It’s been a strange start to the season for the Denver Broncos.
They began the year with a defeat, getting blown out on primetime by their rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs. However, they followed it up with comeback victories against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams, looking like the 14-3 team from a year ago. Then, after a 24-14 loss against the 49ers, fans weren’t quite sure what to make of the team.
They do have two solid wins against Jacksonville and Los Angeles. Meanwhile, their losses came from two of the best teams in football. On paper, that doesn’t sound too bad.
But the Denver fans who have been watching the games know there’s more to the story.
Denver’s Offense Has Been the Worst Version of Itself
There’s no way to sugarcoat how bad Denver’s offense has been, despite their solid-looking resume.
Through their first four games, the Broncos have scored just 13 first-half points. They rank 27th in total yards, yards per game, points, and points per game. They also rank 29th in rushing yards and rushing yards per game.
The passing game hasn’t been any better. Quarterback Bo Nix‘s completion percentage, passer rating, total quarterback rating, and average yards per pass attempt are all at career lows. Courtland Sutton, their star 1,000-yard receiver, has yet to post a game with more than three catches or 46 yards. Meanwhile, new star receiver Jaylen Waddle has only eclipsed 35 receiving yards once this year.
Despite the second-half comebacks, Denver’s offense has been bleeding this year. Naturally, fans want somebody to blame.
So who better to point a finger at than the new offensive coordinator?
Webb’s Promotion Was Part Merit, Part Retention
Davis Webb was a name heard all around the NFL this offseason. Having served as Denver’s quarterback coach from 2023-24 and passing game coordinator in 2025, he played a massive role in Payton’s transformation of the team.
It was no surprise when teams began requesting to interview him. In fact, teams wanted him so badly that they were requesting interviews for Webb not only as their offensive coordinator, but as their head coach.
However, the Broncos did not want to let Webb go. On Jan. 27, they fired their previous offensive coordinator, Joe Lombardi. Maybe they fired Lombardi to make room for Webb, or maybe they fired him as a result of offensive errors. Likely, it was a result of both.
Nevertheless, the Broncos promoted Webb to offensive coordinator on Feb. 2, and Payton gave him play-calling responsibilities on Feb. 24. It’s worth noting the timing, as Webb had head coaching interest from other teams. The promotion may have been as much about retention as merit.
At first, fans were excited that he was taking over. He had done a great job with Nix and the passing game, and they wanted to see more of what he was capable of. Additionally, despite their great season, fans were not upset to see Payton relinquish the duties. Even with their 14-3 record, the Broncos were still in the middle of the pack in total points and points per game last year.
Breaking Down the First Few Weeks
On the first Monday night of the NFL season against the Chiefs, fans were eager to see what Denver’s offense would look like under Webb.
The game started out rough with a Nix interception and a Kansas City touchdown. However, right after, the Broncos led a great drive capped off by an Evan Engram touchdown on a wonderfully schemed play. Many thought that was just a taste of what Webb could deliver.
Unfortunately, Denver’s offense looked terrible the rest of the game. That was the only touchdown they scored. Nix looked rattled, throwing for 131 yards and fumbling three times. The Broncos could not get Waddle or Sutton going, as Waddle finished with one catch for two yards, while Sutton had two catches for 11.
Fans thought maybe that game was just a result of an adjustment period. The next game, against Jacksonville, put up 17 second-half points after scoring just three in the first half. Nix threw for 288 yards, while Waddle had eight catches for 138 yards.
Their Week 3 matchup with the Rams was a similar story. They scored 30 in the second half, but had zero points in the first. Meanwhile, Nix, Sutton, Waddle, and the running game struggled to put up decent numbers, as their stellar defense consistently bailed them out.
And against the 49ers in Week 4, the offense couldn’t generate any traction. They put up three points in the first half, and their only touchdown was in garbage time.
At this point, it is no overreaction to say that Denver’s offensive woes are genuinely troubling. So, is Webb to blame for this?
The Chargers Game Will Tell Denver Everything It Needs to Know
It’s hard to say exactly who’s at fault for the start.
Obviously, being the new play caller, Webb is the most obvious option. However, Denver did also just face four very strong football teams. For all the fans know, one game against a lesser team to work out the kinks is all it takes to get back on track.
With a new offensive coordinator and WR1, learning curves are expected. It is especially hard to take the time to learn and grow when facing Super Bowl contenders week after week.
Next week, the Broncos play the 0-4 Los Angeles Chargers. This game should be very telling for the Denver faithful. If the Broncos come out strong and dismantle the Chargers, fans should have faith in the offense. They can chalk the first four games up to tough matchups under a new system and move on.
The alternative, though, is much more concerning. If the Broncos cannot generate a consistently productive offense, Payton may need to make a change. This offense is easily the most talented since he arrived, and he was able to do much more with much less.
Additionally, just winning will not be enough for Webb. Nix needs to look more like himself, the run game needs to get going, and he needs to find ways to get Sutton and Waddle involved.
If Webb rises to the occasion, the city of Denver will let out a sigh of relief, and they will have his back. If not, though, do not be surprised when Payton takes back play-calling duties on Monday.
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