The Broncos brought Davis Webb in to help fix the offense. Four weeks later, Sean Payton may already be eyeing the headset again.
Denver entered 2026 with Super Bowl hopes and plenty of buzz around Webb, who had drawn interest as both an offensive coordinator and head coach candidate before the Broncos promoted him from quarterbacks coach after firing Joe Lombardi. Handing over play-calling duties was a notable move for Payton, but after a sluggish start, that decision suddenly looks shaky.
The Broncos are 2-2 after a 24-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, and the offense hasn’t come close to living up to expectations. ESPN’s Benjamin Solak went as far as predicting that Week 5 against the Los Angeles Chargers could be Webb’s last game calling plays, at least for now.
"Another offensive stinker, and I could see coach Sean Payton switching up the headset on a short week before facing the Seahawks on Thursday night in Week 6. Seems like a smart way to get the drop on an elite unit," Solak wrote.
The numbers back up the concern. Denver ranks 27th in points per game at 16.5, 21st in total yards at 286 per game, 29th in rushing yards at 81.3 per game, and 28th in time of possession at 1:53:59.
Bo Nix has thrown for 819 yards with 5 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. J.K. Dobbins leads the ground game with 161 yards on 46 carries, while RJ Harvey has only 49 rushing yards.
Through the air, the production has been thin as well. Jaylen Waddle, the Broncos’ prized offseason trade acquisition, has 185 yards and 1 touchdown on 16 catches. Harvey leads the team with 20 receptions but has just 132 receiving yards, and Pat Bryant is the only other pass-catcher with 100 or more yards this season before landing on injured reserve.
Courtland Sutton has 9 catches for 86 yards, and the offense still hasn’t found any kind of rhythm.
That makes Week 5 against the winless Chargers a pivotal test, even if Jim Harbaugh’s team, with Mike McDaniel as the OC, has its own issues. If Denver stumbles again, Payton may decide he has to reclaim control of the offense, a move that would cast serious doubt on Webb’s standing heading into the rest of the season and potentially affect his chances of landing an OC or head coaching job this offseason.
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Broncos Finally Get A Chance To Fix Whats Holding This Offense Back
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After a stretch against stronger competition, the Broncos should see this as an opportunity to finally settle some of the things that have held the offense back. But a winless team can be a dangerous one if it is treated like a soft landing spot, especially in the AFC West where little margin exists for careless football. Denver does not just need the result, it needs proof that the offense can take advantage when the matchup is there. [Read more 🡒]
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The larger conversation around accountability did not stop with Mims, either. Former Broncos linebacker Dre Greenlaw took aim at Sean Payton after the game, and Payton did not push back in his postgame availability, instead responding positively to Greenlaws comments. Meanwhile, across the division, Raiders coach Klint Kubiak was already talking about changing the approach around Ashton Jeanty and Mike Washington, a sign that coaches on both sidelines are feeling the pressure to fix problems before they harden. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos May Need One Eagles Move Before The Trade Market Shifts
Philadelphias roster has already started to look different in the wake of the Cam Jurgens trade, and that kind of movement can reshape the market before the rest of the league catches up. The Eagles are dealing with a changing front as well, with Lane Johnson retired and the club sitting at 2-2, which makes any evaluation of their veteran talent more interesting for teams watching for an opening.
From Denvers side, the name worth tracking is Zack Baun, the inside linebacker who has recently earned both Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro recognition. His contract is considered movable, and if the Eagles decide to keep adjusting their roster, the Broncos could make sense as a team ready to act before trade talks around the league shift into a more crowded market. [Read more 🡒]