Denver Broncos

Our team assessment

Article cutoff 2026-10-06

Broncos | 2-2

Denver's offense has been inconsistent at finding long gains and consistently limited in the number of serious scoring chances it creates. Its weekly long gains have run one, nine, four and two. Across four games it has produced only 16 threatening possessions, against 24 for opponents. The defense has allowed 28 long gains while the offense has created 16. The two wins show that the Broncos can assemble enough offense; the losses show how little remains when the big gains shrink.

Sean Payton said “We just didn’t have enough offense”. Sunday's 24-14 defeat fits the full-season concern, with only two long gains and useful progress on 39.1 percent of plays. Marvin Mims Jr.'s muffed punt handed San Francisco its breakthrough touchdown possession. That was a special-teams giveaway and the only Denver giveaway Sunday, rather than evidence of an offensive interception habit. Four defensive takeaways over the season have not erased five team giveaways. At 2-2, Denver needs more possessions that threaten before it needs another late comeback.

After opponent punts or failed fourth downs, Broncos possessions have begun at their own 22.8, on average, across 16 competitive drives. The weekly average has varied widely, from their own 14.8 to their own 37.2. The latest game averaged their own 24.5. The resulting possession started at midfield or closer to the end zone in 1 of those 16 cases. These are actual starting spots, including punt returns, rather than a measure of the defense alone. The return unit has added 78 punt-return yards over the season. Pre-snap changes before the first run or pass affected 1 of these drives; those changes are excluded from the listed starting spots. Starts following turnovers are counted separately: 2 competitive possessions at their opponent 34.5 on average.

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