The Denver Broncos had a brutal wake-up call in Week 4, getting clobbered by the San Francisco 49ers on the road after two nail-biting comeback wins at home. This wasn’t some minor setback; it was a straight-up offensive nightmare, with quarterback Bo Nix leading a unit that stumbled to just three points through the first three quarters. The defense played tough against a strong 49ers offense, keeping things close for a while, but after some calls and bounces went San Francisco’s way, they took a lead and never looked back. A long George Kittle touchdown reception ultimately crushed any hopes of a comeback.
The Offense Is a Mess, And Nix Isn’t Spared
It’s tough to sugarcoat this one: Bo Nix’s stock is absolutely plummeting after that performance. Now, was it all on him? Not really. There were some absolutely crucial drops, zero run game support, questionable play-calling, and, let’s not forget, penalties absolutely killing drives. But you’ve got to admit, Nix himself wasn’t playing great. He was routinely dumping the ball off, looking off-target at times, and just couldn’t ignite the offense for three whole quarters. Yeah, they managed to score 11 points in the fourth quarter, but by then, it was way too little, way too late. The takeaway here is loud and clear: the entire offense, from the play-caller to the quarterback, the playmakers, and the offensive line, needs to be miles better. Backup Jarrett Stidham and third-string Sam Ehlinger remained unchanged in their roles, which is hardly a vote of confidence for the starters.
The running game was just as disappointing. Veteran JK Dobbins’ stock is way down. He just doesn’t seem right out there. His role feels reduced, and honestly, the production isn’t there. For what it’s worth, he did start to get things going late in the game on the Broncos’ lone touchdown drive, but overall, it was another seriously disappointing effort from him.
Harvey and Badie: The Unexpected Bright Spots?
Amidst the offensive wreckage, two running backs actually saw their stock soar. RJ Harvey, listen up, because this guy was the Broncos’ most consistent playmaker all game. His numbers won’t exactly blow you away: just 25 yards on the ground. But he tacked on 68 yards receiving, which actually led the team! He was used like the starter and played like one, running tough, showing some serious speed, and breaking tackles. It’s a shocking bright spot in an otherwise bleak offensive showing.
Then there’s Tyler Badie, whose stock is also trending up. This guy has been productive whenever his number is called. He had yet another 20-plus yard catch-and-run, added 2 carries for 7 yards, and even scored the two-point conversion. His primary role is still that third-down pass blocker, but he’s making plays every time he’s called upon. Honestly, he deserves some more touches moving forward. As for Jaylen Waddle, he did catch his first touchdown as a Bronco, but his usage remains puzzling given his talent. Adam Prentice, the fullback, played just 7 offensive snaps, though he was heavily involved in special teams with 62% of the snaps.
After a loss like that, with so many questions around the quarterback and a veteran running back struggling, the Broncos have some serious soul-searching to do. But hey, at least they know they’ve got some young talent in Harvey and Badie ready to step up and make plays. The rest of the offense? They better figure it out fast.
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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