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Bo Nix has thrown for 230 yards across the Denver Broncos’ last two wins, and his longest completion in Thursday’s 17-14 overtime win over Seattle went for 16 yards. Sean Payton isn’t benching his quarterback, so the fix has to come from inside an offense that ranks 31st in total yards.
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“He’s going to become the byproduct of all the finer things that can improve,” Payton said Monday, according to the Denver Gazette. Arizona is 2-4 and coming off an 18-16 win over the Rams, and four problems stand between Denver and a fifth win at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
Bo Nix has to start throwing past the sticks
Nix’s 6.3-yard average depth of target ranks 33rd among 35 qualified quarterbacks, and his 46.6 overall grade sits in the same spot, according to PFF. He has 11 turnover-worthy plays against five big-time throws. Since Payton took over play calling on Oct. 8, Nix has gone 33 of 54 for 230 yards.
Arizona is the place to change that. The Cardinals allowed 30 or more points in four straight games before holding the Rams to 16, per the team’s website, and the Lions scored 45 on them in Week 5. Payton said “that starts with me and us giving him those opportunities when they present itself.”
The line has to handle Josh Sweat and Budda Baker
Payton also asked for better play up front. Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers were the lowest-graded starting linemen against Seattle by PFF, at 47.9 and 47.2.
Josh Sweat is Arizona’s lead edge rusher, with two sacks, 10 pressures and a 60.2 grade on 208 snaps, per PFF. Budda Baker brings the rest of it from safety. He had a sack and two tackles for loss against the Rams, and Arizona finished that game with three sacks and seven quarterback hits. Those are modest numbers for a front, and a line that can’t handle them won’t hold up against Kansas City in Week 8.
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Denver needs one third down after halftime
Denver went 0-for-6 on third down after halftime against Seattle and gained 30 total yards in the second half while a 14-3 lead became overtime. We wrote that the 30-yard second half put Nix under scrutiny, and it came a week after a 1-of-12 day on third down in Los Angeles.
The Broncos were 22 of 65 (33.8%) on third down through five games, per StatMuse, and the 0-for-6 second half against Seattle dragged that number down. Arizona’s linebackers made the plays that mattered against Los Angeles. Jack Gibbens made a fourth-and-1 stop and Mack Wilson Sr. had nine tackles as the Cardinals forced two turnovers on downs.
Zach Allen has to carry the pass rush without Jonah Elliss
Zach Allen had 22 pressures and 10 quarterback hits through five games, second and first among 133 interior defenders, with a 76.8 pass-rush grade, according to PFF. Denver hit Sam Darnold 17 times Thursday, and the pass rush leads the positives from that night. Jonah Elliss left on one leg, though, so Quandarrius Robinson’s six pressures against Seattle are now a weekly requirement.
Jacoby Brissett has been sacked 12 times, and he gets the ball out to Trey McBride. The tight end had 42 catches on 53 targets through five games, most at his position, per PFF, then caught seven more for 53 yards against the Rams. Allen collapsing the pocket from the inside is the fastest way to take those short throws away.
“Fortunately, we’re sitting here 4-2 and we’ve got a chance to play better this upcoming weekend and we will,” Payton said. The defense has moved the Broncos up in most power rankings. The Arizona game is the time for the offense to give it some help before Kansas City comes to Empower Field at Mile High.
More on the Denver Broncos
- Broncos’ 14 Straight One-Score Wins Are Hiding an Offense That Ranks 31st in Yards
- Who Replaces Jonah Elliss? Quandarrius Robinson’s 6 Pressures vs. Seattle Make His Case
- Will the Broncos Trade for a Cornerback? Jahdae Barron’s 41.6 Coverage Grade Makes the Case
- Broncos Climb Into the Top Five in Two NFL Power Rankings Despite Bo Nix’s 107-Yard Night
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This story was originally published October 21, 2026 at 8:30 AM.