The Denver Broncos are winners of five games in a row, but the 2026 version of this team does feel a bit different than the 2025 version, as the offense is only now just getting off the ground, and we have seen some regression from certain parts and players on the team.
One of the biggest regressions has come with the offensive line and the run game. In particular, running back J.K. Dobbins and left guard Ben Powers are both playing flat-out terrible football for the Broncos.
And with Dobbins' snap count dwindling, it's clear that he is being phased out of the offense. As for Powers, he has started every game this year, but it's beyond time to end this experiment, and with the bye now here, it's a perfect time to make a switch.
The Denver Broncos cannot keep starting LG Ben Powers after the bye
Powers suffered two notable injuries last year with his bicep and his foot. He's in the final year of a four-year deal he signed with the team back in 2023 and did receive a tweaked contract with the Broncos. Through nine games, Powers' PFF grades aren't pretty.
He's graded out as the 51st ranked guard out of 77 qualified players, with a 58.1 overall grade. His pass blocking grade is 50.8, and his run blocking grade is 59. While PFF isn't necessarily the 'main' indicator of good or bad play, it's clearly accurate with what we've seen from Powers, as he's allowed a ton of interior pressure, and the decline in the run game is evident and partly due Powers, along with the rest of the offensive line, not getting enough push up front.
Data from SumerSports through the first seven weeks of the season also show that Powers is, quite literally, one of the worst starting guards in football:
How often OGs avoid "negative plays" in pass pro and make "impact plays" in the run game via @SumerSports
— Stat Acccount (@AcccountStat) October 27, 2026
- Top right = good | Bottom left = bad pic.twitter.com/diJDk9YHDY
With the Broncos being at the bye and not having a game until November 22nd, a home tilt against Las Vegas, the current environment is perfect for the team to give Alex Palczewski some run at left guard, and he did seem to fill in rather well for Powers last year when he was injured, and I cannot imagine Palczewski would be worse than what we've seen from Powers.
Following Week 9, DNVR's Zac Stevens also listed the guard position as a spot where the Broncos might have a desire to upgrade if the right situation is present. Denver is obviously not moving on from Quinn Meinerz, a top-3 guard in the sport, but would upgrade over Powers.
Whether via trade or an in-house move to Palczewski, the Broncos have to end the Powers' experiment.
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