ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Davis Webb acknowledged Friday that losing his play-calling responsibilities after only four games is “not ideal,” but said he remains fully committed to the team and head coach Sean Payton’s decision.
Payton confirmed Thursday that he is taking back offensive play-calling duties starting with Sunday’s road game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. The change follows an uneven 2-2 start for Denver, during which the offense struggled to find rhythm and generate explosive plays under Webb, who was handed the play sheet during the offseason.
Webb reflects on quick change
Asked during a Friday news conference whether four games provided enough time to evaluate his performance, Webb deferred to the head coach. “Luckily that’s not my job, that’s [Payton’s] job,” Webb said, according to reports from ProFootball Talk and ESPN. “I think the world of him and how we’ve gone about it.”
Webb added that while any reduction in authority brings natural disappointment, he understands the harsh realities of professional football. “Any time it happens in any aspect of your life job-wise it is a little bit, but, in the same breath, that’s the NFL. You get going,” Webb said, noting his past career path. “Been a backup QB, been up and down before, that’s kind of how it goes.”
Despite relinquishing in-game play-calling, Webb will remain heavily involved in assembling weekly game plans and working on the sideline with starting rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Payton will now handle direct in-helmet radio communication with Nix on game days, returning to the play-calling role he held in Denver from 2023 through 2025.
Offensive struggles spark early adjustment
The Broncos’ offense has sputtered across multiple statistical categories through the opening month. Denver entered the week ranked 27th across the NFL in both scoring and total yardage, averaging 18.5 points and 280.3 yards per contest, according to team statistics cited by ESPN and Broncos Wire. The team also sits 29th in rushing yards and 22nd in expected points added.
Part of those early difficulties stemmed from a demanding opening schedule. Webb pointed out that Denver’s first four opponents — Jacksonville, San Francisco, Kansas City and the Los Angeles Rams — held a combined 13-3 record and each ranked among the top 10 scoring defenses in the league. Nix has posted 819 passing yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 60 percent of his passes.
The rapid change also prompted commentary from former Broncos reserve quarterback Ben DiNucci, who posted on social media that Payton’s move was intended to shield Nix from scrutiny. DiNucci wrote that benching the young passer was not an option, making a coaching change the primary route to protect him.
What comes next for Denver
Payton offered strong praise for Webb earlier in the week, maintaining that the young assistant has the qualities of a future NFL head coach. Yet Payton has repeatedly voiced frustration regarding Denver’s inefficiency on first down and an absence of big plays, noting that more than 27 percent of the team’s drives have stalled in three-and-out punts.
The immediate test arrives Sunday against a Chargers defense that currently ranks 24th in scoring prevention. Whether Payton’s direct control over play selection can unlock Nix and revitalize Denver’s ground attack remains the central question facing the offense heading into Week 5.
