Broncos get bold Sean Payton prediction from ESPN amid play-calling problems

Broncos get bold Sean Payton prediction from ESPN amid play-calling problems originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Denver Broncos lost to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 4, dropping to 2-2 on the season and two games behind the 4-0 Kansas City Chiefs. They are also likely to be without Patrick Surtain II and Pat Bryant for a few weeks due to injuries.

When it comes to the 2026 Broncos, however, their biggest issue might be their offensive play-calling. Davis Webb, taking over for Payton this season, has struggled a bit so far. Enough to the point that a very interesting scenario could play out.

ESPN’s Ben Solak believes that there’s a chance that Payton, following a potential loss in Week 5 to the Los Angeles Chargers, makes the bold decision to relieve Webb of play-calling duties, handling the offense starting in Week 6 against the Seattle Seahawks.

Broncos’ Sean Payton predicted to take over play-calling duties after Week 5

“I might think … Davis Webb has one more week to call plays,” Solak writes. “The Broncos have a key matchup with the 0-4 Chargers this Sunday — another offensive stinker, and I could see coach Sean Payton switching up the headset on a short week before facing the Seahawks on Thursday night in Week 6.”

While Solak isn’t outright predicting Payton will take over for Webb following Week 5, he does believe in the possibility of this happening.

The Broncos face the lowly 0-4 Chargers in Week 5, and by all accounts, this is a game they should win. But with their injuries on defense and a questionable offense so far, the Broncos could lose in Week 5 to drop to 2-3 on the season.

MORE: Justin Herbert leads four reasons why Chargers are an 0-4 disaster

Payton taking over play-calling duties would not be a huge surprise this season, especially if the Broncos offense continues to underwhelm.

But making that change after just five weeks would be quite the early switch for Payton. Webb wouldn’t have gotten much more than a month as the Broncos’ play-caller before being relieved of those duties in this scenario.

Will the Broncos actually make such a decision? It’s probably unlikely, as the Broncos would likely give Webb a longer leash, so long as things aren’t catastrophically terrible.

Even if the Broncos lose in Week 5 to the winless Chargers, it would be very bold to make a play-caller change for a short week against the Seattle Seahawks, of all teams, this early in the year. It’s not impossible, but it’s not a very likely outcome either.

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