What is Wrong with the Denver Broncos?

The Denver Broncos started their season strong with a 3-1 record. The wins against the Chargers, Cowboys, and Raiders seemed convincing as a threat this season. Their offense looked like something to reckon with, the run game was one of the strongest in the league, and their quarterback, Trevor Siemian, was playing as one of the best in the league. Moving to the other side of the ball, the defense had returned to playing almost as well as their defense from their Super Bowl winning team in 2016. Their secondary was still playing lights out and the run defense was stifling opponents. They looked as if they were one of the best teams in the AFC. The Broncos were coming off their bye week when things started to go downhill.

The Broncos were up against the New York Giants, an 0-6 team that looked like the worst team in the NFL. The Broncos were heavily favored and they went in playing like they were under prepared and assumed they would win. The defense did not play at their elite level.

Their run defense was imploding, allowing 148 rushing yards. The offensive side could not do anything all game. Kicker Brandon McManus missed a field goal in the first half. Trevor Siemian tossed two interceptions, including a pick six right before half time.

This put the Broncos down 17-3 at halftime. After the half, nothing seemed to change. The Giants controlled the game and the Broncos missed another field goal. Then they turned it over one more time when wide receiver, Demaryius Thomas, fumbled. The Broncos did score a late touchdown, but it was too late and the Broncos fell to the Giants 23-10.

This last weekend, the Broncos faced the Chargers in a crucial divisional game. The Broncos offense was the problem yet again. The run game was doing nothing. The offensive line was not making any open holes, so running backs CJ Anderson and Jamaal Charles could not gain any yards. The passing game was atrocious. Trevor Siemian was getting pressured all day long, but he wasn’t doing anything when he wasn’t pressured. At critical points in the game he didn’t deliver. On a 4^th down late in the game he coughed up an interception right to a Chargers defender, which sealed the Broncos loss. The offense put up 207 pass yards and 69 rush yards. They were clearly the problem this game, putting up no points. The Broncos fell 21-0.

So what is wrong with the Denver Broncos? It starts with a need for better offensive production, which comes from better offensive line and better quarterback play from Trevor Siemian. So far this season he has the worst completion percentage at 8.9% when pressured. They also need to have better play calling from offensive coordinator Mike McCoy. What’s also missing from Denver is the lack of turnovers they are producing on the defensive side. They have a -8 turnover ratio compared to their opponents.

The Broncos head in to Arrow Head Stadium, in Kansas City, on Monday Night Football to face one of the top teams in the league, the Chiefs. They had better fix these problems before their season goes downhill and they waste their elite level defense.