The Denver Broncos are sitting at a shaky 2-2 record right now, but it’s *how* they’ve gotten there that’s got everyone in the league talking. For the fourth time in four games this season, their offense crawled out of the gate, putting up a dismal three points at halftime against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. They ended up losing that one 24-14, and what were supposed to be Super Bowl aspirations are already looking like a distant dream, with the Broncos now two games behind the undefeated 4-0 Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.
The “Slow Start” Is a Massive Understatement
Let’s break down this offensive black hole they’re in. Not once this season have the Broncos hit double digits in points by halftime. Think about that for a second. In their 31-10 blowout loss to the Chiefs, they had seven points at the break. When they squeezed out a 20-13 win against the Jaguars, they were sitting on just three points at halftime. And the most shocking? They were completely scoreless at halftime in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams, only pulling off a 30-26 win that was, get this, “aided by an NFL-acknowledged officiating error.” Sunday’s game against the 49ers had no such luck. Three points at half, a total of 14 for the game, and absolutely no comeback in sight. That’s not a slow start, that’s a whole engine failing to ignite.
The Heat Is On: Webb, Nix, and That Run Game
So, who’s taking the heat for this dumpster fire? Head coach Sean Payton, renowned as one of the game’s offensive gurus, put first-year play-caller Davis Webb in charge this season, taking the reins himself. Naturally, postgame, Payton was asked if he’s thinking about making changes. His response? “It’s too early, it’s a fair question; I appreciate it. And, man, it’s tough to discuss any of that right now.” You can practically feel the tension through that quote. There’s a lot to consider: Webb’s play-calling, Box Nix’s execution at quarterback, and a run game that only averaged 3.7 yards per carry against the 49ers. But for now, the spotlight, or maybe the inferno, is squarely on Webb. Payton himself admitted, “We’ve had some opportunities, but there are a handful of things that aren’t clicking. And we gotta figure it out fast, because we’re going into Week 5.”
What’s Next for Denver… and for Us!
“Figure it out fast” is an understatement. Denver has a critical Week 5 ahead, and with those Super Bowl dreams fading fast behind the Chiefs, Payton has to be seriously weighing whether to take back the play-calling duties. This isn’t just a tough start; it’s a fundamental issue for a team that thought they were contenders.
But hey, while Denver tries to find its footing, we in the Emerald City got something solid to cheer about! Our Hawks just snagged a fantastic 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. What a game! Go Hawks!
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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