Broncos are seeking faster starts after getting shut out in first half for third time

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — One thing Broncos coach Sean Payton and quarterback Bo Nix have yet to figure out is how to take advantage of the energetic crowds at home and get off to a fast start.

In their three home games so far, the Broncos (3-3) have fallen behind by double digits before their offense finally awakened.

They trailed the Pittsburgh Steelers 13-0 heading into the fourth quarter and lost 13-6.

They fell behind the Las Vegas Raiders 10-0 and were about to go down 17-3 when Patrick Surtain II's 100-yard pick-6 turned things around in a 34-18 victory.

Surtain was concussed on Denver's first defensive snap Sunday and the Los Angeles Chargers capitalized on his absence in building a 23-0 lead heading into the fourth quarter of their 23-16 victory.

At halftime on a beautiful autumn afternoon, the Broncos had managed a meager 60 yards, punted three times and turned it over twice.

The Chargers had 16 first downs, the Broncos 3. And Nix was 3-for-10 for 23 yards with a 0.00 passer rating.

That's right. Zero. Point. Zero. Zero.

For the fifth time in six games, the Broncos failed to score an offensive touchdown in the first half and for the third time they trudged to the locker room having been held scoreless in the first half.

“All of this starts with me,” Payton said. “We have to be better offensively.”

The solution isn't necessarily going up-tempo earlier, Payton insisted, noting that Javonte Williams' fumble on Denver's only first-half snap in Chargers territory and a crucial penalty both came during hurry-up snaps.

Whatever the solution, the Broncos need to muster it up as they face a short turnaround with a trip to New Orleans on Thursday night in Payton's much-anticipated return to the city where he delivered a Super Bowl parade in the 2009 season.

“We can’t start slow,” right guard Quinn Meinerz said. "Our execution in the first half was nowhere near what we’re capable of doing. On top of that, we can’t turn the ball over. I’m really proud of how this group fought coming out of halftime. When you’re down 23-0, it’s easy to hang your head. I’m proud of the way this offense came together and put some points on the board to give us a chance.”

The 16 fourth-quarter points came against a defense that looked every bit capable of delivering Denver its first home shutout in franchise history before letting up and watching Nix deliver a pair of touchdown passes.

What they need to decipher is how to get to Nix's playmaking moments earlier in games before they're out of hand and the offense has to play catchup.

“We’ve got incredible coaches that are going to continue to put us in good positions,” Nix said. “Whatever they want to do is what I’m going to do. It’s my job to go out there and make the play work, make the play happen. … I don’t really care what the play is; we’ve just got to go out there and execute.”

And Nix has to fix his footwork, which has led to an abundance of bounced passes or sailed throws such as his first one Sunday that went off Marvin Mims' fingertips and into the arms of Chargers safety Elijah Molden.

The Broncos ran just 20 plays before halftime to the Chargers' 46.

“We didn’t run enough plays consecutively to get into a rhythm,” Nix said. “It was a few plays and then you were off the field. In a game like that, where you know they are going to control the ball, you have to find ways to stay on the field.”

What's working

WR Courtland Sutton is making the most of the paltry number of catchable passes thrown his way. He had a one-handed touchdown grab against the Chargers for the second straight season Sunday.

What needs help

The Broncos' offense (see above).

Stock up

The 2024 draft class. WR Devaughn Vele led the Broncos with 78 yards on four receptions, including a 37-yarder. RB Audric Estime ran twice for 13 yards in his return from IR and WR Tony Franklin caught his first NFL touchdown pass from Nix, his teammate at Oregon.

Stock down

Payton's play-calling and Nix's mechanics. The Broncos' first seven drives Sunday resulted in five punts, an interception on a throw Nix airmailed and a fumble by Williams on Denver's only first-half snap on the Chargers' side of the field.

Injuries

Surtain was concussed on Denver's first defensive snap and could miss the next game before possibly returning against Carolina on Oct. 27.

Key numbers

4 — consecutive games with at least one sack for Nik Bonitto.

12 — receptions by Vele in his first two career games, second most in team history (WR Eddie Royal had 14 in 2008.

Next steps

The Broncos visit the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night in Payton's return to the city where he delivered a Super Bowl parade in the 2009 season.