2027 NFL Team Spotlight: Denver Broncos

The Broncos are 4-2 after a daunting start, with five of their first six games against playoff teams. So why is everybody so… unhappy?

There is plenty of discontent, especially with the offensive side of the ball. Any criticism starts with Bo Nix, who doesn’t look comfortable and is either unwilling or unable to throw the ball down the field. 

The one major criticism of Nix when he came out of college was his reluctance or inability to throw the ball downfield.  So far this season, Nix is dead last in the league in Average Depth of Target (ADOT… or how far downfield the ball is traveling). His average ADOT is less than 5 yards per attempt this season.  

He’s taken criticism from all sides, including his former QB brethren.  You can understand getting crushed by Ryan Fitzpatrick, but Ben Dinucci?  As usual, the numbers can be misleading.  Guess who’s slightly ahead of Nix in ADOT at 6 yards per attempt? 

Patrick Mahomes. 

Nix has denied that his off-season ankle surgeries have hampered his mobility. He appears reluctant to move outside the pocket, which has been a strength for him. He’ll never be the runner Josh Allen is, but one of his strengths has been finding targets downfield while on the move.

Nix’s passing woes mean that wide receivers Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle are not having the impact that was expected.  The Broncos invested a lot to expand the passing game, and there have been flashes of downfield success. But there’s no consistency…yet.

The offensive faults go beyond Nix. The Broncos spent the off-season investing in two areas that have been a weakness since Sean Payton walked in the door. The lack of an effective running game continues to be a recurring problem. J.K. Dobbins was re-signed for two years with a nice raise, but has looked indecisive. Despite the Broncos feeding him the ball more in the last two games, he’s averaging his lowest yards per carry (3.3) in his career. R.J. Harvey is more valuable as a pass catcher, which suits Payton, who likes to use screen passes to substitute for a lackluster running game. 

Secondly, the Broncos continue to get very little production from the tight end position. Neither Evan Engram nor Adam Troutman has made a significant impact this season, and the two tight ends the Broncos drafted, Dallen Bentley (Utah) and Justin Jolly (NC State), haven’t been given the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution. 

The offensive line, thought to be a real strength coming into the season, has been inconsistent. There are way too many holding penalties, especially from the experienced tackles and center Luke Wattenberg, who received a big contract during the off-season, is a weak link. 

Sean Payton’s taking over the playcalling from Davis Webb, which was widely expected, didn’t provide the answer.  In his first game calling plays, Denver managed 168 offensive yards, the lowest output of Payton’s tenure. Nix threw for 107 yards.

Fortunately, the defense continues to be elite, even with injuries. Wise draft decisions over the past few years have provided the depth to survive three defensive starters missing games, especially in the secondary. There have been big contributions from Kris Abrams-Draine, Ja’Quan McMillan and Jahdae Barron. The pass rush has been consistent, and Jonathan Cooper comes off the inactive list this week. Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph continues to excel at mixing and matching coverages. With all of the emphasis on the offensive issues, this defense can carry this team a long way.

Fans should not lose sight of the big picture in a week-to-week league. Denver is 4-2, with wins over three Super Bowl contenders, and the Broncos keep finding ways to win close games. Nix is 18-3 as a starter. They have endured Pat Surtain's absence, and he should return soon. Rookie running back Jonah Coleman, who gave the rushing attack a jolt before landing on injured reserve with an ankle injury, is expected back for the Cardinals game. The Broncos are also coming off a mini-bye, and the schedule offers several winnable games between the Chiefs on November 1 and the Bills on Christmas Day. 

They even have trade assets, particularly at wide receiver; Marvin Mims Jr. could start for at least 10 NFL teams right now. Kansas City remains the only threat in the division. This is a talented organization with serious Super Bowl ambitions, which is precisely why the offense cannot be allowed to drift. Change is necessary, and it needs to happen. 

But winning ugly is still winning.