Since opening the season with a red-hot 3-0 start, the Broncos have since sank to the bottom of the AFC West with a 4-9 record and a sixth consecutive season missing the playoffs.
What’s gone wrong? Plenty — the latest being the run game where Denver has fallen from ninth to 14th in the NFL in rushing yards per game in the last two weeks.
“We’ve got to be better, hands down,” a frustrated Melvin Gordon said Tuesday of the team’s slumping offense. “We’re too talented.”
What’s next? Hosting the Kansas City Chiefs in a rare Saturday game at 2:30 p.m. at Empower Field at Mile High. Then it’s to the offseason with plenty of questions.
Here’s a look at how various national experts rated the Broncos in their power rankings entering Week 18:
Bleacher Report (No. 24) | Last week: No. 24
“Given that long playoff drought, it’s likely that some big changes are coming in the offseason. Vic Fangio’s future as head coach is anything but certain, and neither Teddy Bridgewater nor Drew Lock has inspired any confidence as a long-term solution at quarterback.” .
CBS Sports (No. 19) | Last week: No. 19
“They are out of the playoffs, which means it could be the end for coach Vic Fangio. Three seasons without the playoffs usually means that’s the case,” Pete Prisco writes. .
ESPN (No. 21) | Last week: No. 21
“The Broncos have started 10 different quarterbacks, as well as running back Phillip Lindsay, behind center since 2016. But this team’s troubles with the ball go far deeper than its quarterback. The Broncos have refused over much of the past four seasons to match their offensive scheme to the personnel they have drafted or signed. They have broken two basic tenets of offense — they routinely call what they can’t block, and if their own defense was asked ‘is your offense difficult to defend,’ the answer would be ‘no.’ Yes, try with every resource they have to become one of the league’s most fortunate teams with a long-term answer at quarterback, but even the best option at quarterback will struggle if they can’t match a playbook to the team that is actually in the huddle,” Jeff Legwold writes. .
NFL.com (No. 25) | Last week: No. 23
“The Broncos were not set up well to compete on Sunday against the Chargers. Vic Fangio’s team was missing five defensive starters, as well as quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy. The predictable 34-13 loss clinched a fifth consecutive losing season for the Broncos, who have not returned to the playoffs since their victory in Super Bowl 50. The team will enter the offseason with uncertainty at the most vital sectors of an organization: at head coach, at quarterback, in ownership,” Dan Hanzus writes. .
Sporting News (No. 23) | Last week: No. 23
“The Broncos wasted a hot start that was based on their strong defense and running game because of incompetent quarterback play squandering the potential of a promising passing game. Vic Fangio’s old-school approach just hasn’t worked,” Vinnie Iyer writes. .
Sports Illustrated (No. 21) | Last week: No. 22
“The Broncos played well considering they opted to pass on a firm quarterback decision this past offseason. While the plan was to hope Vic Fangio’s defense could catch fire and overcome replacement level play, Denver could not ultimately stand up to a hellish division. They will be viewed as a potential head coaching destination this offseason if they opt to make a change and a top landing spot for prospective quarterbacks hoping to land with a good offensive line and star studded defense,” Conor Orr writes. .
USA Today (No. 22) | Last week: No. 22
“Time to look to the future … and wonder how much longer QBs Teddy Bridgewater and Drew Lock will be part of it,” Nate Davis writes. .
Yahoo Sports (No. 22) | Last week: No. 22
“I don’t see why the Broncos would bring back Vic Fangio after this poor finish to another losing season, but I’m also not sure the Broncos are going to do much better. This has become a low-key unattractive potential job opening due to ownership and quarterback issues,” Frank Schwab writes. .
