ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Who are the true Denver Broncos?

The first three games of the season, the Broncos were one of the best teams in the NFL, not just with their 3-0 start, but their defense was dominant coupled with a very promising offense. However, the past two weeks, both groups have crashed back down to Earth.

Of course, in the first three games, the Broncos played three of the worst teams in the NFL—the Giants, Jaguars and Jets—who have a combined 2-13 record.

The Ravens and Steelers, Denver’s previous two opponents, have provided more of a true test for the Broncos with a combined 6-4 record. Denver did not pass either of those tests as they lost both games by an average of 12 points.

But just how different have the Broncos been in the past two games playing worthy opponents compared to the first three games against poor competition? Here’s a detailed look.

Note: League rank compares the numbers to the rest of the league throughout the entire season.

Offense

Points per game

• First three games: 25.3
  • League rank (1 is the best, 32 is the worst): 12th
• Past two games: 13
  • League rank: 32nd — dead last

Yards per game

• First three games: 387
  • League rank: 11th
• Past two games: 314
  • League rank: 28th

Passing yards per game

• First three games: 260
  • League rank: 12th
• Past two games: 208
  • League rank: 28th

Completion percentage

• First three games: 76.8%
  • League rank: 1st
• Past two games: 57.3%
  • League rank: Tied 32nd

Sacks allowed per game

• First three games: 2.3
  • League rank: Tied 19th
• Past two games: 3.5
  • League rank: Tied 30th

Rushing yards per game

• First three games: 127
  • League rank: 9th
• Past two games: 106
  • League rank: 19th

Turnovers per game

• First three games: 0.66
  • League rank: Tied 1st
• Past two games: 1
  • League rank: Tied 9th

It’s no surprise why the Broncos have gone from a borderline top-10 scoring offense in the first three games to the very worst over the past two weeks. In nearly every single offensive statistical category, Denver has dropped from the top-third to the bottom-five.

Of course, against the Ravens, Denver didn’t have Teddy Bridgewater in the second half due to a concussion. But it’s not like Bridgewater was playing well in the first half. In fact, statistically speaking, outside of his interception, Drew Lock was not worse than Bridgewater in that game.

When the Broncos’ offense faced talented defenses over the past two weeks, they’ve crumbled into one of the worst offenses in the NFL.

Defense

Points allowed per game

• First three games: 8.7
  • League rank: 1st
• Past two games: 25
  • League rank: 22nd

Yards allowed per game

• First three games: 221.7
  • League rank: 1st
• Past two games: 398.5
  • League rank: 26th

Passing yards allowed per game

• First three games: 162.3
  • League rank: 2nd
• Past two games: 274
  • League rank: 24th

Sacks per game

• First three games: 2.7
  • League rank: Tied 7th
• Past two games: 2
  • League rank: Tied 17th

Rushing yards allowed per game

• First three games: 59.3
  • League rank: 2nd
• Past two games: 124.5
  • League rank: 22nd

Takeaways per game

• First three games: 1.7
  • League rank: Tied 6th
• Past two games: 0.5
  • League rank: Tied 29th

Vic Fangio’s defense went from a top—or even the top—defense in the NFL in the first three weeks of the season to a bottom-10 defense in nearly every single statistical category, including points allowed per game. The blame can be spread across the entire defense as the run defense and pass defense have equally disappointed.

Denver’s defense dominated two rookie quarterbacks in Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson. They have not faired nearly as well against quarterbacks not making their first few starts in the NFL. Unfortunately for the Broncos’ defense, Denver isn’t slated to play a rookie signal caller for the rest of the season.

Takeaways

Purely looking at the first five games, the Broncos are significantly better than the worst teams in the NFL and can have incredible success on both sides of the ball playing teams who will have top-10, and potentially even top-5, pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

However, they’re still a long ways away from competing against quality teams in the NFL. While the Ravens are certainly proving they can be a contender in the AFC, Denver’s other loss was to the 2-3 Steelers. For three quarters of that game, the Broncos were manhandled on both sides of the ball.

In the next five games before their Bye Week, Denver doesn’t play a single team with a worse record than the 2-3 Steelers. In fact, the 0-5 Detroit Lions are the only remaining team on Denver’s schedule with a worse record than Pittsburgh.

Only five of Denver’s remaining 12 games are against teams who currently have losing records. Two of those games are against the Kansas City Chiefs.

If the Broncos continue the trend they’ve set in the first five games—where they dominate bad teams, but struggle mightily against average-to-good teams—success will be hard to come by the rest of the season.

The 3-2 Broncos have an excellent opportunity to change this narrative on Sunday by taking it to the 3-2 Las Vegas Raiders in the Mile High City. However, if they’re not able to, this dark trend will continue to get stronger and stronger.