The Denver Broncos began their 2025 preseason with a 30-9 win over the San Francisco 49ers, despite falling behind 9-0 early on. The Broncos then rallied by scoring 30 consecutive points to secure the victory. However, their starting offense struggled significantly, managing just three points over three drives.

Offensive Execution Falters in Opening Drives

Denver’s first offensive drive gained 25 yards but ended with a punt, while the second drive concluded with a safety against the team. It wasn’t until the third possession that the Broncos’ first-team offense finally scored, kicking a 42-yard field goal by Will Lutz after starting at midfield. This tepid performance raised questions about the offense’s readiness heading into the season.

Bo Nix Reflects Calmly on His Performance and Preseason Role

Quarterback Bo Nix, entering his second year with the Broncos, remains optimistic despite the offense’s slow start. He views the preseason as an opportunity to react and adapt rather than execute a perfectly rehearsed game plan. Explaining his approach, Nix said,

“It’s a different evaluation, but I still evaluate pretty tough. There’s some things you can’t quite control in a preseason game. A lot you don’t really know going into it. My favorite part of the preseason is just reacting to what you get. A lot of times in a game, you’ve got to react because it’s not something you’ve prepared for.”

—Bo Nix, Quarterback

He further elaborated on the unpredictability of preseason action:

“So that’s really how you treat the preseason, is you get out there, see things, react how you would on a play, and take the ball where your eyes lead you. It’s not always going to be planned, and you’re not always going to be prepared for the look.”

—Bo Nix, Quarterback

Nix emphasized the developmental nature of preseason games, pointing out that they serve to build roster depth and give players necessary game reps beyond practice.

Sean Payton Voices Frustration Over Team’s Early Mistakes

Denver head coach Sean Payton expressed clear disappointment in his starting offense’s performance, calling it “average to below average.” Payton highlighted a series of avoidable errors, especially pre-snap penalties and mental lapses, as critical issues needing immediate correction. He said,

“The teams that do it best, that sense of urgency — there’s some mistakes that are going to happen, but the pre-snap penalties, the illegal man downfield — there’s a handful of these things that have to be cleaned up, like, tomorrow.”

—Sean Payton, Head Coach

Payton also pointed out accountability beyond gameplay, stating,

“It’s the first road trip for all of us, and I’ve got 14 things written down that I’m pissed off about that have nothing to do with the game. So that’s part of the debrief, too. The willingness of the player, employee, all of us to accept and make those corrections are important.”

—Sean Payton, Head Coach

Preseason Lessons and Preparations for Regular Season Challenges

The Broncos’ preseason struggle underscores a common theme in football: game-day mistakes must be minimized to succeed during the regular season. While Denver’s young quarterbacks and offensive players are still adjusting, these early errors highlight areas where focus must increase.

Bo Nix referred to the preseason as a “changeup,” reflecting the uncertainty and variety of scenarios faced on game day compared to practice drills. He described the experience, saying,

“The season will be really fun because you get to actually go a week long on an opponent and prepare for them before you go into a game. Today is kind of like a changeup at practice. You get to see different looks, and it’s fun because you don’t really prepare for what you’re going to get.”

—Bo Nix, Quarterback

Despite the struggles, Nix acknowledged room for improvement after reviewing game film:

“It was good from that standpoint, but obviously when we go back and look at everything, we’ll be able to nitpick it and find some things to get better at.”

—Bo Nix, Quarterback

Looking Forward: Adjustments Anticipated Ahead of Next Preseason Game

The Broncos’ initial preseason performance shows they have work to do, especially with offensive execution and discipline. Their starting offense’s positive ending with a field goal offers some promise, yet head coach Payton’s remarks indicate expected improvements before their next preseason matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Given the slow start, it would not be surprising to see the starters take the field more extensively in the coming game to build rhythm and address early concerns.