Broncos Rank 31st in Alarming Offensive Statistic Despite 6-2 Start

The Denver Broncos have climbed to the top of the AFC West with a 6-2 record, but one troubling statistic highlights a significant weakness in their offense.

Denver ranks 31st in the NFL in three-and-out rate through eight games, with 30.3% of its offensive possessions ending without a first down.

According to NFL Researcher, only the Philadelphia Eagles have a higher rate at 34.1%.

The Broncos' struggles stand in sharp contrast to the league's most efficient teams at avoiding three-and-outs.

Buffalo leads the NFL with a rate of just 7.9%, followed by Indianapolis (10.1%), Cincinnati (12.3%), New England (14.3%) and Dallas (14.3%).

Denver's rate is nearly four times Buffalo's, illustrating how frequently the Broncos have struggled to sustain drives.

Those problems were particularly evident during Sunday's dramatic 28-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Broncos went three-and-out on all three of their third-quarter possessions, allowing Kansas City to extend its lead to 24-13.

According to NFL.com's analysis, Denver's inability to establish its running game contributed significantly to those stalled drives.

The Broncos gained only one yard on the opening rushing attempts of their first two third-quarter possessions. Their third drive ended after three consecutive incomplete passes.

Yet Denver somehow overcame those offensive struggles.

Quarterback Bo Nix directed two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, including the winning possession capped by rookie Jonah Coleman's five-yard scoring run.

The comeback gave Nix an NFL-record 15 game-winning drives through his first three seasons.

It also extended Denver's remarkable streak to 15 consecutive regular-season victories in one-score games, tying an NFL record.

However, the Broncos' ability to overcome offensive inconsistency doesn't eliminate the underlying concern.

Repeated three-and-outs place additional pressure on Denver's defense, limit scoring opportunities and make it difficult to control games.

The Broncos have demonstrated that they can produce explosive plays when necessary, particularly late in games.

But sustaining drives more consistently would reduce their dependence on dramatic fourth-quarter rallies.

With Denver preparing to visit the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, improving early-down execution and avoiding empty possessions should be priorities.

The Broncos have found ways to win despite their offensive inefficiency.

The challenge now is making those victories less difficult to secure.