‘End This Miserable Webb Experiment,’ ‘It’s Not All on Davis Webb’ — Broncos Fans Split on Play-Calling After Slow Start in 24-14 Loss to 49ers
· Yahoo Sports
The Denver Broncos lost 24-14 to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, falling to 2-2 after another slow start on offense, and some fans called for an end to first-year offensive coordinator Davis Webb’s play-calling.
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Asked after the game whether he would consider a change, coach Sean Payton did not commit either way. “It’s too early to… it’s a fair question,” Payton said. “I appreciate it. And, man, it’s tough to discuss any of that right now.”
Payton later circled back to the question. “To your original question, each game we look at everything and that’s kind of how we’ll approach this one,” he said.
Denver had six points until receiver Jaylen Waddle’s 13-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Bo Nix with 4:05 left. The Broncos have not reached double digits by halftime in any of their four games, and opponents have outscored them 43-13 in first halves.
Fans Split on Davis Webb’s Play-Calling After Broncos’ Latest Slow Start
“Play calling is suspect at best,” one fan wrote, urging the Broncos to end “this miserable Webb experiment now.”
Webb, 31, took over play-calling this season after three years as Denver’s quarterbacks coach. Payton called plays in his first three seasons with the Broncos and in his 15 seasons as coach in New Orleans.
Another fan said it was time for Payton “to take over the play call.”
Denver Gazette columnist Mark Kiszla wrote Sunday that Payton should take back play-calling duties from Webb, and he called the experiment with Webb as play-caller a failure.
Payton said the offense needs answers quickly. “We’ve had some opportunities, but there are a handful of things that aren’t clicking,” he said. “And we gotta figure it out fast, because we’re going into Week 5.”
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Nix stood behind Webb. “I’m real confident in (Webb),” Nix said, noting that Denver has played “four of the top teams in the league.”
Another fan wrote that he was losing patience with Webb’s play-calling, then added, “This is the same conservative gameplan we criticized Payton for all last year.” He also wrote that the offense underuses its weapons.
Receiver Courtland Sutton had one catch for 4 yards on six targets Sunday. Waddle blamed himself for a first-quarter drop. “We’re in prime position to get points and they call a play and I didn’t execute,” Waddle said.
Jack Linnehan of 9NEWS, responding to talk of a play-calling change, pointed to Denver’s first halves last season. “It’s not all on Davis Webb, this is just who they are!” Linnehan wrote.
Nix said the players have to help Webb. “We’re just not making it easy on him by any means right now,” he said.
George Kittle’s 56-Yard Touchdown Ends Broncos’ Comeback Bid
Payton pointed to a third-quarter turnover as one that flipped the game. 49ers defensive back Siran Neal forced a fumble on a Marvin Mims Jr. punt return, and San Francisco scored on the ensuing drive after recovering at the Denver 28. “I can’t do that,” Mims said. “… It’s a big play that can’t happen.”
After Waddle’s touchdown and a two-point run by Tyler Badie pulled Denver within 17-14, tight end George Kittle answered with a 56-yard catch-and-run touchdown with 2:15 left.
Joseph Barracato, a Yahoo News editorial manager and Broncos fan, summed up the play. “We still can’t cover the tight end,” he wrote.
Denver had rallied in the fourth quarter to win its previous two games, 20-13 over Jacksonville and 30-26 over the Los Angeles Rams, after a 31-10 loss at Kansas City in Week 1. “Our defense played really well throughout the game, and we just made it be a four-quarter game for too long,” Nix said.
One fan wrote that the fourth-quarter comebacks were bound to end, adding, “Playing like this is a great way to be a .500 team.” He also urged the team to tell Nix to work on his passing accuracy.
Nix finished 25 of 42 for 214 yards and a touchdown, averaging 5.1 yards per attempt, and has completed 60% of his passes through four games. Denver ran for 82 yards on 22 carries.
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The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Las Vegas Raiders 30-27 on Sunday to improve to 4-0, leaving Denver two games back in the AFC West. The Broncos visit the 0-4 Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday.
Payton, who is scheduled to speak with reporters again Monday, had no update after the game on cornerbacks Pat Surtain II and Riley Moss or receiver Pat Bryant, who were all injured.
“I definitely don’t think we hit the panic button, but at the same time, we’ve just got to continue to grind and find ways to get better,” Nix said.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.