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Past 7 daysAnalysts say Broncos' pass rush has 'zero excuses' vs. injury-depleted Chargers line
Oct 8With a league-worst 1.3% quarterback-hurry rate and third-worst pressure rate (17.7%), Denver's pass rush faces a Chargers offensive line now missing Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt ahead of their Week 6 matchup. Denver (2-2) is itself missing Jonathon Cooper and John Franklin-Myers. (Analysis/rumor-adjacent commentary, labeled as such.)
Trade speculation: could a Tony Pollard deal fix Denver's run game?
Oct 8With Denver's run game fourth-worst in the league through four games, a fan-analysis site floats a trade for Titans RB Tony Pollard as a possible fix. Labeled speculation, not a reported move.
Four early trade-deadline names Broncos watchers are floating
Oct 8Ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline, a fan-analysis site names linebackers Mack Wilson, Cody Barton and Demario Davis, plus RB Tony Pollard, as speculative Denver trade targets. Labeled speculation.
Patrick Surtain II exits loss to 49ers with ankle injury
Oct 7Denver's All-Pro corner left Sunday's game with a non-contact ankle injury and was listed questionable to return; the Broncos entered the game 2-1 before falling to San Francisco.
Broncos WR Pat Bryant to miss 'a few weeks' with ankle sprain
Oct 7Bryant, Denver's most productive healthy receiver through four games (9 catches, 133 yards, 1 TD), was carted off in the third quarter; per a league reporter, it is not a fracture and he's expected back within a few weeks.
Bo Nix defends OC Davis Webb after another rough offensive day
Oct 7Nix publicly backed his play-caller amid reporting that coach Sean Payton hasn't ruled out resuming play-calling duties himself, after Denver's offense managed just one touchdown in a 24-14 loss to San Francisco.
Broncos' self-inflicted mistakes draw fresh criticism
Oct 7Seven penalties for 44 yards plus recurring drops and missed assignments are drawing scrutiny as the core problem behind Denver's 24-14 loss to San Francisco, not just the scheme.
Broncos fall to 49ers 24-14, drop to 2-2 as run game and offense stall again
Oct 6Denver's chronic run-game issues resurfaced in the loss. CB Pat Surtain II (ankle) and WR Pat Bryant (ankle) both went down; Surtain could miss roughly two weeks.
Broncos fall to 2-2 as 49ers win behind two Brock Purdy touchdown passes
Oct 5Denver lost both starting cornerbacks to injury during the 24-14 loss, including All-Pro Patrick Surtain II; Bo Nix threw for 214 yards and a late touchdown but the Broncos couldn't find enough offense.
Tillman sidelined again as Broncos near-full practice ahead of 49ers trip
Oct 4OLB Dondrea Tillman is the lone Broncos injury concern as Denver travels to face the NFL's only unbeaten team.
Broncos face unbeaten 49ers test: run game, Purdy containment the keys
Oct 4Denver's rushing floor and its ability to limit Brock Purdy's weapons are framed as the keys to Sunday's road test.
Broncos promote FB Adam Prentice to active roster, add Humphrey to practice squad
Oct 4Prentice was promoted after hitting the practice-squad elevation limit; Denver also reshuffled its receiver depth.
Hufanga's two picks vs. Rams, including 66-yard pick-6, earn AFC Defensive Player of the Week
Oct 4Safety Talanoa Hufanga's first interceptions in nearly three years helped power Denver's comeback win over the Rams.
Payton, Nix address Broncos' slow-start pattern ahead of October stretch
Oct 4Head coach Sean Payton publicly pushed for faster starts as Denver looks to shore up first-half rushing consistency.
Payton flags Broncos' slow starts as Nix's fourth-quarter rallies keep bailing them out
Oct 3Denver has been outscored in first halves this season despite Bo Nix's league-leading run of fourth-quarter comebacks, including a 16-point rally to beat the Rams; coach Sean Payton wants the offense sustaining drives earlier against an unbeaten 49ers defense.
Broncos' pass rush faces its toughest test yet against a 49ers line that hasn't allowed a sack
Oct 2Denver's sack rate has dropped from 4.0 to 2.7 per game this season; Zach Allen leads the team with three sacks heading into Sunday's San Francisco game.
OC Davis Webb says Broncos offense 'has got to come out of the gate a lot faster'
Oct 2Denver has scored just 10 first-half points through three games, relying on second-half comebacks to reach 2-1, ahead of a tough 49ers defense.
Broncos' edge-rusher depth strained as Dondrea Tillman sits out a second straight practice
Oct 2Denver is down to three healthy edge rushers on the active roster and has added practice-squad depth ahead of its NFC West road trip.
Storylines
- Denver's struggling pass rush and run game are the two statistical problems to watch into Week 6.Oct 8
- Trade-deadline speculation is swirling around Denver's front seven and backfield.Oct 8
- Surtain's ankle is the injury to track on a defense already without several starters.Oct 7
- Bo Nix's public vote of confidence in Davis Webb puts the play-calling question to rest, for now.Oct 7
- Pat Surtain II's timeline is the headline injury question into the Chargers game.Oct 6
- Denver's secondary depth is in question after losing both starting corners to injury.Oct 5
- Broncos need more from the offense to support a defense now missing Surtain.Oct 5
- Denver's run-game consistency is the swing factor as the Broncos travel to face the NFL's last unbeaten team.Oct 4
- Bo Nix's fourth-quarter heroics keep covering for Denver's slow starts, now facing an unbeaten 49ers defense.Oct 3
- Broncos' pattern of slow starts and reliance on comebacksOct 2
- Edge-rusher depth as a thin spot heading into a tough NFC West tripOct 2