The Denver Broncos and the Houston Texans entered the 2026 NFL season as Super Bowl hopefuls, particularly after having suffered bitter defeats in the later rounds of the most recent playoffs.
Both teams, however, have struggled through the first four weeks of this year. And now both hope making the same change will ignite their teams: The head coaches are taking back control of play-calling duties.
For the Broncos, head coach Sean Payton — one of the most respected offensive minds in the game — made the curious decision to hand play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Davis Webb this year. Payton has been asked about the switch after nearly every game this season, and on Thursday, he announced he would now be the one to call plays amid reports of a change.
“Everyone is disappointed in the unit itself,” Payton said of the offense while deflecting blame from Webb. “We’re 2-2, but we feel like there’s more there.”
He added of the change: “It’s about buttoning up all the little things that keep you from sustaining drives.”
Denver’s offense has been one of the least effective in the NFL this season.
The Broncos ranked 27th in points and yards per game entering Week 5. The advanced stats aren’t much better, as Denver ranks 20th in expected points added (EPA) per play, per Sumer Sports.
The Broncos haven’t been able to push the ball downfield. They rank 27th in explosive play rate and 25th in yards per play, according to Sharp Football Analysis. The passing attack’s average depth of target is only 6.01 yards, second lowest in the NFL.
“I want to be aggressive,” quarterback Bo Nix told reporters Wednesday, but he added that he’s trying to find the right balance between aggression and making smart decisions.
“When it’s open, let’s hit it. But at the same time, I’ve been gotten too many times trying to do too much. In this day and age in our offense, I don’t have to be a hero on every play. I don’t have to do too much. ... If you’re not careful, turnovers may go through the roof, and that’s just not what I need to be doing.”
Meanwhile, in Houston, the Texans are even more desperate after an 0-4 start. Only one team in NFL history has made the playoffs after having dropped its first four games. Houston has been close to this position before, having reached the postseason after an 0-3 start last year.
The issue for the Texans has been their defense, as head coach DeMeco Ryans will take the reins from defensive coordinator Matt Burke when it comes to calling plays.
“It’s a tough decision to make,” Ryans told reporters Wednesday. “It’s also, as a head coach, I have a lot of tough decisions I have to make, and it’s always my decisions, and sometimes they’re not always a popular opinion. I’m not in this role to please a lot of people’s opinions. I have to do what’s best for this team and make sure I’m leading in that way.”
Said defensive end Will Anderson: “I think what DeMeco brings [is] that style of coaching where he’s going to call you out. He’s going to make sure that you know exactly what you’re going to do, what you need to do and what you didn’t do.”
Houston’s defensive drop has been shocking, as the team was expected to have one of the best units in the league.
Last season, the Texans ranked no lower than sixth in points, total yards and pass yards allowed per game. This year, Houston enters Week 5 at 26th in points allowed, 20th in total yards allowed and 28th in pass yards allowed.
After quarterback C.J. Stroud struggled in last winter’s playoff run, there was a belief the Texans could be dominant if Stroud merely had an average season. Instead, he has been solid, and it hasn’t mattered.
Houston is 15th in EPA per dropback so far this season, as Stroud has thrown for five touchdowns and no interceptions. In three of the team’s first four games, he led go-ahead drives in the fourth quarter.
But the defense has given up game-winning drives in each of those games. Entering Week 4, the Texans are 26th in EPA per play on defense.
If there were ever an ideal time for Payton and Ryans to take back control of play calling, it’s before Week 5 in particular. Both the Broncos and the Texans will be playing winless teams Sunday, as Denver plays the 0-4 Los Angeles Chargers, while Houston draws the 0-4 Tennessee Titans.
If neither the Broncos nor the Texans can bounce back against two of the worst teams in the league, then whoever is calling the plays could end up being the least of their problems.
