Davis Webb’s first stretch as the Denver Broncos’ play-caller has come with plenty of scrutiny, and Sunday’s first half against the Los Angeles Rams only turned up the pressure.
Denver was blanked before halftime, and Webb has been absorbing the criticism as he works to steady an offense that, by the source account, looked plenty inconsistent even when Sean Payton was calling the plays a year ago. The Broncos are 1-2 or 0-3 without the late rescue work from Bo Nix, and the offense has started to show a strange pattern: slow early, much better after the break.
That was the case again against the Rams. The Broncos scored 17 points in the second half to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2, then put up 23 after halftime against Los Angeles, with Talanoa Hufanga’s pick six also helping pad the final total. Whatever else is going on, Denver has become a team that seems to find its footing late.
According to Ted Nguyen of The Athletic, Webb has leaned into a more “Payton-like” approach, mixing personnel groupings, motion and different play-calling tendencies. That’s the explanation on paper, at least.
The problem on Sunday was how Denver handled Jaylen Waddle, who was being shadowed by All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie. Nix nearly threw an interception while trying to force a deep ball through multiple defenders, Nguyen noted in his tape breakdown, and after that the Broncos shifted toward more runs from under center. The ground game didn’t do much, but it did open the door to use Waddle as a decoy and get other pass catchers involved.
That may not have been the plan when Denver made the big trade for Waddle, but it helped the Broncos survive a game where they were reeling at times and had to adjust on the fly.
There are still plenty of questions ahead. J.K.
Dobbins finished with 49 yards on 17 carries against the Rams, a 2.9-yard average that won’t intimidate anyone, and the schedule doesn’t get any softer from here. For now, Webb’s offense remains very much a work in progress.
In Other News...
Broncos Just Got A Reminder Of Where They Stand With CBS
The broadcast assignments for this week offered a small but telling reminder of how CBS is viewing the AFC West picture. Rather than placing its top crew on Broncos-49ers, the network sent Jim Nantz and J.J. Watt to Raiders-Chiefs, leaving Denvers matchup to a different booth in the same time slot. For Broncos fans, it was the kind of selection that tends to sting a little, especially when the alternative is a game that could carry more weight on the field.
The reaction followed quickly, with plenty of fans arguing that star power and familiar storylines won out over the more compelling football. It also served as another confirmation that Tony Romo remains away from CBS broadcasts, even as the network leans on its other marquee voices for the biggest windows. For Denver, the message was hard to miss: the Broncos still have to earn their place in the spotlight before CBS treats them like a featured game. [Read more 🡒]
Sean Payton Took An Unusual Risk In Denvers Comeback Win
Sean Payton did something out of character in Denvers comeback win over the Rams, and it helped swing the game. The Broncos pulled out a 30-26 victory with a pair of successful two-point conversions in the third quarter, a stretch of aggression from a coach who usually leans conservative in that part of the game. The calls were not just bold in the abstract, either, with one built around a pass from Bo Nix to Jaylen Waddle and another coming off a trick look involving Courtland Sutton and Pat Bryant.
For Payton, the moves stood out because they ran against his usual preference to avoid going for two that early. It was the kind of in-game shift that can define a close win, especially when a team is trying to claw back against a quality opponent. The Broncos got the result they needed, but the more interesting part may be what it says about how far Payton is willing to push the envelope when the moment calls for it. [Read more 🡒]
J.K. Dobbins Is Raising A Bigger Broncos Concern Than Fans Expected
J.K. Dobbins arrived in Denver with the expectation that he could give the Broncos a steadier presence in the backfield, but the early returns have been more complicated than anyone wanted. His rushing average has slipped to 3.5 yards per carry to start the 2026 season, a steep drop from a career mark above 5.0, and the numbers around him are just as thin: four first downs, no touchdowns and one fumble.
The bigger issue is what the film appears to show. Analyst Cecil Lammey pointed to Dobbins hesitation and reduced explosiveness, suggesting injuries may be part of the problem even with solid run blocking in front of him. He also left a game early with a possible hamstring injury, and for a Broncos offense that expected more stability there, the concern now is whether this is a temporary dip or something that could linger. [Read more 🡒]