The Denver Broncos are 2-2 on the season, and based on how much of Broncos Country is acting on social media, you would think that this team is 0-4. While being 2-2 has also featured two double-digit loses, fans being upset is definitely not unwarranted.
Of note, the offense's performance has been the main talking point, as the Broncos simply don't do anything well on that side of the ball through four weeks, and since offensive coordinator Davis Webb is in his first year calling plays, he's been the main point of criticism, for the most part.
Some have even said that head coach Sean Payton already needs to take play-calling duties back, and it's not like that can't happen eventually. Well, on Wednesday, another AFC hopeful just made the change that some fans want the Broncos to make.
Houston Texans just made a play-calling change that the Denver Broncos may have to make
Following an 0-4 start, Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans will take back play-calling duties on defense, stripping them away from Matt Burke, the team's defensive coordinator:
Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said he now will take over defensive play-calling duties. pic.twitter.com/4hVKlRLGvf
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 7, 2026
What is really interesting here is that Ryans handed over those duties to Burke early in the 2025 season following a shaky start. That helped Houston turn an 0-3 start into a 12-5 finish. It's clear that by doing this, Ryans is hoping for similar change.
Well, the Broncos, thankfully, aren't winless across their first four games, but there is a non-zero chance that Payton may do this himself, and there is also a chance that he's seen this news out of Houston.
When you're this late into a season, there is only so much personnel changing that you can do. The Broncos aren't really going to be able to remake the running back room to hopefully spark the run game. The players they have inside the building are largely the ones that need to be a part of this operation being turned around.
And if the offense continues to struggle, as the Texans defense has, we could see Payton taking these duties back for himself.
Here is Dan Graziano for ESPN on what he is hearing:
"Graziano: Taking it off head coaches for a while, a lot of people around the league seem to think Broncos coach Sean Payton won't wait too much longer to take playcalling back from Davis Webb, though I have to believe it won't be an impulse decision if it happens. Also, I believe head coach DeMeco Ryans is safe in Houston, but if this turns out to be a lost season, could GM Nick Caserio be in danger of taking the fall for it?:
"Seem to think" does not necessarily mean that the people Graziano heard this from are certain that Payton would take these duties back, but it's the logical thing to do if the offense does not improve. The Broncos are right in the middle of a Super Bowl window as well, and if things don't get going, there is no way that a 62-year-old Payton is going to wait around.
The Broncos were a game away from the Super Bowl last year, so Payton handing play-calling duties over to Webb should tell us just how much he trusts the young coach. At the same time, the offense has not looked nearly as efficient as many thought it would.
Again, the logical thing to do here would be for Payton to take play-calling back, and with Houston just now doing it, Payton might be more empowered to do it himself.
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