Friday Faceoff: What’s wrong with Sean Payton’s offense?

Chris Schmaedeke, digital sports editor

Answer: Lack of big plays

The Broncos have been boring for a long time, and nothing seems to be changing this season.

With rookie quarterback Bo Nix taking over and Sean Payton in his second season as coach, there seemed to be a chance of the Broncos’ offense being entertaining once again.

It has not happened. There are no big plays, and Denver plods its way down the field.

Yawn.

In a season-opening loss to the Seahawks, Payton never really had Nix go down the field. The biggest play on offense was a 25-yard pass from Nix to Josh Reynolds on the last drive of the first half. That play resulted in a field goal.

That was really the only play of a huge chunk of yards. When the Broncos faced a deficit, Nix tried to force it deep down field more but had no success.

Sunday’s loss to the Steelers was no better. The biggest play was a trick play that resulted in Nix hitting Reynolds for 49 yards. This was after a 26-yard strike to Courtland Sutton. But the Broncos didn’t score due to a Nix interception.

Payton’s offense is about being on time and getting the ball out quickly. It is not known for routes down the field. But the Broncos have players, like Marvin Mims Jr., who can provide a spark for an offense that is struggling.

And defenses are keying in on the short passes. Receivers catch the ball and the defender is right there. These gains of 3 or 4 yards are not getting it done.

With the way defenses are playing the Broncos, the big play is there but Payton must call it. If this season is about finding out about Nix, let him loose.

Kyle Fredrickson, Broncos reporter

Answer: Lack of pre-snap creativity

A common thread between the NFL’s most explosive downfield offenses?

Creative pre-snap motion to move a defender’s vision, force late adjustments and reveal their schemes. It’s an essential piece of what makes play-calling dynamic for the Chiefs, Dolphins, 49ers and others. It’s something Broncos coach Sean Payton needs to embrace.

All too often, in back-to-back losses, the Broncos feel predictable. They run on clear running downs. They pass in obvious passing situations. Payton’s offense lacks flash.

That can change with pre-snap motion that puts a defense on its heels. Payton discussed in training camp the strategy.

“You’re always trying to (plan for) a core play we might run throughout the season, but we have to dress it up a bit,” Payton said on Aug. 16. “Then it all gets back to how much they can handle and then where are we going with the shifts and the motions? We historically have had a lot of movement.”

The key words from above are “how much they can handle.”

The Broncos are struggling with the basics on offense right now — especially running the football — and that halts some opportunities for being creative. Give Payton some credit.

In Week 2, against the Steelers, he dialed a flea-flicker that gained 49 yards — QB Bo Nix to WR Josh Reynolds — that put Denver in the red zone. Of course, Nix threw a pick in the end zone, and the Broncos had nothing to show for their execution of Payton’s excellent call.

Nix seems comfortable operating from empty shotgun sets. Payton should motion wide receivers, tight ends and running backs before the snap. Allow Nix to learn from how the defense adjusts. It feels like one clear fix to a sputtering Broncos offense against a strong Buccaneers defense.