Broncos' Preseason Fireworks Are a Dangerous Mirage
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
While early action suggests a revamped offense in Denver, the limited sample size hides the reality of a unit that hasn't faced a real test.
Let's get one thing straight: preseason football is a theater of illusions, and right now, the Denver Broncos are putting on a hell of a show.
As Sportsnet first reported, the Broncos' revamped offense looked "dangerous" during Week 2 of the preseason. The highlights are seductive. Bo Nix, returning from a fractured ankle suffered during last season's divisional-round victory over the Buffalo Bills, looked ready to perform. Working with new play-caller Davis Webb, Nix managed 76 yards on 6-of-9 completions over the course of just two drives.
On paper, the tape looks explosive. Nix connected with RB RJ Harvey for a 21-yard touchdown on a wheel route—a play the duo had already executed in a win over Houston last year—and hit Jaylen Waddle for a 35-yard gain up the middle. Sportsnet notes that Waddle's ability to create major separation is a trait the Broncos have lacked at the wide receiver position for nearly a decade.
**Danvers' Take: The Mirage**
Here is where the danger lies. Sportsnet suggests that if this small sample size holds, Denver is on track for one of the league's most explosive offenses. I call that a dangerous assumption.
Two drives of limited action against preseason defenses are not a blueprint for regular-season success. While the chemistry between Nix and his targets is a pleasant sight for the fans, these plays are happening in a vacuum. The moment this unit faces a legitimate defensive coordinator with a game plan designed to stifle Bo Nix, the "explosiveness" we saw in Week 2 could evaporate.
Denver is healthy and loaded, yes, but until they prove they can move the ball against a defense that isn't playing "tune-up" football, this spark is nothing more than a preseason mirage. Don't let two drives fool you into thinking the league is on notice.