The Broncos are 2-2, and with the way the opening stretch has been stacked, that record alone doesn’t tell the whole story. But the offensive problems that showed up in a 24-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers are hard to shrug off, especially now that Davis Webb is taking heat in his first run as offensive coordinator and play-caller.
Sean Payton isn’t budging yet. After Sunday’s loss, the Broncos head coach shut down any quick talk about ripping back the play-calling duties, even as the pressure around the offense keeps building.
“Yeah, like I said, it’s too early," Payton said. "It's a fair question; I appreciate it.
It's tough to discuss any of that right now.
But I told those guys, ‘Hey, we’ve played some tough teams, and this is another good football team.’”
Payton did acknowledge that the offense has plenty to clean up. The Broncos have had chances, but too many pieces still aren’t syncing, and the clock is already moving toward Week 5.
"We've had some opportunities, but there are a handful of things that aren't clicking," Payton said. "And we gotta figure it out fast, because we're going into Week 5."
That’s the reality hanging over this decision to hand the offense to Webb in the first place. Payton has built his reputation over more than two decades as a play-caller, so passing those responsibilities down always came with risk. One of the biggest was what it might mean for Bo Nix, who has looked less decisive since the change.
Opponents have been sitting in two-deep looks, willing to protect against Denver’s deep passing game and force the Broncos underneath. That has led to a steady diet of checkdowns to running backs, and defenses seem comfortable living with that. The issue is simple: until the run game forces safeties closer to the line, Denver keeps running into the same wall.
That’s the trap the Broncos are stuck in. They need either the ground game to wake up or Nix to start attacking the middle of the field and dragging those safeties down.
“I think, to your first point, and we had seen this on tape, they did a pretty good job of staying on top of some of the deeper throws and [that is] part of what they’re trying to do defensively," Payton said of the 49ers' defensive approach.
Nix, for his part, isn’t backing away from Webb. He pointed out after the game that Denver’s first four opponents have all been among the NFL’s best teams, and he made it clear he still believes in the rookie coordinator.
“Yeah, I'm real confident in him," Nix said of Webb post-game. "I think when you look at the overall landscape, we've played four
of the top teams in the league, and [it's] not easy for a first-time OC as young as he is to go against some of the, quite frankly, the best teams in the league."
That schedule context matters. Entering Week 5, Denver’s first four opponents were the four top-ranked teams in ESPN's Football Power Index, which makes the offensive unevenness easier to understand, even if it doesn’t make it easier to watch.
Still, the Broncos are in a delicate spot. If Payton takes the play-calling back, Webb’s move would look like a step backward for a young coach Payton has invested in. But keeping things as they are means living with the growing pains, and the team has to decide whether to ride them out or change course.
For now, the message is patience and alignment. Payton, Webb and Nix all need to pull in the same direction if this offense is going to find its footing. The Broncos don’t have much margin for error, either, with the 0-4 Los Angeles Chargers next and the reigning World Champion Seattle Seahawks coming soon after on a short week.
That makes Week 5 feel bigger than a matchup with a winless team usually should. Denver also can’t afford to look ahead to Thursday Night Football, and Payton’s own track record at SoFi Stadium as the Broncos’ head coach only adds another layer to the challenge. The Chargers may be winless, but the Broncos are still going to need their best shot.
If Webb and Nix are going to settle things down, this is the kind of game where it has to start.
In Other News...
Broncos Finally Get A Chance To Fix Whats Holding This Offense Back
The Broncos have spent the early part of the season fighting for answers on offense, and now they get a chance to make some progress against a Chargers team dealing with plenty of its own problems. Los Angeles is still looking for its first win, and the issues around Jim Harbaugh, Justin Herbert and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniels system have made that side of the matchup far from clean. For Denver, it is the kind of opponent that can either provide a reset or expose how much work still remains.
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 🡒]
Marvin Mims' Costly Mistake Has Broncos Fans Asking About Accountability
Marvin Mims spent the aftermath of a rough outing doing what players are supposed to do after a mistake, even if the admission was uncomfortable. The Broncos wide receiver said he did not go back and review the film on the play where he fumbled, and he went so far as to call it possibly his worst NFL game. For a Denver offense still trying to find cleaner execution, the moment landed as another reminder of how thin the margin can be when a key touch turns into a turnover.
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 🡒]