3 Hard Realities Broncos Must Confront After Dolphins' 70-Burger
Here we go again, Broncos Country.
The Denver Broncos' 2023 season was supposed to be different, led by the acquisition of head coach Sean Payton paired with quarterback Russell Wilson. Fans were assured that this team would be a playoff contender with a reinvigorated culture built on winning.
Instead, the winless Broncos have plunged to the depths of 0-3 to start the 2023 season. The Broncos' Week 3 loss was the absolute worst to date as the Miami Dolphins dealt a 70-20 beatdown.
Not only did the Broncos arrive in Florida as a winless team, but they departed having lost 12 consecutive road games and are now the laughingstock of the NFL. In their first road game of the season, Denver was outclassed in every sense of the word by former Broncos ball-boy turned Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel.
The Dolphins' historic victory also served up some revenge for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and edge rusher Bradley Chubb, as the two ex-Broncos twisted the knife. Previous to this matchup, the most points Denver had ever relinquished in a game was 59 (twice), but the Dolphins totaled 70 points in this humiliating loss and became the first team in NFL history to record five rushing and five passing touchdowns in a single game.
No longer can the Broncos continue to ignore the bad habits and undisciplined nature that reached a new low in South Beach. With that said, let’s review three brutal realities the Broncos must confront on the heels of the most embarrassing loss in team history.
Vance Joseph Didn't Hire Himself
I’d rather risk it and get burned than continually be pushed around and left to wonder what went wrong by the end of the game. Joseph’s a nice enough guy, but should that matter?
Joseph is simply drowning as the Broncos' defensive coordinator in what is his second coaching stint in Denver. But, remember: Joseph didn’t hire himself.
Payton ultimately must take responsibility for the highly questionable Joseph hire. This was the most pathetic performance that I’ve witnessed as an analyst or fan.
Joseph’s defense surrendered 70 points (second-most in NFL history), 726 total yards (second-most in NFL history), and the Broncos lost by 50 points to the Dolphins. McDaniel took pity on the Broncos and opted not to kick a field goal under two minutes to go in what would have given the Dolphins the NFL all-time single-game scoring record (73). Washington has held the record of 72 points scored since 1966.
The pass rush was once again nonexistent as the Broncos failed to log any sacks against quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who went 23-of-26 for 309 yards and four touchdowns. Even Miami's backup quarterback Mike White threw for 67 yards and a touchdown.
Joseph opted to call his all too familiar and ineffectual bend-but-don’t-break defense. The Broncos looked incompetent, uninspired, and unworthy of being on an NFL field. The middle of the field was habitually open for Dolphins receivers, including Tyreek Hill, who logged nine receptions for 157 yards and a score. The Fins' run game totaled 350 rushing yards and five touchdowns between four running backs.
Players perform in the image of their coach. Joseph is a polite, flexible, and affable defensive playcaller who’s getting exploited by opposing offensive coordinators on a weekly basis. This Broncos defense desperately needs a coordinator who is aggressive, bold, and unapologetic.
A Leaderless Locker Room
It’s hard to find the heart of the team when looking at this winless Broncos squad. We have yet to see a player, let alone a team captain, take accountability with aspirations of fixing what has quickly become an out-of-control nightmare.
Right tackle Mike McGlinchey had a costly false start penalty to begin the Week 3 matchup in addition to an underwhelming performance with a late fourth-quarter injury. Safety Kareem Jackson had a relatively quiet game in Miami with seven tackles (four solo) after being fined in consecutive games to open the season.
Jackson's defensive co-captain Justin Simmons was sidelined with a hip injury, leaving the Broncos' secondary thin against Tagovailoa, who didn't throw an incompletion until the third quarter. But where is ‘K-Jack’ when it comes to rallying a defense that missed a heap of tackles and left the middle of the field wide-open?
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton continues to score points for Payton’s offense, as he logged eight receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown against the Dolphins. But Sutton also fumbled twice, both of which led to Miami points, once before halftime and again in the third quarter.
The team captain also missed an opportunity to real in a dart from Wilson in the back of the end zone, forcing the Broncos' field-goal unit back onto the field. Sooner or later, Sutton will either embrace his privilege to lead this Broncos offense or fade into the background without a voice.
Then there’s Wilson, who has played quite well the last three weeks despite losing three games in a row. He may not be the problem, but Wilson is hardly the solution.
In Sunday's brutal loss in Miami, Wilson went 23-of-38 for 306 yards and a touchdown, with an interception off a batted pass at the line of scrimmage. But his leadership on the field isn't matching his production.
Last season, Wilson was above the team as ‘Mr. Unlimited,’ but this year, he’s one of the guys on the team after earning that right with hard work in the offseason and in training camp. But Russ is an NFL quarterback, which means he’s also tasked with leading this franchise, not just improving as a passer and game manager.
Time to Sell
This 0-3 Denver squad is going nowhere fast. The Broncos might technically still be alive in terms of postseason contention, but even if they win next week, breaking the ice four weeks into the season would be a tall enough task without the pressure of believing a playoff berth is remotely possible.
If this team is truly as leaderless and devoid of talent and discipline as it appears, why would Payton and GM George Paton hold on to players of value? The Broncos should field phone calls to regain draft capital while also shedding the responsibility of negotiating with players who will be coming off their rookie contracts.
As the cold weather sinks into the season, injuries will increase in the NFL, and teams could show interest in multiple Broncos starters. The NFL trade deadline is October 31. Don’t be shocked if we hear continued reports of phone calls on Jerry Jeudy or Sutton. But what about Denver's best player — Patrick Surtain II?
While I’m not suggesting the Broncos just give away their All-Pro corner, if the team doesn't explore that option, it would be reckless and arrogant. Which player on this roster should be deemed safe?
This team has created a losing culture even with players like Simmons, who’s considered elite at the safety position. But when was the last time elite talent in the secondary won a game for the Broncos? It’s been years, folks.
There's a reckoning coming for this leaderless roster. It should start with the Broncos selling some of their starting talent. If the price is right, pull the trigger and let the rebuild from the bottom up finally begin.
Follow Mile High Huddle on Twitter and Facebook.
Subscribe to Mile High Huddle on YouTube for daily Broncos live-stream podcasts!
