NFL Week 2 Awards: Not even Sean Payton could fix the eternally broken Broncos

The Denver Broncos thought Sean Payton would, at the very least, bandage up their fatal flows. But no coach, regardless of their track record, can help fix a team with a semi-washed-up quarterback (Russell Wilson), an offensive line that can’t block, and a defense letting inexperienced quarterbacks (Sam Howell) cut it up.

And so, after an offseason of promise and platitudes, Payton’s Broncos are 0-2 with two losses at home against two traditionally moribund teams, the Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Commanders. Denver hasn’t played any of the AFC’s heavyweights yet and must already dig itself out of a hole. Brutal, in every sense of the word.

It is, indeed, just two games. But this is precisely the nightmare start the Broncos needed to avoid if Payton was going to “fix” them. Now, they’ll be fighting uphill for a little while, trying to get a breath. The good news? They must visit the high-flying Miami Dolphins in hot South Florida next week. Wait. Wait, no. Wait, that’s bad news.

Not everyone had a poor Week 2. Geno Smith showed us we shouldn’t doubt him so readily. Meanwhile, Brandon Staley is starting to feel the heat amid another terrible Chargers’ start.

Let’s hand out some awards after another wacky Sunday.