Uneven quarterback play?
Check.
A struggling offensive line?
Affirmative.
A below-average ground game?
Yep.
It’s all added up to a down offensive year across the board for your Denver Broncos, who failed to have an offensive player selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time since 2007.
The Orange & Blue rank 18th in the league in scoring (22 points per game), 23rd in total yards (342.5) and 18th in rushing (99.6), yet are 10-4 and on the verge of a fifth-straight AFC West title and postseason berth.
Credit one of the league’s best defenses, which ranks in the top four in each of the above-mentioned categories.
Meanwhile, though, the 2015 Broncos’ offense will go down as one of the worst units, statistically, in recent franchise history. To illustrate that, we have taken the team’s current on-pace averages in a number of major statistical categories and charted where they would fall among the Denver offenses since the switch to a 16-game regular-season schedule in 1978 and matched them up with some comparable seasons from that time span.
(Note: Aside from the categories using straight averages, the strike-shortened, nine-game season of 1982 is omitted).
Anyway, here are the ugly details:
Offensive touchdowns
2015 (through 14 games): 27 (1.93 per contest)
On pace: 30 (would rank 33rd out of last 37 Broncos’ seasons)
Worst since: 1999 (29 TD)
Historical comp: 30 – 1980 (8-8 finish)
Total yards
2015 (through 14 games): 4,795 (342.5)
On pace: 5,480 (20/37)
Worst since: 2009 (5,463)
Historical comp: 5,487 – 1994 (7-9)
Yards per play
2015 (through 14 games): 5.17
On pace: 5.17 (18/38)
Worst since: 2011 (4.98)
Historical comp: 5.15 – 1993 (9-7*)
Rushing yards
2015 (through 14 games): 1,395 (99.6)
On pace: 1,594 (34/37)
Worst since: 2010 (1,544)
Historical comp: 1,544 – 2010 (4-12)
Rushing yards per attempt
2015 (through 14 games): 3.90
On pace: 3.90 (25/38)
Worst since: 2010 (3.88)
Historical comp: 3.90 – 2001 (8-8)
Passing yards
2015 (through 14 games): 3,400 (242.9)
On pace: 3,886 (10/37)
Worst since: 2002 (3,824)
Historical comp: 3,824 – 2002 (8-8)
Passing TDs
2015 (through 14 games): 17 (1.21)
On pace: 19 (t26/37)
Worst since: 1999 (29)
Historical comp: 19 – 2003 (10-6*)
Interceptions thrown
2015 (through 14 games): 21 (1.5)
On pace: 24 (35/37)
Worst since: 1980 (25)
Historical comp: 25 – 1980 (8-8)
Sacks allowed
2015 (through 14 games): 34 (2.43)
On pace: 39 (t24/37)
Worst since: 2011 (42()
Historical comp: 39 – 1993 (9-7*)
*Made playoffs
