Sean Payton realizes he has to be the one to jump-start the Broncos' clunker of an offense

Updated Sep. 16, 2024 6:04 p.m. ET

Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — While Russell Wilson was getting a game ball in the visitors' locker room Sunday, Sean Payton was playing the blame game — pointing the finger at himself for the Denver Broncos' sputtering offense that's the primary culprit in their second straight 0-2 start.

“I just finished telling the coaches that that side of the ball needs to get cleaned up. That starts with me,” Payton said in the aftermath of Denver's 13-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers despite yielding just 110 passing yards to Wilson's backup, Justin Fields.

“We have to start really looking at who we are asking to do what,” Payton said.

That should start with who's getting the ball from quarterback Bo Nix.

Payton has been pining for a better ground game and with rookie Audric Estime out. Practice squad player Tyler Badie provided him with his answer when he burst up the middle for a 16-yard gain midway through the second quarter Sunday.

Badie didn't get another carry.

From that point on, Javonte Williams carried nine times for 10 yards, Jaleel McLaughlin ran once for 7 yards and Nix gained 5 yards on a designed run.

Payton had no easy answer when asked Monday why Badie didn't get another touch after providing the Broncos with their longest run of the game and second-longest of the season behind Nix's 23-yard scramble in Seattle.

“Fair question. When we had the additional spot and obviously with Audric down, then it’s about trying to find touches for the third back," Payton said. “It's much easier with a rotation of two. Getting the third back involved, sometimes it’s special teams, sometimes in the passing game, and it was a good run by him. It’s something we’re — you take notice of it, though. It’s something as a play-caller, as someone who’s looking at the game, I’ve got to be able to see that.

“He is a player, though, who had his name on a lot of different plays that either were red-zone or situational plays that we weren’t able to get to,” Payton added. “It’s not intentional. It’s not like, ‘Hey we’re not aware.’ You’re just into the flow of the game and you have to be better that way.”

Williams finished with 17 yards on 11 carries. McLaughlin had 6 yards on three carries and Nix gained 25 yards on four keepers.

After speedster Marvin Mims Jr. played just 12 snaps and got one target against the Seahawks, Payton acknowledged he needed to get Mims more involved. But against the Steelers, Mims played nine snaps from scrimmage, was targeted on two throws and caught one for 10 yards.

Tony Franklin, Nix's teammate from Oregon, made his NFL debut with fellow rookie Devaughn Vele sidelined, and he was targeted once and had zero catches in 12 snaps.

Payton relishes filling the field with bigger receivers, but what might spark the offense is having more speed on the field more often.

“It’s just trying to find the right combinations,” Payton said Monday. “You get into trying to feed too many mouths and then no one eats. I think it’s a fair question relative to the explosiveness, or what we’re trying to do down the field.”

Payton has now lost at home to both his predecessor Nathaniel Hackett (now the offensive coordinator for the Jets, who beat the Broncos 31-21 last year) and Wilson, who was relegated to emergency third QB duty Sunday because of a strained calf.

“I think we all know Russ got kind of did dirty last year, so I know he wished he could have played in this game but it's awesome getting that win for him,” Fields said. “He got a petty game ball.”

Those are trophies handed out when a player beats his former team, Fields explained, adding that former Broncos Brandon Johnson and Corliss Waitman also got petty game balls.

What’s working

The Broncos have been excellent on special teams, especially their coverage units. Opponents have had to start at their 1-yard line three times in two weeks.

What needs help

The offense needs a kick-start.

Stock up

DE Zach Allen had four tackles and a sack Sunday and tied a career high with four quarterback hits. That gives him five so far, which is tied for fourth most in the league.

Stock down

Williams drew praise from Payton during training camp after dropping 11 pounds and looking like his old self before a knee injury that sidetracked his career. But he's looked a lot like the step-slow 2023 version that wasn't able to slip many tackles or break off enough big runs.

Injuries

RT Mike McGlinchey is expected to miss up to a month with a sprained knee. With top swing tackle Quinn Bailey out for the year with an ankle injury he sustained in camp, the next man up is Matt Peart.

Key number

4 — Interceptions by Nix, two in each game.

Next steps

The Broncos begin a two-game trip Sunday at Tampa Bay, then will train on the Atlantic coast ahead of their trip to the Meadowlands to face Aaron Rodgers and the Jets.

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