ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton said Thursday he is taking over the offensive playcalling beginning Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers as the team looks to kick-start a sputtering offense.
"We'll make a change offensively. I'll call the plays," Payton told reporters Thursday.
Payton had surrendered the playcalling duties to first-year offensive coordinator Davis Webb during the offseason.
"I've done this long enough where I know when I have a future head coach. And he's going to be one," Payton said of Webb.
Payton has repeatedly said in recent weeks he's been frustrated with the team's lack of consistency in the run game as well as their difficulties on first down that has consistently put the offense in difficult down-and-distance situations.
The Broncos (2-2) are near the bottom of the league rankings in scoring (27th), total yards per game (27th), rushing yards per game (29th), passing yards per game (20th), QBR (23rd) and Offensive EPA (22nd at -7.48). Only six teams have had more three-and-out possessions than the Broncos this season as 27.5% of their possessions have ended with three plays and a punt.
Quarterback Bo Nix is also currently ranked 22nd in QBR (46.1) and 27th in average air yards per attempt (5.9) as the lack of big plays on offense has become a four-game trend. The Broncos, overall, are 29th in the league in plays of 20 or more yards and 30th in explosive plays with 16 (runs of at least 10 yards and pass plays of at least 20 yards).
Payton said Wednesday he believes it all tracks to "the details, the little things,'' rather than some substantial shift in approach on offense as the team prepares to face the Chargers (0-4) Sunday in SoFi Stadium.
"The inconsistencies, the details, the little things,'' Payton said Wednesday. "... Let's focus on the attention to detail and the rest will follow.''