Following a tough 31-10 season-opening loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton discussed a short-week plan, emphasizing that preparation will become increasingly mental as the team shifts its focus to the upcoming matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

While the offensive struggles under new coordinator Davis Webb drew significant scrutiny from frustrated fans, the most glaring issues were on the defensive side, where what was expected to be an elite unit posted historically poor metrics not seen in years. According to Next Gen Stats on X, the struggling Broncos defense missed an astounding 28 tackles against the Chiefs, allowing 247 yards after missed tackles, marking the highest total allowed by any defensive unit in a single game since at least 2018. Eight different defenders contributed multiple missed tackles, creating wide-open lanes that opposing playmakers exploited throughout the game.

This weak defense was thoroughly dismantled by newcomer Kenneth Walker III, whose remarkable rushing performance highlighted the deep structural flaws in Denver's game plan. In a separate post on X, Next Gen Stats reported that Kenneth Walker III generated +101 rushing yards over expected against the Broncos, the highest mark by any opposing Chiefs running back since at least 2018. Additionally, Walker recorded 14 forced missed tackles during the game, setting a new franchise record for individual elusiveness against Denver's beleaguered defense.

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This cascading failure ultimately placed newly hired offensive play-caller Davis Webb in the crosshairs of a restless fanbase, as the offense failed to score a single touchdown in the second half.