Sean Payton on struggling Broncos offense and play-calling after loss to 49ers: 'We gotta figure it out fast'
For the fourth time in four games this season, the Denver Broncos got off to a slow start on offense.
This time, they couldn't dig themselves out of a hole. The Broncos had three points at halftime of Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers. They finished with 14 in a 24-14 loss that dropped them to 2-2.
In each of the Broncos' four games this season, they've failed to reach double digits in points by halftime. They had seven at halftime in a 31-10 loss to the Chiefs. They had three points at halftime of a 20-13 win over the Jaguars.
They were scoreless at halftime in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams before rallying for a 30-26 win over the Rams that was aided by an NFL-acknowledged officiating error. On Sunday, there was no comeback, and a Broncos team with Super Bowl aspirations now sits two game behind the 4-0 Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.
This again brought up questions for head coach Sean Payton about offensive coordinator and first-year play caller Davis Webb, who took the reins from Payton to call plays this season.
"It's too early - it's a fair question; I appreciate it. And, man, it's tough to discuss any of that right now," Payton told reporters Sunday when asked postgame if he'd considering making play-calling changes.
Sean Payton weighs in on the play-calling situation for the 2-2 Broncos pic.twitter.com/07xzd9qOOc
- FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 5, 2026
The Broncos certainly have plenty to consider on offense, from Webb's play-calling to Bo Nix's execution at quarterback to an inefficient run game that averaged 3.7 yards per carry against the 49ers.
But for now, the heat in Denver is on Webb. And Payton - renowned as one of the great offensive minds in football - has a lot to consider as questions swirl over whether he should take back the game-day reins of Denver's offense.
"We've had some opportunities, but there are a handful of things that aren't clicking," Payton continued Sunday, per 104.3 The Fan. "And we gotta figure it out fast, because we're going into Week 5."