The Denver Broncos just clawed out a 23-17 win against the winless Los Angeles Chargers, but don’t let that final score fool you. What went down on the field in Inglewood was a back-and-forth grind that needed some serious fourth-quarter heroics to seal the deal. If you’re a Seattle Seahawks fan, this game just dropped some serious intel on our upcoming Thursday Night Football showdown.
The “Win” That Screamed “Problem” For Denver’s Offense
Head Coach Sean Payton tried to light a fire under the offense by taking over play-calling duties from Davis Webb. The “Davis Webb experiment” lasted only four games, but honestly, the jury’s still out on if that switch was even the right move. Plenty of people think Webb didn’t get a fair shake, and after watching this game, you’d have to agree that the issues run way deeper than just who’s dialing up the plays. This was just bad offense, plain and simple, and there’s enough blame to go around for everyone in Denver.
Their offensive line, supposedly a “highly touted unit,” looked underwhelming again. They couldn’t get any push in short yardage situations, and pass protection was leaky, giving up a ton of pressure for most of the game. Then there’s Bo Nix and the passing game, inconsistent as ever. Explosive plays downfield? Barely any. Third down conversions? Absolutely dreadful. It took them until the *fourth quarter* to even get their first chain-moving play of the second half! And where were Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle? Outside of a few plays, they were missing in action, which has to be one of the biggest disappointments of their season so far. Even RJ Harvey, who had ten catches last week, was barely involved. You’ve gotta wonder why they didn’t try to get the ball in his hands more out of the backfield. Sure, the Broncos found a way to win, but the overall offensive effort was just wildly inconsistent.
Defense Steps Up Against Banged-Up Chargers
On the flip side, the Broncos’ defense definitely had some moments, especially against a Chargers team reeling from a “bunch of injuries.” Los Angeles was forced to start four rookies on their offensive line, which made this game a prime chance for Denver’s defensive front seven to get back on track. They did a good job early, limiting the Chargers to just three points through the first two quarters. That kind of pressure and containment is exactly what you want to see from a unit trying to find its rhythm.
So, the big question hanging over Denver: can they fix this inconsistent mess in just a few days before hosting our Hawks on Thursday Night Football? We’re about to find out. Our Seattle Seahawks, led by Mike Macdonald and Brian Fleury, will be rolling into Lumen Field, ready to take advantage of any lingering issues. With Sam Darnold under center, and weapons like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp, our guys will be looking to capitalize on what looked like a truly shaky Broncos offense. Get ready, 12s, because this game just got a whole lot more interesting!
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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