Per Jay Glazer of Fox, “the Broncos changed their offensive terminology when Davis Webb became OC in the offseason. When Sean Payton took play-calling duties back from Webb, he switched it back to his terminology. All the changing verbiage has played a role in Bo Nix’s struggles. Payton is confident Nix will be fine.”

Nix had a stellar 2025 season but the 2026 start hasn’t been good at all. Davis Webb was promoted to be the playcaller, but it didn’t work, so Payton took the duties back.

Promoting Davis Webb was a huge mistake

The saying “don’t fix what isn’t broken” didn’t get to Payton. He was so focused on keeping Webb that he promoted him to be a playcaller and didn’t foresee these issues. Not only that, but Payton is an elite playcaller, Webb was a first-timer. The drop-off was very predictable.

Now, the young QB is the one struggling, and trying to readapt. Payton should’ve, logically, never changed what was working to wonders. After all, Denver was one of the best offenses in the NFL. Now, it’s one of the worse.

Broncos weapons must step up

The Broncos paid a first-round pick to bring wideout Jaylen Waddle. Last season, they had a breakout year by WR Troy Franklin. Yet, both have been really underwhelming to start the season.

Jaylen Waddle is averaging 38 yards per game, while Troy Franklin is a no-show, with just 66 yards all season. In fact, it’s the backup running back, RJ Harvey, the one who leads the team in catches with 23.

Key takeaways

• Offensive terminology changes contributed to Bo Nix’s early-season struggles with Denver.
• Head coach Sean Payton retook play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Davis Webb.
• Backup running back RJ Harvey leads Denver with 23 catches this season.

Both teams went into deep playoff runs last season, with the Broncos losing in the AFC Championship game, while the Seahawks won the Super Bowl. However, much has changed.

Both starting quarterbacks have dealt with either injuries or dips in form have conditioned the offense of both sides so far. Hence, the QB depth charts matter a lot when it comes to this game between Broncos and Seahawks.

Broncos QB depth chart vs Seahawks

Bo Nix is still scheduled to start despite early season woes. This will be the second game with Sean Payton calling the plays instead of offensive coordinator Davis Webb. However, it’s a tough matchup against an elite defense. Anyway, this is the full QB depth chart for the Broncos:

• Bo Nix
• Jarrett Stidham
• Sam Ehlinger

Seahawks QB depth chart vs Broncos

Sam Darnold has seemingly recovered from an early-season hip injury and he should play the whole game. However, in case he fails, backup Drew Lock has shown glimpses of good talent, and this would be a game against the team that originally drafted him. This is the full depth chart:

• Sam Darnold
• Drew Lock
• Jalen Milroe

Key takeaways

• Bo Nix is scheduled to start at quarterback for Denver despite early-season struggles.
• Sean Payton is calling offensive plays for Denver instead of coordinator Davis Webb.
• Sam Darnold has recovered from an early-season hip injury to start for Seattle.

“It was good enough to win, but there’s still a number of things that we’ve got to improve on,” Payton said during his press conference. It is clear that, for the experienced coach, achieving better results means doubling down on the effort on the gridiron.

Bo Nix also called for improvement despite the victory over the Bolts. Clearly, there is something within the Broncos organization that still does not fully satisfy them, despite the positive results.

Where can the Broncos improve?

A win is a win, but the Broncos’ Week 5 performance exposed a few glaring weaknesses that could haunt them against tougher opposition. Third-down conversion was abysmal, as Denver converted just 1 of its 12 third downs (8%) and managed only 3.9 yards per play overall. The passing attack remains extremely limited, with Bo Nix throwing for just 123 yards and averaging a meager 4.6 yards per pass attempt.

Additionally, red zone efficiency left plenty of points on the field—despite having five red zone possessions, Denver managed only two touchdowns and had to settle for three Wil Lutz field goals. If the defense hadn’t forced three late Chargers turnovers, these offensive lulls would have led to a division loss.

Broncos’ upcoming games

The Broncos stay on a short week to wrap up a quick homestand before heading out on the road. First, they host the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 6 (October 15).

Next, they travel to Glendale to take on the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Week 7 (October 25). Finally, they return home to Mile High for a crucial AFC West divisional showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8 (November 1).

Key takeaways

• Sean Payton noted the Denver Broncos must improve despite defeating the Los Angeles Chargers.
• The Denver Broncos converted just 1 of 12 third downs against the Los Angeles Chargers.
• The Denver Broncos will host the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football in Week 6.

Nix reflected on his performance after the game, per reporter Zac Stevens. Comparing this week’s display to other games, the star quarterback definitely was not happy with how things turned out for him as a passer. “Eh, I don’t think it was the best,” Nix said.

Nix is going through the third season of his NFL career with the Broncos. He enjoyed an incredible high after leading Denver to the AFC Championship Game before going down with an injury. He looks to pick up where he left off as he leads the Broncos to another year of serious playoff contention.

Bo Nix’s performance vs Chargers

Bo Nix and the Broncos squeezed out a win over a Chargers squad that was winless going into the game. They certainly fended off a valiant effort from the hosts, even though the win was not pretty—a victory that speaks worse about the Chargers than it reflects well on the Broncos.

Los Angeles had the momentum for most of the day as it yearned for its first victory of the year, leading 17-10 going into the fourth quarter. This did not stop Denver from making a rally, scoring the last 13 points of the game in the last 15 minutes of regulation.

Nix completed 16 of his 27 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 10 yards on four carries in a 23-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5, a performance that fails to stand out if he aims to be among the best in the NFL.

J.K. Dobbins led the run game against the Chargers with 18 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown while catching two passes for six yards. Evan Engram led receivers with four catches for 55 yards, while Courtland Sutton caught two passes for 18 yards and a touchdown.

Key takeaways

• An 0-5 record leaves the Los Angeles Chargers winless following a Week 5 loss.
• “Eh, I don’t think it was the best,” stated Bo Nix regarding his performance.
• 16 of 27 passes were completed by Bo Nix for 123 yards in Week 5.

Days ago, speaking with Big Day, the head coach himself confirmed that Nix is in very good shape heading into the season opener: “A lot of people were wondering, ‘Is he gonna have that same mobility to move around?’ We’ve seen it in practice. He’s in good shape.”

The good news for neutral fans is that Patrick Mahomes will also be playing in MNF, setting the stage for a fierce battle on the field. If both players can stay healthy throughout the season, there is no doubt they will go head-to-head in a race to determine which of their teams can claim the AFC West.

The streak Nix is looking to keep alive

Since entering the NFL, this will be the third Monday Night Football game Bo Nix has played in as a professional. How did he fare in the previous two? He won both games, and now he will look to continue his winning streak against the Chiefs.

“It’s very exciting. It means that you are in a really good spot as an organization, but it’s also a great responsibility. You get put on Monday Night Football in Week 1, it means you have something to go out there and prove,” No.10 recently revealed to the press.

On December 2, 2024, the Broncos defeated the Cleveland Browns 41–32, with Nix completing 18 of 35 passes for 294 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Then, on September 29, 2025, they took down the Cincinnati Bengals 28–21, as the QB went 29-of-42 for 326 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

The injury is in the past

Bo Nix’s standout performance in Denver’s 33–30 playoff victory over the Buffalo Bills was cut short on the game-winning drive. Late in the fourth quarter, the quarterback suffered a fractured right ankle, forcing him out for the remainder of the postseason and requiring two offseason surgeries.

Sean Payton’s QB room alternatives

Over time, Nix has become one of the cornerstones of this team. However, if necessary, Sean Payton has two other options available should he need to replace his starting quarterback. Jarrett Stidham sits second on the Broncos’ depth chart, while Sam Ehlinger is listed further down.

Before Denver takes on the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football in Week 1, Nix talked about why having a new offensive coordinator might make things tougher on the Chiefs in the season opener, via Romi Bean of CBS News Colorado. “I think it’s tougher on them for sure because you just don’t know necessarily his style,” Nix said on having Davis Webb as OC.

“I’ve been around Davis for a few years, understanding what he likes, doesn’t like, the kind of style he’s gonna call the game with and stuff like that. Overall, I think it’s tougher for them to respond and adjust. At the end of the day, professional football is professional football, everybody seems to be doing similar things.

“They’re gonna play man or zone, we’re gonna run or pass, it’s really easy once you get down to it. It’ll be a cool little match to see Davis, his first game calling plays against arguably one of the better DCs in the league.”

Nix seeking redemption

Nix missed that AFC Championship loss a season ago with an ankle injury, leaving him hungry after returning and getting healthy this offseason. The Broncos have a ton of continuity on their roster and even added explosive wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to give Nix another elite weapon on the outside.

Nix was asked in a press conference about the wait after practice on Wednesday. “I think every year when you start, there’s gonna be things, we haven’t been playing for five, six months. There’s gonna be things to get back and get going again. But when I was out there against Green Bay it was kind of like a carry over of last season,” Nix said.

Nix looked good versus the Packers, completing 6-of-9 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown while leading scoring drives in both of his series. Head coach Sean Payton saw enough to keep Nix out of the preseason finale against the Vikings.

Those in-game adjustments will be key against a Chiefs team coming off a disappointing 6-11 NFL season after appearing in five Super Bowls during the Patrick Mahomes era. For Nix, he sounds ready to roll, treating this like another game, though there is no doubt the winner will take the early driver’s seat in the AFC West.

Per the Broncos PR team, Bo Nix will make his preseason debut vs Packers. As expected, Sean Payton said Nix will play around 14 snaps against Green Bay. “It’s always a blast to play at home,” Nix said on Tuesday’s press conference.

Friday’s game is the first time quarterback Bo Nix will hear play calls from new offensive coordinator Davis Webb during a live match scenario. Hence, even if just for 14 snaps, this could be a sign of things to come, for good or bad.

Is Jordan Love playing for Packers vs Broncos?

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said earlier this week the plan is for the starters, including quarterback Jordan Love, to play Friday night against the Broncos. It is clear that the starters won’t play much, but they’re also changing stuff in the coaching staff. For instance, Sean Mannion left his QB coach role to become the offensive coordinator in Philadelphia.

As for Love, the playcaller is still LaFleur, so he should be in a known environment in that regard. Still, preseason is to get into competing rhythm, not to go all out. The main goal here is to leave healthy.

Nix and Love need to show they can lift the ceiling

Both the Broncos and Packers know they have upside quarterbacks on their rosters. However, they are not regarded as top-tier, elite signal-callers. It’s now up to both Nix and Love to guide the rosters to the promised land.

In the case of Nix, he has a stacked roster to join him. Meanwhile, Love has a bit lesser receiving corp, but the Packers are still regarded as an NFC contender, and Love is tasked with guiding them all the way.

The pass rusher had to be restrained by his teammates after becoming frustrated when his own quarterback grabbed him by the leg. Nix, who should be protected more carefully during practice, took a sack. Sean Payton’s team had an intense session, but the QB played down the incident.

“I love it. It’s football,” Nix said to the press. “It’s getting me ready for the games coming up. It’s a physical practice played by physical people. So it got intense and we were really enjoying it, and sometimes in the dog days of summer, practice gets long and the intensity gets high.”

Time to protect Nix

Intensity is necessary during practice, especially at this stage of the preseason. However, there is no need to put players’ health at risk, especially when it comes to the team’s biggest stars.

Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was far from pleased with what happened during the latest practice. “We don’t want anyone near Bo,” the DC said regarding the altercation.

Broncos’ upcoming games

Bo Nix is expected to see game action during this stretch of preparation, with the Broncos having two interesting games ahead before the start of the regular season. On Friday, August 21, they will host the Green Bay Packers at Empower Field before wrapping up their preseason at home against the Minnesota Vikings on August 28.

This team’s Week 1 opener will be a high-profile matchup. They will visit Arrowhead on September 14, where they will face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Unfortunately for the Broncos, Nix will not take the field. Quarterback Bo Nix will not play in the Denver Broncos preseason opener at Atlanta, coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. Sam Ehlinger and Jarrett Stidham will each play a half against the Falcons on Friday night.

Nix is coming off two right ankle surgeries in the offseason but did not miss any snaps at training camp. Payton said he will play when the Broncos host the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 21 and again a week later against the Minnesota Vikings.

Waiting to see Nix

Payton said the decision to sit Nix has nothing to do with the rash of injuries on the offensive line, particularly at center, where the team has had three players get hurt, including Michael Deiter, whom Payton said is out for the season with a quadriceps injury. Starting center Luke Wattenberg (arm) and backup Alex Forsyth (ankle) are also sidelined.

Payton said the decision to sit Nix in the preseason opener was made a month ago, but that if this were the regular season, he would expect Nix to play and be 100%. The Broncos’ other starters are expected to suit up for about 15 plays.

What happened to Nix?

Nix suffered a fractured right ankle in the closing minutes of the Broncos’ AFC divisional-round playoff win over the Buffalo Bills in January, had an initial surgery to repair the fracture in the days following the game, and then had a follow-up surgery in April to treat bone spurs in the same ankle.

He missed most of the on-field work in the Broncos’ offseason program and threw on only a limited basis in their mandatory minicamp in June. Nix faces pressure this NFL season. During his rookie season in 2024, Nix played in 17 games. He completed 66.3% of his pass attempts for 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, while also running for 430 yards and four more scores.

Last season, the 26-year-old quarterback threw for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, while completing 63.4% of his passes. He also chipped in with 356 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

“I’m excited,” the quarterback said to the press. “I think preseason’s always a great time to get back out there and get your feet wet a little bit and see defenses in a live situation before the first [regular-season] game.”

Will No. 10 be on the field against the Atlanta Falcons? Payton keeps it a mystery: “We haven’t gone through the role yet,” the head coach said, via Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette. “I’ll let you know when we go through the roles.”

What preseason games do the Broncos have?

The Denver Broncos’ 2026 NFL preseason lineup kicks off on Friday, August 14, with a road game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Following their opener, the Broncos return to Empower Field at Mile High for two consecutive home games to close out their tune-up slate: hosting the Green Bay Packers on Friday, August 21, and taking on the Minnesota Vikings on Friday, August 28.

Denver wants to improve on its 2025 campaign

Heading into the 2026 season, the Broncos will look to build upon a remarkable 2025 campaign where they finished 14–3 to win the AFC West. While Denver boasted an elite defense that allowed just 18.3 points per game (3rd in the NFL), the team seeks greater efficiency from an offense that averaged 23.6 points (14th in the league) and produced 5,825 total yards.

Starting quarterback Bo Nix delivered a strong effort, throwing for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions with an 87.8 passer rating (along with 356 rushing yards and 5 rushing scores), but the offense stalled at the worst possible moment.

After defeating the Buffalo Bills 33–30 in the Divisional Round, Denver’s Super Bowl pursuit came to an agonizing end with a 10–7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, making offensive consistency and finishing drives in the postseason the top priority for 2026.

“There’s a good chance we see him in this offseason program in June,” Payton said during a press conference on Saturday. “We’re going to be the ones kind of holding back, if you will.” In any case, Payton said Nix will be “clearly full speed” in time for training camp later in the summer.

Nix was a key component of the Broncos success last season. In fact, his absence during the AFC Championship Game might be the reason why Denver wasn’t able to go to the Super Bowl. Payton’s words are very reassuring for Broncos fans.

Bo Nix is a very effective QB

While no one will put Nix as an MVP candidate, he is definitely an effective quarterback with a winning mentality. That’s what Sean Payton likes to have under center, someone who can get things done, and is a mature processor of the game.

Nix led the NFL in passing attempts, completed 63.4% of his passes for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also led the league in game-winning drives with seven. Clutch at its peak.

The Broncos have bolstered Nix’s weapons

Last year, the Broncos had decent weapons in Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin. However, tight end Evan Engram wasn’t as productive as expected and Marvin Mims wasn’t as explosive.

Well, the Broncos took notice and traded for wideout Jaylen Waddle, who will be an instant difference-maker in this offense. They are also likely to give more looks to tight end Adam Trautman. Hence, Nix could be even better this 2026 NFL season.