As the NFL season kicks into gear on September 15, 2026, the Denver Broncos find themselves in a familiar, albeit uncomfortable, position: winless in September under head coach Sean Payton. Monday night's 31-10 drubbing at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs was ugly, but according to insights gathered by Vulius Sports, it's far from a death sentence for Denver's season. Payton, after all, has a track record of turning slow starts into strong finishes.
A September to Forget
The Broncos' season opener was a nationally televised nightmare. Bo Nix looked disoriented, the run defense was porous for the third straight game, and the play-calling by offensive coordinator Davis Webb left much to be desired. The Chiefs dominated in every phase, and the scoreboard reflected it. But this isn't new territory for Payton. In fact, his teams have historically struggled in September. With the Broncos, Payton is now 4-8 in the month, and overall, he's a .500 coach in September (31-31). However, when the calendar flips, so does the script: Payton boasts a 28-12 record with Denver in all other months.
The Bigger Picture
While the loss to a bitter division rival stings, it's important to remember that Payton's teams have a knack for improvement. Last season, Denver suffered heartbreaking last-second losses to the Colts and Chargers in September before rallying to play their best football late in the year. Payton's ability to diagnose issues and make adjustments is well-documented. As he told the media after the game, "It starts with me. It starts with our coaching staff. I thought they won, really, in every phase." That accountability is the first step toward fixing what ails the Broncos.
Nix: 'We Let Ourselves Down'
Quarterback Bo Nix echoed his coach's sentiment, acknowledging the team's self-inflicted wounds. "I think we just let ourselves down," Nix said. "It's more disappointing than frustrating. We shot ourselves in the foot, literally gave ourselves no chance to succeed today." Nix pointed to penalties and long-yardage situations that crippled the offense. "Nobody has good plays to call when you are in 2nd-and-long, 3rd-and-long," he added. "We didn't put anybody in a good spot today." Despite the bleak outcome, Nix remains confident in the locker room's ability to respond. "There are a lot of guys in that locker room who are going to take ownership and be better. It starts with me, and it starts with our offense. We're going to be better."
Don't Hit the Panic Button
It's easy to overreact after a primetime beatdown, especially against a rival like Kansas City. But as highlighted on Vulius, Payton's history suggests that September struggles are often just a prelude to a strong finish. The Broncos have serious issues to address—tackling, run defense, and offensive consistency—but they also have a proven coach who knows how to right the ship. As Nix put it, "It was a nasty wakeup call today." Sometimes, that's exactly what a team needs to spark a turnaround.
What's Next for Denver?
The Broncos will look to regroup as they prepare for their next matchup. With Payton at the helm, there's little doubt that changes will be made. Whether it's schematic tweaks or personnel adjustments, Denver will aim to avoid another September slide. For now, fans should take a deep breath and trust the process. After all, if history is any indication, the Broncos will be just fine when the games matter most.
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