Perhaps the road will do the Broncos some good.
They’re about to see plenty of it.
Denver is 0-2 after a pair of limp offensive outings and now has to try to turn its fortunes around while playing back-to-back road games at Tampa and the New York Jets.
Instead of returning home for the week of practice between those games, head coach Sean Payton and company are staying out that way and spending the work week in West Virginia.
“It’s not a make-or-break, but we’re going to have a better idea of where this team is going to be after these next two weeks going on the road to Tampa, then of course practicing a week on the Eastern seaboard and then playing the Jets,” Payton told reporters Monday.
“Sometimes that can work as a positive relative to your team being together the whole time.”
A year ago, Payton didn’t like the way Denver played when it traveled east. With four road games in the Eastern time zone this year, he indicated all offseason that he’d like to structure the itinerary this way if the team got back-to-back road games.
Now the added challenge is trying to come together and find solutions after an 0-2 start. They’ll do that from the comfort of home until they leave for Tampa on Friday, and then from the road for nine straight days after that.
“We need to be together and take advantage of this trip as best we can,” right guard Quinn Meinerz said Sunday after a 13-6 home loss to Pittsburgh. “It’s going to be two fun road games.”
Last year the Broncos started 0-2 and their Week 3 road trip to Florida turned to disaster when they allowed 70 points against Miami.
Tampa’s offense isn’t quite like that Dolphins group, but quarterback Baker Mayfield has the Bucs 2-0 and he’s thrown for 474 yards, five touchdowns and just one interception in wins over Washington and Detroit.
Payton didn’t bring up the Miami debacle but did have a different experience to draw on. In 2017, New Orleans lost at Minnesota and at home to New England to start the season and then traveled to play the Panthers on the road in Week 3 and then Miami in London in Week 4.
“There’s a little bit of deja vu where there was a team I coached where we were 0-2 and then we had a game, I think, at Carolina and then a game over in London,” Payton said. “So it was kind of a two-game road trip. In other words, we were going to be gone and not coming back. We were going to practice the whole week in London. This sets up a little like that. Every once in a while you feel like you’ve been somewhere or this has happened before.”
Related Articles
Broncos Stock Report: DE Zach Allen’s strong encouraging sign for Denver defense
In loss to Pittsburgh, Broncos’ rushing attack continues to struggle: “We’ve got to fix this”
Renck: Only thing worse than Broncos offense? Coach Sean Payton’s decisions.
Broncos’ offensive dud vs. Steelers has Sean Payton already rethinking offensive approach: “That starts with me. I’m the one calling the plays.”
Keeler: Ex-Broncos QB Russell Wilson “grateful” to get to 2-0 back at Empower Field. Broncos Country didn’t share the sentiment.
The Saints beat Carolina 34-13 and then shut out the Dolphins, 20-0, at Wembley Stadium to level their record at 2-2 and kick off what became an eight-game winning streak and an 11-5 regular season.
Of course, that team had a Hall of Fame quarterback in Drew Brees. It was coming off three straight 7-9 seasons, so perhaps there was a bit of concern with an 0-2 start, but overall the club had experienced recent, sustained success. This Broncos team, meanwhile, has a rookie quarterback and already long odds of ripping off a surprise season.
Payton and Denver, then, know they’ve got their work cut out.
“There’s no way around this: We’ve got to look right into the teeth of this and get better quickly,” Payton said.
Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.