The Denver Broncos’ offense under new offensive coordinator Davis Webb was a complete disaster, getting absolutely clobbered 31-10 by the Chiefs. Bo Nix and the whole attack got shut down hard, making Webb’s play-calling debut anything but a success.
Nix and the Offense Get Absolutely Stuffed
Bo Nix had a brutal night in Kansas City, man. He threw an interception, fumbled the ball away, and got sacked three times by the Chiefs’ defense. On top of that, he was totally ineffective running the ball. As a team, the Broncos limped to a pathetic 176 total yards and, after their first-quarter touchdown, only managed to put up three more points. It was ugly. Broncos head coach Sean Payton didn’t mince words after the game, saying it was “not a good evening. Didn’t do a lot well at all in the game.” He owned up to it starting with the coaching staff, himself included. He even straight-up said the Chiefs “rushed the ball well, we didn’t,” and that Kansas City “won in really every phase.” Yikes.
Payton’s Play-Calling Handover Blows Up Fast
Remember all the hype when Payton, after 18 years, gave up his “baby” play-calling duties to the 31-year-old Webb this offseason? Webb got some head-coaching buzz, a promotion, and even a “ceremonial Denny’s menu” from Payton. The idea was this Nix-Webb relationship was a big selling point, with the offense supposedly “catered to Nix’s strengths.” Well, that first game with Webb in Nix’s ear? It did *not* go well, like at all.
Payton, while never mentioning Webb by name postgame, hammered home the coaching staff’s issues. He said there were “a number of places we have to look,” pointing to bad third-down numbers and even worse rushing numbers. During a halftime interview with ESPN’s Laura Rutledge, Payton dropped what sounded like a veiled message to his new OC. He said they needed to “rush the ball a little more efficiently” to “take some pressure off” Nix, noting they were in “pass mode” unlike Kansas City. When asked how not calling plays went, he shot back, “Ask me in another half here.” Later, he summed it up perfectly: “Lotta throws, not enough runs.” The Broncos ran the ball just 12 times all game, split evenly between halves. That rushing disparity, Payton stressed, really held the offense back. Their 177 yards were even worse than their 181-yard total in the 2025 AFC Championship when Jarrett Stidham was quarterback. They matched a 2025 season low with nine first downs. Payton admitted watching the struggles without full control was “frustrating” and “disappointing.” The Chiefs’ defense, led by Steve Spagnuolo, was absolutely spectacular, but this is clearly a Broncos problem.
The Broncos have a lot to figure out before their next game. The play-calling, the rushing attack, and the entire Nix-Webb dynamic are under a microscope. This team needs to fix this fast if they want any hope of turning things around this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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