The Denver Broncos offense is on pace for some seriously embarrassing history, chugging along at a dismal 4.40 yards per play through six games, making them the worst in franchise history. Yeah, you read that right. They’re actually *worse* than that 1977 squad that got clobbered by the Cowboys in Super Bowl 12, the one that somehow racked up eight turnovers but still only gave up 27 points because their defense was carrying them on its back. This 2026 Broncos team is barely beating that infamous 4.41 yards per play record.
A Historic Struggle for Denver
When you look at the all-time worst offensive yards per play for the Broncos, it’s a who’s who of teams you’d rather forget. But this year’s 4.40 mark is topping them all, nudging out even 1977 (4.41) and 1976 (4.59). Fun fact, and a head-scratcher: you won’t find any Tim Tebow-led offenses on that “Top 5” list. Surprising, right? Now, despite these terrible numbers, the Broncos are apparently still winning games, which is baffling but buys them some time. Still, at some point, Bo Nix and the offense *have* to figure this mess out. While most people would point the finger at Nix, the source implies the real culprit is a “woeful run game.” You can’t keep putting Nix in those brutal 2nd and 9 or 3rd and 8 situations. The ground game just has to step up. Head Coach Sean Payton himself acknowledged that Nix, now in his third season, is in a slump and needs to improve in several areas.
Broncos Defense Showed Up Against Seattle
While their offense is struggling, it sounds like their defense had some real fighters, especially when they faced *our* Seattle Seahawks. Broncos Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph actually highlighted how some of his young players stepped up in that game against us. He wasn’t surprised by it, noting that these guys had played in high-pressure situations before, including against Dallas, the Chiefs, and Houston last year. Joseph gave props to their defensive depth, specifically in the DB and outside linebacker rooms. They’ve been “very fortunate” to have guys like Que Robinson and Jonah Elliss step in after losing Jonathon Cooper early in the season. Same goes for Kris Abrams-Draine (“KD”) and Jahdae Barron, who stepped up big time after Pat Surtain II and Riley Moss went down. He also mentioned that signing veteran safety Taylor Rapp was a smart move, calling it “purposeful.” Rapp, apparently, is the kind of guy who can play over 60 snaps in a game on a short week without a ton of prep, which sounds like he’s a true professional.
What’s Next for Denver
The Broncos are heading on the road for Week 7 to battle the Arizona Cardinals. For their sake, and for any team looking to keep pace in the league, they absolutely need to get that run game in gear and give Bo Nix a fighting chance. Good luck, Denver. Maybe next time, try to get that offense going *before* you face the Emerald City’s finest defense!
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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