The Broncos’ ineffective offense demonstrates that Sean Payton’s previous statements were not truthful.

Wow! That was quite impressive, wasn’t it? Sean Payton finally had the opportunity to unleash his highly regarded offense, allowing the Broncos’ head coach to showcase the potential of his attack without any constraints. And it was truly dynamic, wasn’t it?

Wait… what’s that? That’s not what actually happened?

Yes, the Broncos did secure a win in their Week 17 game against the Chargers, narrowly pulling off a 16-9 victory that was just as riveting as the score suggests. It’s true that Jarrett Stidham emerged victorious in his debut as Denver’s starting quarterback. However, that wasn’t the main highlight on Sunday. Not even close.

Instead, the takeaway from New Year’s Eve at Empower Field was that Sean Payton’s statements weren’t entirely truthful, to put it mildly.

On Wednesday, the Broncos’ head coach announced the decision to bench Russell Wilson, and it was evident to everyone that financial considerations were at the core of this move. With playoff chances virtually extinguished after a loss to the Patriots on Christmas Eve, it seemed illogical to continue playing Wilson. The risk of potential injury in the last two games could have significant financial ramifications, including $39 million in guaranteed money for the next season and an additional $37 million in 2025. The sensible choice was to sideline him, a decision understandable to anyone with business acumen.

However, the fibbing began.

During his Wednesday press conference, Payton went out of his way to portray the move as football-related, emphasizing the team’s desperation for a win and the desire to “spark” the offense. These comments raised eyebrows and sparked extensive conversations.

Then came the spin.

On Sunday, the Washington Post reported that the NFLPA had been in contact with the Broncos earlier in the season when the franchise hinted at benching Wilson if he didn’t waive his 2025 injury guarantee.

“If the Broncos follow through on the Club’s threat, the club will violate, among other things, the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Mr. Wilson’s Player Contract, and New York law. And we are particularly concerned that the Broncos still intend to commit these violations under the guise of ‘coaching decisions.'”

As anticipated, Denver benched Wilson, with Payton insisting it was for football-related reasons. This set the stage for Sunday’s game against the Chargers.

In a match that resembled a late-August preseason game in terms of intensity, the Chargers seemed disinterested at Empower Field. Fielding what was effectively their JV team, led by quarterback Easton Stick, they remained within one score in the final minutes.

Why? Because, once again, the Broncos’ offense was lackluster.

Despite several opportunities handed to them by the Chargers, Denver could only muster 16 points on the day.

Trailing 10-3 with 2:51 left in the first half, L.A. attempted a fake punt on fourth-and-one at their own 44-yard line, botching the snap. The Broncos kicked a field goal after a modest 17-yard drive.

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, an Austin Ekeler fumble gifted the Broncos the ball at the Chargers’ 39-yard line. They were on the verge of going three-and-out, but Payton opted to go for it on fourth-and-one at the 29 instead of taking a field goal that would have given them a 10-point lead. A fortuitous pass interference penalty granted Denver a first-and-goal at the one-yard line, yet they settled for a field goal.

Even without Wilson, Denver’s offense faced the same persisting issues. The first-and-goal opportunity was marred by consecutive false starts at home. Javonte Williams struggled again, averaging just 2.7 yards on 15 carries, and was stopped on third-and-goal from the one.

Jerry Jeudy had a nearly invisible presence, aside from a 41-yard completion during garbage time at the end of the first half when the Chargers conceded meaningless yards. Otherwise, he managed just two catches for 13 yards.

It was the same narrative, just with a different quarterback. This isn’t to say Stidham performed poorly; he didn’t. He made a notable play in the second quarter on third-and-eight, finding LilJordan Humphrey for a first down. Humphrey then broke multiple tackles for a 54-yard touchdown, the sole touchdown of the day.

However, suggesting that the Broncos’ offense fared better without Wilson would be absurd. That’s the crux of the matter.

Payton seemed determined to demonstrate that his prized system operated more effectively without the high-priced quarterback at the helm. He involved Jaleel McLaughlin, Denver’s most dynamic running back, early and frequently. The coach incorporated a third offensive tackle on multiple plays to bolster the running game and opted to go for it on fourth down in situations where kicking was the conventional choice.

The head coach appeared desperate to prove that Wilson was the root cause of their offensive struggles. He seemed eager for his offense to perform better on Sunday, almost palpably so.

However, it didn’t. Even against a Chargers team that seemed disinterested and was essentially coasting.

Once again, the Broncos’ offense displayed anemic performances on Sunday. It might not be fair to place the blame solely on Stidham; rather, one might point fingers at the head coach or the lackluster supporting cast.

Regardless, the message was clear: Payton’s assertion that Wilson was benched to “spark” the offense was unfounded.

Wilson wasn’t the issue. He never was. If Payton or, perhaps, team owner Greg Penner fail to recognize this swiftly, the lackluster showing on Sunday at Empower Field might become the norm in 2024.