The 2019 Denver Broncos are now 0-3.

The once heralded Denver defense featuring Chris Harris, Jr., Von Miller, and Bradley Chubb has registered 0 turnovers and 0 sacks. The coach that was sold as a no-nonsense, old-school hire may have not been the institutional change that John Elway had hoped for. Many fans are scratching their disappointed heads looking for answers. So, what does Broncos Country view as the problem? As the game against the Packers was shambling to its eventual end, I was curious...

Okay, Broncos are moments away from 0-3. Who/what do you blame? — MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) September 22, 2019

As one might imagine, there were plenty of eager fingers pointing to what fans believe to be the issue(s) in Denver.

We have tried new head coaches. Didn't work. New QBs. Hasn't worked. O-line has been one of the worst in the league for years. Hasn't changed. Draft picks for the most part have been irrelevant or bad. I know it seems like the easy response, but maybe it's time to #fireelway? — Phil Munsterman (@pmunsterman) September 22, 2019

Elway/Ellis for continually delaying a rebuild — Stanley Earl (@B0V1CE) September 22, 2019

These fans aren’t totally wrong. John Elway deserves some credit for what we’ve seen. Everything the Broncos did this offseason, the coaching change, free agency moves, the draft, were all his doing. However, John Elway hasn’t played a down of football in over 20 years. It wasn’t his play on the field that allowed Green Bay to amass 27 points. Maybe it’s something wrong with coaching?

I'm starting to seriously question Fangio's scheme. We KNOW Von and Chubb can wreck games. Weve seen then do it repeatedly. They should be doing it. But in Fangio's scheme, for some reason, they're not. — Taylor Kothe (@TaylorKothe) September 22, 2019

Why is Fangio dropping Miller and Chubb into coverage Rich Scangarello only targeted Sanders 4x’s when he almost single handling won us the game last week. I’m sick of Joe holding the ball, lack of not allowing Miller and Chubb to rush, the offensive and defensive schemes suck — wal_street (@Wal_street) September 22, 2019

Fangio and defensive adjustments — Scott (@citycity11) September 22, 2019

Vic Fangio and his staff are three games into their first season coaching the Denver Broncos. As much as I’d like to heap blame upon them, I struggle to do so this early in the season (Check back with me in a couple months). Last week against the Bears, Denver had every chance in the world to win it. On Sunday against Green Bay, Denver’s rushing attack with Royce Freeman and Phillip Lindsay racked-up 144-yards and two touchdowns. The Denver defense held the Packers’ backs to just 77-yards and two costly touchdowns on short fields, but they managed to keep Aaron Rodgers from going totally nuclear. Were it not for individual mistakes at key moments, Denver should have won. That said, I have a hard time declaring total incompetence reigning supreme in their coaching ranks.

A lot of the sacks today are on Flacco for not throwing it away.. Oline did good in run block but trash in pass block, defense as a whole... defensive play calling. Still way to much cussion.. — Justin Barrow (@barrow645) September 22, 2019

Flacco didn’t play great today, another ref screw job out of points, bad punting, and our reliable kicker is not so reliable anymore, missed fg last week (didn’t count) missed PAT today, still not good at ILB and play calling. — kalvin (@kalvinwoody) September 22, 2019

Defense. I hate to keep beating the dead horse, but seriously.



Three games have been played, and this defense has zero sacks and zero takeaways. The DOLPHINS managed both of those things, but Denver hasn't. — Braequan - About to move to Buffalo (@braequan_623) September 22, 2019

So who is right?

Let me put it this way, none of them are wrong. Frankly, I blame everyone and everything. Yes, it freaks me out that Von Miller and Bradley Chubb haven’t gotten a sack. Yes, there have been some moments where I’ve wondered about play calls (and just who advised Fangio to challenge for an offensive pass interference penalty?) ...and just how does a 1st round draft pick have the ball so simply plucked from his arms during play? Right now there are more questions than answers.

As much as I’d like to be able to provide one, there is no simple fix for what ails these Denver Broncos. From Ellis and Elway on down to the players, they got here together. This 0-3 start hangs on their shoulders and poor performance doesn’t just go away on its own. With Jacksonville coming to Mile High this week, something needs to happen to initiate the much needed turnaround. It’ll be interesting to see how, in days, weeks, months, and hopefully not years, the Broncos pull themselves out of this mess.

HORSE TRACKS

Emmanuel Sanders: Broncos 'living in a world of suck' - NFL.com

Emmanuel Sanders has seen better days with the Broncos. After catching just two passes for 10 yards and seeing Denver fall to 0-3, the veteran wide receiver said the past three years have been tough in the Mile High City.

Broncos fall short again of doing ‘the things that the good teams that win do’

After his team fell to 0-3 after a 27-16 loss to the Packers, Head Coach Vic Fangio offered a simple explanation about the state of the Broncos.

The Smiths' five sacks set defensive tone again in Packers' run to 3-0 - Green Bay Packers Blog- ESPN

New additions Preston Smith and Za'Darius Smith already have more combined sacks than last year's starting edge rushers had all season.

Cover 4: Turnovers prove too costly as Broncos fall 27-16 to Packers

Denver fell to 0-3 on the season after a loss at Lambeau Field.

Durango Broncos fans find screens showing their team

Gunnar Anderson planned to camp out Sunday at the bar at Steamworks Brewing Co. “unless the Broncos start playing really badly.”

Broncos at Packers final score: Turnovers derail Denver's chance at upset in Green Bay - CBSSports.com

The Packers remain undefeated while the Broncos remain winless

Falcons S Keanu Neal believed to have torn Achilles - NFL.com

The Falcons defense has lost its key playmaker for the season. Safety Keanu Neal is believed to have suffered a torn Achilles in the second quarter of Atlanta's 27-24 loss to the Colts.

Saints knock off Seahawks 33-27 in Seattle – ProFootballTalk

Pete Carroll took a football to the face before Sunday's game and things didn't get any better once the Seahawks and Saints took the field. A heavy dose of Alvin Kamara and big plays by the defense and special teams helped spur the Saints to a 33-27 win over Carroll's Seahawks.

Texans beat Chargers in another thriller – ProFootballTalk

The Chargers and Texans played today, so of course it went down to the wire. Both teams entered today's game 1-1, with one thrilling last-minute win and one heartbreaking last-minute loss each.

Chiefs considered favorites to land Jalen Ramsey by many after just missing on Minkah Fitzpatrick - CBSSports.com

The Chiefs are on the hunt for a difference-maker in their secondary

Report: Julian Edelman knocked out of Patriots game, but X-rays of chest injury are negative - CBSSports.com

Patriots are getting some good news with Julian Edelman

Antonio Brown still apparently has NFL suitors, even if he doesn't want them after Twitter tirade - CBSSports.com

Patriots owner Robert Kraft was not happy with Antonio Brown

Robert Quinn, Taco Charlton speak on their debuts with Cowboys, Dolphins in Week 3 blowout - CBSSports.com

Robert Quinn, Taco Charlton speak on their debut with Cowboys, Dolphins in Week 3 blowout

Giants star Saquon Barkley suffers ankle injury that requires help to the locker room - CBSSports.com

The Giants are holding their breath with Saquon

Ron Rivera: Cam Newton is the starter when healthy – ProFootballTalk

It's almost amazing that this needed to be said out loud, by and to serious people. But because we have to spell things out, Ron Rivera provided clarity Sunday night. Via Joe Person of TheAthletic.

Adam Gase: Offensively, we were atrocious – ProFootballTalk

The Jets lost for the third time in three tries with their third different starting quarterback of the year on Sunday. While the quarterback names have changed, one thing that hasn't has been the ineptitude of their offense.

Giants get comeback win in Daniel Jones’s first NFL start – ProFootballTalk

The Giants kept Mike Evans under wraps for most of the second half, but he came through when his team needed him most. Matt Gay didn't. Evans scored three touchdowns in the first half, but was shut down in the second half until less than a minute remained in the game.

Poised QB Allen tosses 4 TDs in Panthers' victory

Kyle Allen was poised filling in for the injured Cam Newton, passing for 261 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in the Panthers' 38-20 win over the Cardinals.

Colts WR T.Y. Hilton suffers quad injury vs. Falcons - NFL.com

Colts WR T.Y. Hilton's strong day against the Falcons was cut short after he suffered a quad injury toward the end of the first half of Sunday's game.

MV-Repeat? Patrick Mahomes unstoppable in win over Ravens - NFL.com

Is Patrick Mahomes destined to repeat as the NFL's most valuable player? After dominating the Baltimore Ravens, the Kansas City Chiefs star QB appears headed in that direct, Jeffri Chadiha writes.