The Denver Broncos didn’t just lose their Week 1 matchup against their most-hated division rival; they were “spectacularly awful in all phases,” leaving a national, prime-time TV audience wondering what on earth happened. Coach Sean Payton called it “obviously not a good evening,” admitting they “didn’t do a lot well at all in the game.” That’s the understatement of the year after the 2025 AFC champions looked utterly inept right out of the gate.
Payton’s Plan, Or Lack Thereof, Crumbles Fast
Payton took some responsibility, saying “it starts with me, it starts with the coaches,” but let’s be real, that’s not even “close to enough.” This mess, according to the source, is “100 percent on Payton.” His offensive coordinator was “pathetic,” and his defensive coordinator got “humiliated.” The players didn’t execute, sure, but the coaching staff clearly didn’t have a game plan showing any serious preparation for the Chiefs. We all knew the Chiefs would run the ball, especially with a Super Bowl-winning running back and a three-time Super Bowl MVP back from injury. Yet, the Broncos’ “previously top-ranked defense” couldn’t handle it, giving up 173 rushing yards. What was Davis Webb, the supposed offseason play-calling genius, even doing? Bubble screens when they needed to establish the run or use their “secret weapon” Jaylen Waddle? Come on.
Defensive Debacle Meets Offensive Woes
The tackling was straight-up “abominable.” Denver gave up a staggering 248 yards on missed tackles throughout the game, the most in NextGenStats’ database! Their 29.8% missed tackle percentage was the third-worst single-game score since 2018. That’s just flat-out embarrassing. The pass protection was “suspect,” the run game “absent,” and Bo Nix looked “no better than a JV quarterback.” Payton summed it up perfectly, saying “We didn’t tackle well enough then the game became one-dimensional,” which is “the antithesis of how you beat a good team on the road.” He added, “We literally gave ourselves no chance to succeed today and made it easier for them. Just a nasty wake-up call today.” Nix himself echoed the sentiment, admitting, “Honestly from just a whole offense, whole team perspective, we just really didn’t play very good.”
That’s the harsh reality for Denver after Week 1. This wasn’t just a loss; it was a total collapse in every aspect of the game. If they can’t address the fundamental issues of tackling, game planning, and offensive execution quickly, this “nasty wake-up call” is going to turn into a long, brutal season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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