New Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s tenure within the Mile Excessive Metropolis is off to a rocky begin. His crew misplaced the primary two video games of the season by a mixed three factors towards Las Vegas and Washington, respectively. The offense seems to be to be transferring in the best route below Payton, however now the protection appears to have dropped off a bit. It’s solely two video games, however this may’t be how coach Payton envisioned starting his run in Denver.
In equity, the Raiders solely scored 17 factors in Week 1, and the Broncos solely allowed final 12 months’s NFL main rusher, Josh Jacobs, 48 yards on 19 carries. Week 2 is the place the dip actually occurred towards the Commanders. Denver let Sam Howell throw the ball all around the area, accumulating practically 300 yards and beating them for 2 landing passes. Brian Robinson Jr. additionally had a giant day, dashing for 87 yards and two scores.
That vaunted Broncos D fully fell aside at residence towards the Commanders. It’s nonetheless very early within the 12 months, however the Broncos are doing precisely what they did final season. They’re developing on the quick finish of shut video games. Of their first eight video games in 2022, all however one had some extent differential of seven or much less, whether or not Denver gained or misplaced the sport. They had been 3-5 in these first eight video games.
Dropping these sorts of video games isn’t one thing coach Payton is used to, particularly after having an 18-point lead. Russell Wilson has been higher early on, however it’s laborious to say if he’ll get again to the Professional Bowl stage of his Seattle years. Though Wilson had three TD passes Sunday, his two turnovers have most likely stored coach Payton up this week.
“There have been a variety of drives the place we had been late with personnel, getting out of the huddle we took some time. That has to alter,” Payton stated. “We needed to burn timeouts within the first half, and I’m not used to doing that. We’ve got to be higher. I’ve to be higher. Russ needs to be sharper with getting the play out, after which we now have to have a look at how a lot we now have in. If we have to wristband it, we’ll.”
Some say Payton is enjoying the blame sport; others may suppose he’s holding Wilson accountable for the offense. Both approach, Drew Brees isn’t strolling via that locker room door in Denver. If he does, it gained’t be in a Broncos uniform. Payton and Wilson should determine this out shortly as a result of the season is already slipping away.
The highway to success doesn’t get any simpler for Denver as they journey to Miami for Week 3. The Dolphins are firing on all cylinders, and that offense seems to be unstoppable. The best way this Broncos protection seemed late within the Commanders sport, the Dolphins may drop 40 on the Broncos. An 0-3 begin for Denver would imply they’ve already dropped practically 20 p.c of their video games. Fortunately for Payton, they get to tackle the Bears in Week 4, however they’re additionally a determined crew. Seems to be like that might be a battle to see who’s already eradicated from playoff competition.
