including matchups against Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, and the Broncos have gone 5-5 in those games under his watch.
This one could demand even more than just handling Stafford. Los Angeles also brings Davante Adams into the mix and a run game that can keep a defense from settling in, which puts a premium on discipline and communication for Denver. It comes at a time when the Broncos offense is already dealing with injuries and inconsistent quarterback play, so Joseph's unit may again need to carry a heavy load while the rest of the team sorts out its own issues. [Read more 🡒]