The Denver Broncos are 8-2 and are riding a seven-game winning streak. So, everything is looking good in the Mile High City for a deep playoff run, right? Don’t get your hopes up just yet, Broncos fans. Here is a look at why that 8-2 record may be a bit of a mirage.
Let’s start with the positives. The Broncos’ defense has been exceptional. Nik Bonitto, Jonathan Cooper, and the crew lead the NFL in sacks with 46. The defense is allowing the third fewest points and the third fewest yards. They have been equally solid against the run and the pass, allowing the fourth fewest rush yards and the sixth fewest passing yards. The Denver defense is legit.
Quarterback Bo Nix had a stellar rookie campaign in 2024. The first-rounder out of Oregon put up more touchdowns in his rookie season than John Elway did in any season of his career. This year, his numbers look good as well…on the surface. Nix has thrown for 2,026 yards and 18 touchdowns, with just eight interceptions. He has added 205 yards on the ground and three rushing touchdowns, as well. The offensive line has protected him well, allowing just 10 sacks in 10 games.
If you dig deeper, though, you start to see the cracks in Nix’s performance. He ranks 29th in completion percentage. While most fans have probably noticed his multiple misses on wide-open touchdowns, many miss that he has struggled mightily on screen plays. It does not help that his footwork is terrible.
Nix has not been the offense’s only problem. Evan Engram has one of the worst drop percentages of any starting tight end. Courtland Sutton has his share of dropped passes this season, as well. Denver’s run game, which had been solid, just took a big hit with the loss of J.K. Dobbins for the season with a foot injury. The team will now be forced to turn to unproven rookie R.J. Harvey.
Fans might think that the offense couldn’t be that bad or the team wouldn’t be 8-2. Let’s put things in perspective. The Broncos have the most punts in the NFL and lead the second-place team, the Cleveland Browns, by 10. They beat a winless New York Jets team 13-11 and a two-win Las Vegas Raiders team 10-7. Things could definitely be better. Sean Payton’s offense is not necessarily geared toward Nix’s strengths, and it has had issues with slow starts and finding a rhythm. It also does not help that Denver is the most penalized team in the league.
The Broncos are 8-2 and leading the AFC West, and I am not going to take that away from their fans. However, eight of their ten games have been one-score games. The team has beaten the Jets, Giants, Titans, and Raiders, who currently have a combined seven wins, by a combined 14 points. Nix seems lost at times in an offense that is too complicated for him and not designed for his strengths. The team ranks 20th in third-down conversion percentage, and that has resulted in punter Jeremy Crawshaw worrying if one leg will be longer than the other at season’s end.
Payton has a reputation as a quarterback guru, but he has not put Nix in the best position to excel this season. The footwork is something that should have been corrected long ago. It is time for Payton to simplify the offense and to adjust it to fit his QB1. With Dobbins out, he will also need to utilize Nix’s running ability more–something he should have been doing all along anyway. To their credit, Payton and Nix have at least been able to pull out clutch wins despite the disconnects, penalties, and flaws.
Denver has the offensive line and the defense to succeed in the postseason. It is time for the offense to catch up. The team still has two games against the Chiefs, as well as matchups against the Jaguars, Chargers, and Packers. If they want to hold off Los Angeles and Kansas City in the division, it is time for the Broncos to address their issues. A deep postseason run is still within their grasp.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
