The Denver Broncos have somehow made it to 2-2. If you listen to the doomsayers, we have a terrible offense, a terrible defense, AND a QB who needs to be replaced. The combined record of the Bronco’s four opponents is 13-3 (2x 4-0, 3-1, and 2-2). Both losses were on the road. Both wins were at home. So let’s look at the team from a unit perspective at the quarter point of the season.
Offense
The Broncos are 27th in scoring. 26th in passing (by passer rating). 21st in passing EPA. 21st in ANYA. 21st in TD
percentage. 19th in INT percentage. Suffice it to say that the passing offense overall has been in the bottom third or bottom quartile of the league. The offense is also the only offense in the NFL to get zero first downs on its first drive in every game this season (INT, punt, punt, and punt).
The rushing offense has been comparable. 27th in YPC. The run game also has had almost no explosive plays.
Only 21.5 percent of the Broncos actual runs (removing kneel downs) have gained six yards or more. The Chargers have had the highest percentage at 33.9 percent so far this season. This does not bode well for our defense, which has given up a large percentage of runs for six or more this year. We’ll get to that in a bit.
The defenses that the Broncos have faced so far are 2nd, 3rd, 7th, and 10th in points allowed. So at least offense is failing against good defenses. The Chargers defense is currently 24th. If the Bronco offense fails on Sunday, it’s completely the fault of the offense and not a result based on the strength of the opposing defense.
The Broncos are tied for third worst with eight fumbles through four games. Only the Packers and the Chargers have more. This counts all fumbles so Kris Abrams-Draine’s and Talanoa Hufanga’s fumbles are counted in this. The Broncos only have five turnovers through four games. The Lions and the Jets lead the league in both only having one turnover so far. The Patriots and the Chargers are tied for the worst at 10.
Defense
The defense is currently 17th in scoring. 9th in ANYA. 5th passer rating allowed. 9th in QBhits. 20th in sack percentage. 3rd in completion percentage allowed. 30th in pressure rate on opposing passers. 15th in TD percentage. 10th in INT percentage. The Cowboys are the only defense in the NFL without an INT so far this season. The Bronco defense is 23rd in EPA, but 10th in pass defense EPA and 30th in run D EPA.
The run defense has been bad. 27th in YPC allowed. 18th in TFL. The run D has allowed 32 gains of 6 or more yards. That is tied for 25th. The Cowboy defense has been the worst allowing 40 runs of 6 or more through 4 games. The Falcon defense has only allowed 11.
The defense was really good last year at forcing 3-and-outs, forcing 61 during the regular season which was second on to the Texans defense in 2025.
With seven through four games so far this season, the Bronco defense is on pace for 30. That would have made them dead last in 2025. One reason for this is that the Bronco defense is 27th in 3rd down percentage allowed so far this season – allowing conversion on 47.5 percent. The Lions are currently the worst at 52.8 and the Vikings are the best at 22.6 percent.
The saving grace so far for the Bronco defense is the red zone defense. The Broncos have only allowed TDs on 50 percent of red zone drives. That’s tied for 7th best with the Browns. The Vikings are currently the best at 22.6 percent while the Packers are the worst at 85.7 percent. They have allowed TDs on 12 of 14 RZ drives so far this season.
Special Teams
Will Lutz has made five of seven FG attempts which is tied for 27th. The accuracy of NFL kickers has been good to start the season – 85.7% success. That includes 68 percent on attempts from 50+. Twelve teams have yet to miss a FG this season.
Punting has been one of the bright spots for the Broncos (outside of late game heroics) so far this season. Jeremy Crawshaw has pinned opponents inside the 10 seven times through four games. That is two more than the nearest punters (three are tied with 5). Crawshaw getting 7 of 19 punts inside the 10 is mind-blowing – 37%. What’s crazy is that he only has two between the 10 and the 20 so his inside the 20 percentage is 11th. Matt Araiza has an inside the 20 percentage of 75 percent (9 of 12). None of Crawshaw’s punts have pinned opponent’s inside the five yet, although he was really close in the last game when the coverage team stepped on the goal-line for a touchback instead of getting one downed inside the one. Crawshaw has one other touchback. Two is not great, but one is the fault of the coverage team. I can’t remember the other. Nine punters have avoided a touchback so far this season. None of the seven of the opponent drives that started inside ten led to scores (2 INTs, 4 punts, 1 end of half).
The punt coverage team is currently 5th allowing 7.5 yards per return.
The KO coverage team is is 7th allowing 24.6 per return. The KO coverage team forced a fumble last game.
The Bronco return game has been decent – 15th in punt return average at 9.6 yards and 8th in KOR average at 27.6 yards. There has been one punt and zero kickoff returns for a TD this season.
Penalties
Last season there were 3585 penalties in the 285 games during the regular and post season. That is 12.58 penalties per game. So far this season there have been 64 NFL games and there have been 963 penalties called. That’s 15.0 penalties per game. That’s a 20 percent increase in penalties in 2026 relative to 2025.
