Outlines Two Issues Hampering the Denver Broncos

While the Denver Broncos have emerged as a playoff contender in 2025—bolstered by an elite red zone defense and a dynamic rushing attack—two critical issues have consistently undermined their potential to become a Super Bowl favorite: inconsistent depth in the wide receiver room and persistent vulnerabilities at the guard positions on the offensive line. These flaws are not minor nuisances; they have directly cost the Broncos at least three winnable games this season, turning potential blowouts into narrow losses and forcing the team to rely too heavily on star players to compensate. Unlike easily fixable problems (like special teams penalties), these two issues require strategic adjustments and long-term solutions—making them urgent priorities as the Broncos enter the postseason. Outlines Two Issues Hampering the Denver Broncos is a critical examination of the gaps that stand between the team and championship contention.

The first major issue plaguing the Broncos is the lack of reliable depth beyond starting wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton—a problem that has been exposed when opponents focus their secondary efforts on neutralizing Denver’s top two targets. While Jeudy (1,020 yards, 8 touchdowns) and Sutton (760 yards, 6 touchdowns) have delivered standout seasons, the third and fourth wide receivers have failed to provide consistent support. Rookie Pat Bryant, who showed promise early (18 receptions, 278 yards in Weeks 4–8), has cooled dramatically, recording just 5 catches for 42 yards in his last six games. His struggles stem from an inability to beat press coverage and a tendency to drop contested passes—flaws that opposing defenses have exploited by shifting extra defenders to Jeudy and Sutton. Behind Bryant, the options are even more limited: veteran Marquez Callaway has just 9 receptions all season, and practice squad call-up Tyrie Cleveland has yet to catch a pass in meaningful snaps. This lack of depth has forced Jeudy and Sutton to play 89% and 85% of offensive snaps, respectively—increasing their risk of fatigue and injury. In Week 14 against the Chargers, Sutton left the game briefly with a hamstring cramp, and the Broncos’ passing offense sputtered without him, managing just 152 yards in the second half. Outlines Two Issues Hampering the Denver Broncos starts with this receiver depth crisis, as it limits the offense’s flexibility and makes it predictable for opposing defenses.

The second pressing issue for the Broncos is the inconsistent play of their starting guards, which has undermined both pass protection and run-blocking efficiency all season. Right guard Dalton Risner and left guard Quinn Meinerz have combined to allow 14 sacks—third-most among NFL guard tandems—and have committed 12 penalties (mostly holding and false starts) that have derailed promising drives. These struggles have directly impacted quarterback Bo Nix, who has been sacked 28 times this season (11 more than his 2024 total) and has seen his completion rate drop from 72% to 58% on passes thrown under pressure. The run game has also suffered: running back J.K. Dobbins averages 4.2 yards per carry when running behind guards, well below his 5.4-yard average when running behind tackles or center. The guard play was particularly costly in the Broncos’ Week 10 loss to the Raiders, where Risner allowed 3 sacks and Meinerz committed two holding penalties—turning a 10-point lead into a 24-21 defeat. Even in wins, the guards have been inconsistent: against the Bills in Week 12, Meinerz allowed a late sack that nearly cost the Broncos a game-winning field goal opportunity. Unlike the receiver depth issue, which could be mitigated with a practice squad promotion, the guard problem has no internal fix—backup Tyler Davis has allowed 3 sacks in limited snaps, and veteran Ben Powers is still recovering from a knee injury. Outlines Two Issues Hampering the Denver Broncos highlights this guard vulnerability as a critical liability, as it puts Nix at risk and limits the effectiveness of the NFL’s fifth-ranked rushing attack.

The Denver Broncos’ receiver depth issue is made even more urgent by Jerry Jeudy’s impending free agency, which could leave the team with just one proven wide receiver (Sutton) heading into 2026. Jeudy, who is set to command a contract worth \(15–18 million per year, has been Nix’s top deep threat and most reliable target in clutch situations. If the Broncos let him walk—and fail to replace him—they’ll be forced to rely on unproven players like Bryant or draft picks to fill the void, a risky proposition for a team with championship aspirations. The **Denver Broncos**’ front office has acknowledged this concern, with general manager George Paton noting that “retaining Jerry is a priority, but we also need to build depth behind him.” However, salary-cap constraints (the Broncos are projected to have \)18 million in space) could force them to choose between Jeudy and other key free agents, like defensive tackle Zach Allen. This dilemma underscores why the receiver depth issue isn’t just a short-term problem—it’s a long-term threat to the team’s offensive identity. Outlines Two Issues Hampering the Denver Broncos emphasizes that without a solution here, the Broncos’ offense could regress significantly next season, even if they fix other flaws.

The guard issue, meanwhile, has broader implications for the Denver Broncos’ playoff chances, as they face a stretch of games against teams with elite pass rushes—including the Ravens (38 sacks) and 49ers (42 sacks)—in the postseason. These teams will likely target the Broncos’ guards with their best pass-rushers, putting Nix under constant pressure and limiting the Broncos’ ability to control the clock with the run game. The Denver Broncos’ coaching staff has attempted to mitigate the problem with scheme adjustments—like using tight ends or running backs to chip defenders—but these fixes have only been temporarily effective and have limited the offense’s playbook. For example, in Week 8 against the Steelers, the Broncos used extra blockers on 40% of passing plays, which prevented sacks but also left fewer receivers open, leading to just 189 passing yards. This kind of trade-off is unsustainable in the playoffs, where teams need to be able to execute their full playbook to beat elite defenses. Outlines Two Issues Hampering the Denver Broncos makes clear that the guard problem isn’t just a regular-season annoyance—it’s a potential playoff dealbreaker that could end the team’s championship run early.

Looking ahead, the Denver Broncos have limited options to fix these two issues before the playoffs, but small adjustments could make a difference. For the receiver depth problem, promoting practice squad wide receiver Josh Hammond—who has impressed coaches with his route-running and hands—could provide a temporary boost. For the guard issue, the Broncos could explore signing a free-agent veteran (like former Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif) who is familiar with AFC West defenses. Long-term, the team will need to address both issues in free agency or the draft: re-signing Jeudy (or drafting a top wide receiver) to fix the depth gap, and signing a proven guard to stabilize the offensive line. For now, though, the Broncos will have to lean on their strengths—their red zone defense and Dobbins’ rushing attack—to compensate for these flaws. The Denver Broncos have the talent to win a Super Bowl, but they’ll need to find a way to minimize the impact of their receiver and guard issues to do it. Outlines Two Issues Hampering the Denver Broncos is a call to action for the team’s front office and coaching staff, as resolving these gaps is the only way to turn potential into championships.