Broncos win over Chiefs made them contenders, but offense still has holes

Beating the team that whipped you in the opener changes how people see you.

According to Mike Klis, the 9NEWS Broncos insider, it shifted how people view the Denver Broncos.

Klis told “Dover and Cecil” that last week’s win over the Chiefs was the one where people started to believe the Broncos are a Super Bowl contender. Through a 4-2 start, he said, the offense struggled enough that the doubters had a ready line.

“People weren’t taking them seriously as a Super Bowl contender,” Klis said.

The belief is real, and so is the schedule

The Chiefs win came at home, and Klis said it showed the Broncos are better than Kansas City “just by a little bit.” With the schedule clearing out, he sees Denver in real contention for the No. 1 seed.

If Bo Nix stays healthy and keeps playing as he has the last two weeks, Klis thinks the Broncos should eventually become the favorites to come out of the AFC.

Carolina is no gimme

The hosts asked how much of a trap game Sunday’s trip to Carolina is. Klis wouldn’t fully sign on to the label, but he didn’t dismiss it. The Panthers are at home, they score, and Bryce Young is playing well.

“He’s playing like a No. 1 overall pick,” Klis said.

Carolina’s defense is the question. Klis noted it gave up 59 points to the Bears in Week 1 and that the Panthers have since fired a familiar face. But his conclusion was blunt.

“If they are adequate on defense against the Broncos, the Panthers got a real shot here in this game,” he said.

An offense with moving parts

That matters because Denver’s offense is not producing evenly. Pat Bryant is coming off injured reserve, but Klis said he didn’t look to be at the front of the line in practice and he doesn’t know what workload to expect. Troy Franklin, last year’s No. 2 receiver, has six catches. The tight end has all but vanished from the game plan.

“He was Brock Bowers last year compared to what he’s getting this year,” Klis said.

At running back, Klis expects J.K. Dobbins to start and rookie Jonah Coleman to come off the bench, with the hot hand deciding the rest. Last week’s game turned that way once Dobbins lost eight yards and Coleman answered with a burst. Cecil Lammey is plainly all in on Coleman. Klis’ view is more practical.

“It’s dangerous to only play one running back in a game this year,” he said.

What the deadline can and can’t fix

Klis doesn’t think Denver will chase Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, given the backs it has and the price, though he expects Indianapolis to lower its ask Monday. Tony Pollard’s price, he said, rose after a good game. The tight end market is thinner still, because the good ones are on playoff teams.

The question under all of it is whether Denver will pay to fix an offense its own insider calls a conundrum. The Chiefs win made people believers. What the Broncos do before the deadline may decide whether the belief holds.

Disclosure: This article was transcribed from our original audio content and edited for readability with the assistance of generative AI. The article has been reviewed by our editorial team prior to publication. Please watch or listen to the clip above for the full segment.

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