The Dolphins just scored again, I think. OK, well, not actually, but the Fun in the Sun offense partied in the end zone 10 times while the Broncos and coach Sean Payton roasted on the visiting sideline. Denver’s still winless but facing winless Chicago this weekend. Actually, all four 0-3 teams are lumped into two matchups (Minnesota at Carolina the other) this weekend, meaning come Monday there will be only two 0-4 teams. So, what’s the most surprising part of this for the Broncos? The defense? The myriad ways they’ve figured out how to lose? I’m going with Russell Wilson, who’s been … pretty good so far. If you’d have told me before the season that through three games Wilson would be tied for sixth with Patrick Mahomes in passer rating (99.5) and tied for eighth in EPA\/play, I’d have guessed 2-1 at worst. Sure, he hasn’t been perfect. But he’s been a heck of a lot better than at any point except maybe the final two games last year. And it still hasn’t translated to wins for Denver. Ouch.<\/p>\n
Wilson\u2019s performance through three games isn\u2019t too surprising. I viewed last year as an anomaly and believed he would get back on track with the right coaching. The biggest surprise is how Denver\u2019s defense has regressed under defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. Last season, the Broncos finished 14th in points per game (21.1), 12th in passing yards allowed (210.2 per game) and 10th in rushing yards (109.8 per game). But through three games in 2023, Denver\u2019s defense has done more than regress. It’s hit rock bottom. The Broncos have allowed the most points (40.7) and total yards (458.3) in the league.<\/p>\n
Denver\u2019s pass rush has struggled. The team\u2019s four sacks this season came against the Commanders. Randy Gregory hasn\u2019t done much, and new addition Zach Allen has yet to record a sack as well. I wasn\u2019t expecting the Broncos\u2019 defense to be the best in the league. But I wasn\u2019t expecting them to be the worst, either. Each game they figure out a way to lose. From penalties to their inability to put pressure on the quarterback, the Broncos look out of sorts on the defensive side of the ball. On Sunday against the Dolphins, the Broncos looked unprepared. Denver wasn\u2019t expected to win, but to give up 70 points??? That\u2019s absurd. Two of Denver\u2019s next three games are against the Chicago Bears and New York Jets. If the Broncos can\u2019t clean up their act in those games, a discussion should be had about Joseph and whether he should keep his position after the bye week.<\/p>\n
Besides the “0” before the “3?” Pro Football Focus told us in June this would be a top-10ish (OK,11th, technically) offensive line. It isn’t. I figured Jerry Jeudy would pick things right back up where he left off in the Rosburg Era. He hasn’t. A 70-20 demolition is a stain on several hands, granted. And while Randy Gregory and Frank Clark look like wasted money, I’ll reserve the bulk of my shock\/disappointment for the secondary. And specifically, the defensive backs who aren’t Pat Surtain II and Justin Simmons. Among the 15 qualified NFL defenders who’ve allowed the highest passer rating against while being targeted, two are Broncos (Delarrin Turner-Yell, No. 1, at 158.3; Damarri Mathis, No. 13, at 147.7). Denver’s got three qualified defenders who are among the bottom 20 in yards allowed per target (Turner-Yell, 21.3; Simmons, 12.8; Kareem Jackson, 12.8). No other NFL team in that subset had more than two as of Tuesday. And the Broncos haven’t even faced Patrick Mahomes or Justin Herbert yet. Mercy.<\/p>\n