Sean Payton’s Broncos Are 4–0 Since He Took Back the Play Calls

The Denver Broncos scored on two fourth downs against Kansas City on Nov. 1, then needed their defense to make a goal-line stand to finish a 28–24 win. The game gave Sean Payton a fourth straight victory since he took back the offensive play calls. It also showed how Denver got to 6–2 while converting fewer than one in five third downs over that stretch.

Denver went 2–2 in its first four games with offensive coordinator Davis Webb as the primary play-caller. Payton announced the change Oct. 8 and took over for the Oct. 11 game at the Los Angeles Chargers. Webb remained involved in game planning and on the sideline. Payton took over headset communication with quarterback Bo Nix. TSP’s Oct. 8 report

The two four-game samples show a team that finished more possessions with points and gave the ball away less. They also show an offense that gained fewer yards, played against a softer set of opposing defenses by points allowed and got more help from its own defense.

Denver’s Offense Before and After the Switch

Offensive points include field goals and conversions after offensive touchdowns. The split excludes Talanoa Hufanga’s interception-return touchdown and the ensuing extra point against the Rams. NFL gamebooks and schedule

The Offense Scored Earlier and Started Closer

Denver scored 13 first-half points in Webb’s four games and 50 in Payton’s. The first-half increase came largely in the second quarter, where the Broncos went from three points to 34. They led at halftime in each of Payton’s first three games. Denver scored 14 before halftime against Seattle, then went scoreless until Wil Lutz kicked the winning field goal in overtime. Ja’Quan McMillian’s interception gave the Broncos the ball four plays before the kick. Broncos–Seahawks game report

Denver scored on 12 of 40 possessions under Webb and 19 of 49 under Payton, counting end-of-period possessions listed in the drive charts. Its average starting position improved by about two yards, and its offense started in opposing territory seven times after the switch, up from two. Those possessions produced 26 points after the change, compared with 11 before it. On drives that started at midfield or in Denver territory, the Broncos still improved from 1.47 to 1.71 points per possession.

The Chargers game showed how much a short field could matter. Denver’s defense made a fourth-down stop and forced two late turnovers. The offense turned those three possessions into 13 fourth-quarter points in a 23–17 win, even though the Broncos finished with 224 net yards. “I don’t think we win without those short fields,” Nix said afterward. Denver’s postgame report

Bo Nix Threw Fewer Interceptions as the Ground Game Scored More

Nix attempted five fewer passes per game after the switch. He threw four touchdown passes and no interceptions, while his completion rate slipped from 60.0% to 59.1%. Denver allowed five sacks in each period. The team’s net passing output fell by 37.3 yards per game, so the gains in scoring came with lower passing volume and fewer mistakes. Nix’s game logs

Denver’s five giveaways under Webb included Marvin Mims Jr.’s lost punt-return fumble at San Francisco. Counting only offensive possessions, turnovers fell from four to one. With the defense also taking the ball away more often, Denver’s team turnover margin improved from minus-1 to plus-5. 49ers–Broncos gamebook

Denver ran for six touchdowns after the switch, up from two. Rushing yards per game increased from 81.3 to 104.0, although one Nix scramble accounted for 62 of the 91 additional yards. On the same afternoon in Arizona, running back RJ Harvey took a screen 52 yards for a touchdown. The two plays accounted for 114 of Denver’s 377 yards in a 30–16 win. That was the only game in Payton’s four in which the Broncos topped 300 yards. Broncos–Cardinals game report

The Kansas City Rematch Shows What Changed on Fourth Down

Kansas City was the only common opponent, and the rematch came in Denver after the opener in Kansas City. The Broncos went from 176 yards and two giveaways in the 31–10 loss to 294 yards and zero giveaways in the 28–24 win. Denver converted two third downs in each game. In the rematch, Payton called passes on fourth-and-1 and fourth-and-2 near the goal line. Nix found Jaylen Waddle and Nate Adkins for touchdowns. Denver finished 3 for 3 in the red zone after going 1 for 2 in the opener. Chiefs–Broncos box score

Jonah Coleman’s 51-yard catch helped set up his own 5-yard go-ahead touchdown run. Kansas City still drove to the Denver goal line. Malcolm Roach’s fourth-down sack ended the Chiefs’ last scoring threat, completing a win in which Kansas City gained 399 yards. Chiefs–Broncos rematch

The Eight Games and the Strength of the Schedule

Each stretch included two home games and two on the road. Through Week 8, Webb’s opponents were a combined 18–6 in games against teams other than Denver. Payton’s opponents were 11–14. They allowed 18.6 and 23.8 scoreboard points per game, respectively, in those games. Both Kansas City meetings with Denver are excluded from that comparison. Opponent scoring averages provide a baseline for the two slates, with no adjustment for individual matchups or injuries. NFL Week 8 results

Denver allowed nearly six fewer points per game after the switch, and three of the four wins came by one score. The Broncos take that streak to Carolina on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Denver’s schedule