Broncos on pace to break franchise record for fewest offensive yards per play

DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 15: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a play against the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter of the game at Empower Field At Mile High on October 15, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

I hate to be the guy who beats a dead horse, but this stat caught my eye today and its worth mentioning.

Through six games, the Denver Broncos are on pace to be the worst offense in franchise history. At 4.40 yards per play, they are just beating out that historic 70s offense - the same one that went to a Super Bowl. Also the same one that had eight turnovers in Super Bowl 12 and the defense that carried them there still only gave up 27 points to the Dallas Cowboys in that game.

Fewest yards per offensive play in Broncos franchise history

2026 4.40
1977 4.41
1976 4.59
1978 4.64
2001 4.66 pic.twitter.com/pLoAk64Jrv

- PFF (@PFF) October 22, 2026

The funny part is... I don't see any Tim Tebow offenses on that Top 5. That surprised me. While as bad as this is, I think they get this issue figured out. They are winning games still and that buys a little bit of time, but at some point Bo Nix and the offense will need to figure this out.

While most would point to Nix as the one who needs to figure it out first, I would point to the woeful run game. They cannot keep putting Nix into 2nd and 9 or 3rd and 8s. The run game has to start putting in the work in these drives.

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Potent quotablesVance Joseph

On the young players who stepped up against Seattle and preparing during a short week

It wasn't our first time. Those guys played last year. I think it was half of the Dallas game, the Chiefs and maybe Houston last year. So I wasn't surprised by how they played. We had a good plan for those kids. They played to it. Obviously, our depth on defense is really in the DB room and outside backer room. So we've been very fortunate losing Coop' (OLB Jonathon Cooper) early to have [OLB] Que [Robinson] and [OLB] Jonah [Elliss] step up and losing [CB] Pat [Surtain II] and [CB] Riley [Moss] to have KD' (CB Kris Abrams-Draine) and [CB Jahdae] Barron step up. So it's where our depth was, so it was almost luck to have that group intact."

On S Taylor Rapp's impact

Signing Taylor was purposeful for us. We needed a veteran safety who can play without reps. Obviously that was a short week for all of us. For him to go in a game and play 60-plus snaps and play at a high level and make every call, it's been impressive to watch. His first week in training camp, we saw it, and I was like, Man, this is cool.' If we can get him back in some capacity moving forward, it's going to be a big part of our defense. Again, it was perfect to have Rapp in the circle."

On DL Zach Allen's growth

I think Zach's been a good player for a long time. I think Zach is taking pride in being a great run stopper. That's elevated his game and you watch him one-on-one in the running game, he's dominant in that part of his game. The pass-rush part has always been there for Zach. He's twitchy, he's long, he's got great hips and feet, but the run defense has gone to a place that made him a dominant player. So I've been proud of Zach [and] how he's led this year. He's obviously doing more for our front [since] losing JFM' (Titans DL John Franklin-Myers). He is fully engaged; he's coaching the guys. But he is playing the run game very well and that's key for him."

Darren Rizzi

On the feeling of hitting a game-winning field goal as a unit

Besides gut-wrenching? (Laughs) I think that's what you prepare for with that unit. Every unit has their different nuances. That field-goal, extra-point group, when that group's on the field, you have a chance to score points every single time, the opportunity to score points. I think you view that unit a little differently. I know obviously [K] Wil [Lutz] gets the numbers and the credit, and the stats and all that stuff, but I'm glad you're asking me because I think it's as a collective unit, I think a lot of times we take for granted the snap, the hold, the protection. We've seen a number of games this year throughout the league where there have been misses or blocks. It really is. We talk about one-eleventh all the time, really just every guy doing their job. It's really hard to simulate those situations in practice. You're out here in field goal, and you try to recreate in training camp and all that. I'm proud of that group every time we go out there and execute because I think maybe the common fan might take for granted how hard it is to execute all those different things. A 53-yard field goal is no chip shot. I don't care where you're kicking it-altitude, indoors, wherever or conditions. So really proud of Wil, really proud of the whole group because it really is a collective effort."

On training kickers to treat all kicks the same

There's definitely a mental approach to that field-goal kicking position. It's trying to make every kick the biggest kick of your life. It is, if there ever was a next-play mentality, it's probably that position, just from my experience over 30 years coaching special teams. The guys that are the best at it are the guys that can treat every extra point in the first quarter just like every last-second kick. There's not secret [K] Wil [Lutz] had some misses here in the beginning. Just his resiliency just to be able to bounce back and go out there and make that kick I think says a lot about him and his approach. I think doing that, it's easier said than done."

Davis Webb

On what gives him confidence in the running back room

The way we were able to throw some punches against the Chargers and finish that out with [RB] J.K. Dobbins in the fourth quarter. Last week, they were a good defense. We knew that it was going to be that type of game, and it went all four quarters. We got off to a better start and were able to watch our pass rush kind of get off and force five [sacks], I believe. Obviously we wish we played a complete game, but now the roles were kind of reversed in regard to first half to second half. The run game got off to a good start, and then in the second half we can do better."

On if they are able to change how they play when playing with a lead

Now it's taking that last step of playing the last two quarters like we have the first two the last couple of weeks. Putting a good game together where we can look up and the score is not as close as it needs to be in the fourth quarter. We can kind of stretch the lead out a little bit. Our defense has been playing excellent, and we are looking forward to hopefully trying to accomplish that this week."

On RB RJ Harvey's growth

I love RJ Harvey. He's really hard to tackle. He's special with the ball in his hands. He's continued to develop as a runner. Under center and in the gun, I think he's a lot more comfortable, but that's kind of like the young quarterbacks in the gun compared to under center. In the pass game, he's been spectacular. Catching the ball underneath and advancing for many explosive gains. He's such a good dude. You would think he's quiet, but he's not. He talks a lot more when you get to know him, and I'm very thankful he's here."

Under the radar

Broncos QB Bo Nix, on the state of his ankle and his recovery and return from the injury: "Let me see how to explain this: I've told y'all several times I'm all the way back. I feel really good. ... But I think when you go back and you look at a whole - when you start from... pic.twitter.com/W21ISBBp9P

- Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) October 22, 2026

Jeremiyah Love (ankle) is expected to be out for Sunday's game against the Broncos.

Via @mzenitzpic.twitter.com/a4C3h63pXL

- RotoWire Fantasy Football (@RotoWireNFL) October 22, 2026

Alex Singleton jumps to the top of the tackles board pic.twitter.com/ecqu6FPR4v

- NFL (@NFL) October 22, 2026

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