Broncos face season’s turning point

The Denver Broncos did what they had to do before their Week 5 bye. They won all three of their home games, beating the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers and Oakland Raiders. While a Week 3 loss on the road to the Buffalo Bills was disappointing, it was hardly a real issue.

At 3-1 and 2-0 within the AFC West, the Broncos appeared the most-likely challenger to the Kansas City Chiefs, who stood undefeated until a week ago. Now, the Chiefs are 5-2, but the Broncos have been unable to cash in on their rival’s slump. Denver has lost its last two games as well, but unlike Kansas City, the Broncos couldn’t afford the missteps.

Denver has already played half of its home schedule, with its fourth game being a disastrous defeat in the Mile High City to the previously winless New York Giants. The loss would be bad in any context, but coming off a bye, it was devastating. Then, the Broncos turned around and were shut out for the first time since 1992, losing on Sunday, 21-0, to the Chargers at StubHub Center.

At 3-3, there are a few clear problems with the Broncos. Fir starters, they have no answer at the quarterback position. Trevor Siemian completed 25-of-35 for 207 yards and an interception. He was also sacked five times, which gets to the next point. Denver can’t block at all, either in the run or pass schemes, and it’s beginning to show in a major way. Siemian was repeatedly lit up by the Chargers, making his hopes go from win to survival.

Now, the Broncos go to Arrowhead Stadium for a Monday night showdown against the Chiefs. Kansas City should have ample motivation to beat Denver for a fourth straight time, coming off a brutal 31-30 loss on Thursday night against the Oakland Raiders. The Chiefs are both the better team and the more rested group, making this a tremendous road test.

After that, Denver travels to take on the Philadelphia Eagles — on a short week, no less — before coming home to play the New England Patriots on a nationally-televised Sunday night affair. In other words, the Broncos are staring at the business end of a 3-6 record and playoff oblivion if something doesn’t change rapidly.

Which brings us full circle, because Denver can’t fix this issue. There is no quarterback behind Siemian worth playing, or he would already be on the field. Brock Osweiler is the backup, and Paxton Lynch is both hurt an wildly ineffective when healthy.

For a team that started out so promising, things have gone south in a hurry for Denver. The season can be saved in Kansas City on Monday night, but beating the high-powered Chiefs is a tall order for a Broncos crew with little ammo in the pocket.