Broncos head coach Sean Payton to assume offensive play-calling duties

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said he will assume responsibility for calling offensive plays starting Sunday’s matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. The decision follows a four-game stretch in which the Broncos’ offense has ranked near the bottom of the league in several statistical categories, including scoring, total yards and rushing production.

Payton told reporters after practice, "We'll make a change offensively, I'll call the plays," adding that his instincts prompted the move. He met with offensive coordinator Davis Webb, the players and staff on Monday to discuss the upcoming game plan and praised Webb’s preparation efforts.

The Broncos, now 2-2, are 27th in scoring and total yards per game and have struggled to sustain drives, with more than a quarter of their possessions ending in three-down punts. Quarterback Bo Nix, who is 22nd in QBR, has also faced criticism for limited big-play production.

Payton said the change is intended to address issues such as inconsistent run blocking and poor first-down efficiency, and he hopes it will create a better environment for Nix’s development. "Bo is the by-product of a lot of things, that position," Payton said, "Hopefully that'll be one of the things that can happen, but there are a lot of other things that I think can allow that to happen first."

The Broncos have faced four of the league’s top-10 scoring defenses in their first four games and will now confront a Chargers unit that ranks 24th in scoring defense. Payton emphasized that the decision is driven by what he believes is best for the team.