Broncos offense struggles: a parachutist lands on the field before a Denver Broncos game at Mile High

Jim’s Panic Button: Bo Nix’s Slump, Buffs on Skid Row and a 66-Point Disaster in San Marcos

ByJim Balz
Broncos offense struggles: a parachutist lands on the field before a Denver Broncos game at Mile High
Bail out? A pregame parachute landing at a Broncos game at Mile High. Photo: Carol M. Highsmith / Library of Congress via Wikimedia Commons, public domain

Welcome to the Panic Button, folks. Grab a helmet, because I’m about to slap this thing like it owes me money. First up are the Broncos offense struggles. This team is somehow winning while its passing game looks like it’s running out of the 1950s. After that we get to the Buffs and the Rams, because the whole state of Colorado needs a group hug and a film session.

Before we start, the scorecard. My brother Harry leads the season series 7-6 to my 7-9. But Harry is on an L2 skid, and Saturday I took Utah over Colorado while he went with his heart and picked the Buffs. Utah won 27-24. I’m on a W1 heater, Harry. Respect the heater.

Broncos Offense Struggles: What’s Going On?

Denver is 4-2 and won its last two games, but the box scores are ugly. In a 17-14 overtime win over Seattle, Nix completed 17 of 27 passes for a meager 107 yards. That followed Nix completing 16 of 27 passes for just 123 yards in last Sunday’s 23-17 road win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Against Seattle, no pass went more than eight yards beyond the line of scrimmage and he ran four times for two yards total.

The bigger picture isn’t any better. The Broncos’ passing offense has gone from 13th in 2025 at 220.4 yards per game to 28th in 2026 at 168 yards per game. Through five games, he’d completed 59.9% of his passes, which ranks 26th in the NFL. Here’s the stat that made me spit out my coffee: Nix’s 5.2 air yards per attempt are the fewest by a qualifying quarterback through five games since C.J. Beathard’s 5.1 in 2018. And this is with deep threat Jaylen Waddle added this offseason.

Nix himself sounds stumped. In his words: “I don’t understand why we can’t really push the ball vertically right now.”

So Do the Broncos Have a QB Problem?

My take, at full volume: yes, they have a QB problem. No, it’s not a bench-him problem. There’s a lot of context here. Nix doesn’t look like the same player he was before he broke his ankle in the playoffs. There have also been two offseason ankle surgeries and a new play-caller to open the 2026 season. On top of that, offensive coordinator Davis Webb changed some of the terminology when he took over play-calling this offseason. Then Payton announced before Week 5 that he was taking back play-calling duties from Webb. That’s two different offensive languages in six weeks. I can barely keep up with Harry’s fantasy lineup changes.

The team is standing behind him. Ryan Fitzpatrick has questioned Nix’s competitiveness, and other pundits have suggested Nix could be benched, but Payton and the Broncos reportedly still have confidence in the third-year QB. And there were flashes against Seattle: a 25-play stretch over back-to-back second-quarter drives produced both of the Broncos’ touchdowns.

The bright spot is easy to find. It’s Vance Joseph’s defense. The Broncos had as many quarterback hits (17) in their overtime win against Seattle as Nix had completions against the reigning Super Bowl champions. But Denver’s defense played 82 snaps in that win, while the offense produced just 168 yards. You can’t ask a defense to carry that load for 17 weeks.

Broncos: Next Two Weeks

WeekDateOpponentKickoff (MT)TV
7Sun., Oct. 25at Arizona Cardinals2:05 p.m.CBS
8Sun., Nov. 1vs. Kansas City Chiefs2:25 p.m.CBS

Sources: CBS Colorado lists Week 7 at Arizona for 2:05 p.m. on CBS, and ESPN lists Week 8 vs. Kansas City for Nov. 1 at 4:25 PM on CBS (that’s Eastern, so 2:25 Mountain). Coming off Thursday night, the Broncos get a long weekend off after their brutal six-week opening stretch, and then they visit the Cardinals (2-4).

Jim’s pick: Broncos. If Nix can’t get going against Arizona, I’ll personally walk the Panic Button down to Dove Valley.

Harry’s pick: Broncos. Fine, Harry, we agree. Don’t get used to it.

CU’s Skid: Does Boulder Have a Coaching Problem?

The facts first: Colorado dropped to 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the Big 12. The four straight losses have come against teams with a combined record of 21-3. Saturday was a mess and a thriller in the same night. Colorado trailed 13-0 and had more penalty yards (82) than offensive yards (70) in a first half Sanders called “atrocious penalty-wise.” Then in the third quarter, Colorado scored 17 unanswered points to take the lead. The comeback finally died when officials ruled a pitch went forward, and a final heave fell incomplete.

Sanders went the other way with his message. “I did something I never do after a loss,” he said, and he told his players he was proud of them. Meanwhile, Newsweek noted this losing streak won’t cool down any conversations about his coaching hot seat.

My opinion: CU has a discipline-and-quarterback problem that shows up on the coaching report card. The Buffs committed 10 penalties for 93 combined yards, and Sanders himself cited QB play as a major factor holding the team back. Is it a fire-everybody problem? No. Is it a fix-the-first-half problem before November? Absolutely.

CSU: 66 Points Allowed

The Rams didn’t come close. Texas State rushed 55 times in setting school records with 503 yards on the ground and 716 yards of offense. The loss dropped CSU to 2-4 on the season, 0-2 in Pac-12 play.

So are both teams down to playing for pride? Hot take: not yet, but it’s close. Each team needs four more wins to get to six. That’s a long road, and the next two weeks will decide it.

Any Bright Spots in Colorado?

Yes, and I’m hanging on to every one:

  • CU’s defense: The Buffs held Utah to a season-low 27 points, and Dylan Manuel and Naeten Mitchell both intercepted Devon Dampier, who came in with just two INTs on the season.
  • CU’s playmakers: Isaac Wilson threw a 68-yard touchdown pass to running back JaQuail Smith, who also had 71 rushing yards.
  • CSU’s passing game: K’saan Farrar finished with 282 yards on 26-for-41 passing with two touchdowns, and the Rams had 0 turnovers.
  • Denver’s pass rush, which is playing like the best unit in the state.

CU and CSU: Next Two Weeks

TeamDateOpponentKickoff (MT)TV
CSUSat., Oct. 24vs. San Diego State4:30 p.m.The CW
CSUSat., Oct. 31at Utah State1:30 p.m.USA
CUSat., Oct. 24at Oklahoma State5:00 p.m.TBA
CUSat., Oct. 31vs. Kansas StateTBATBA

CSU’s slate comes from the Rams’ schedule listing San Diego State at Canvas Stadium on Oct. 24 and a trip to Utah State on Oct. 31. CU’s come from the Buffs’ official schedule: a trip to Oklahoma State on Oct. 24, then Kansas State at Folsom Field on Halloween, with that kickoff and TV still to be announced.

Jim’s pick: San Diego State over CSU. I hate it, but 66 points allowed is 66 points allowed.

Harry’s pick: CSU. Harry thinks a home crowd fixes a run defense. Bold move from a guy on an L2.

So here’s your question for the comments: will Bo Nix throw for more than 200 yards against Arizona on Sunday, or does the Panic Button stay lit through the Chiefs game?

Your turn: Think Jim or Harry got it wrong? Make your case in the comments (join the Balz Fan Club free to comment and like the best takes). Want the bigger picture beyond the box score? Read The Hairy Times, our sister paper.

Sources we checked (21)

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