Denver’s reaction to Steelers’ win over Broncos

TribLive

For football fans and sports writers in Denver, the struggle is real.

They aren’t feeling much love for their Broncos after the Pittsburgh Steelers came to town and beat their team 13-6 on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High.

In writing for the Mile High Report, Christopher Hart said Broncos Country expected rookie Bo Nix to experience a few struggles early in the season. “That being said his first half performance was catastrophic,” Hart wrote after the game. “The Broncos were on the short side of time of possession battle in the first half and didn’t get to run many plays. Alas, on 13 passing plays, Bo Nix was only able to get 39 yards — a net of 24 passing yards accounting for sacks — and a lackluster 1.8 yards per pass play. That’s not ideal at all.”

But Hart didn’t lay it all on Nix.

“Head Coach Sean Payton’s play calling hasn’t been great,” Hart said. “Most certainly not worth the premium picks they traded to have him coach the squad. I expect better than this.”

Hart went on to say that thing need to change “or Nix and the defense are going to continue to bear an enormous burden on a week-to-week basis.”

Denver Gazette sports writer Mark Kiszla said “If you name Bo Nix the starting quarterback as a rookie, but don’t allow him the freedom to make NFL throws and the space to make rookie mistakes, what’s the flippin’ point?

“After a 13-6 home loss to Pittsburgh in a stadium that felt dispirited by the same-old feeling of hopelessness, Broncos Country turns its disheartened eyes to you, Sean Payton.

Kiszla questioned whether Payton’s West Coast scheme works in today’s NFL.

“The scheme has rapidly become a snooze fest for Broncomaniacs, forced to watch the Denver offense sputter and cough to less than a point per offensive possession.”

The Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel pointed out that Payton remains winless in two Septembers as Denver’s head coach, dropping to 0-5.

“More foreboding than yet another early season hole, the deerin- the-headlights rookie quarterback play or the upcoming road tests, though, was Payton’s postgame posture. … Not under center with rookie quarterback Bo Nix, but with the Broncos’ whole offensive approach.”

Fellow Post writer Matt Schuber asked “At what point does the Broncos’ massive investment in the offensive line start to pay off? Two weeks into 2024, we’re still waiting for the returns.”

Meanwhile, Broncos fans tended to put things more directly.

As one fan put it on social media: “Being a Broncos fan is most fun when the team is not actively playing.”