Broncos Take a Step Sideways After Play-Calling Controversy

The Denver Broncos got a win they absolutely had to have on Sunday, but in many ways it was more of the same offensively, as they continued to struggle to move the ball and score points with coach Sean Payton back calling plays.

The numbers told the story, per Jeff Legwold of ESPN. The Broncos posted a net total of 224 yards against the Los Angeles Chargers, which was the second-lowest output of the season. They were 1-of-12 on third down, and quarterback Bo Nix had just 123 passing yards, which was the second-lowest game total in his career.

That’s not going to change the rankings, which Legwold also noted. They entered this game near the bottom of the league in most statistical categories on offense, including scoring (27th), total yards per game (27th) and rushing yards per game (29th).

So what changed with Payton at the helm? Well, there was more balance, as he discussed, with the Broncos running the ball 29 times while throwing 27 passes. They didn’t do either well, though, and the reality is that this was a defensive win. 

As Legwold also noted, the defense gave the ball to the offense on the LA side of the field, as they were able to force turnovers against a team that was all too eager to provide them. Payton described the turnovers as four big game-changers that represented “small steps.”

He also spoke to his own play-calling, saying he needed to be better “relative to the protection.” It’s harder to interpret that one, and it’s even harder relative to whatever offensive coordinator Davis Webb was doing right or wrong in his play-calling. 

The deeper reality was that this was really a Chargers win. The Broncos beat a bad team that was all too willing to give the game away, although it took Denver a while to capitalize on the gifts that turned the game around and gave the Broncos a 23-17 win. 

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh played a pivotal role in this as well. He was aggressive at exactly the wrong times, attempting fourth down conversions in his own territory despite the fact that was basically as bad as Denver’s. 

It’s hard to imagine what changes here going forward, but the schedule will once again step in and play a big role in that. Thursday night games tend to be strange, sloppy affairs, so maybe that will play in Denver's favor when the Seattle Seahawks come to town.