NFL Week 2 Awards: Even Sean Payton couldn’t 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.

Payton was supposed to be the cure to all of Denver’s ails. Instead, with a cupcake schedule on paper, the Broncos are 0-2 with not one but two home losses. This franchise needed a miracle worker, not just a head coach with a proven track record.

Murmurs of Smith being a fluke were at a fever pitch after the Los Angeles Rams slapped the Seahawks around to open the season. Smith quelled these concerns by balling in a hostile Detroit, throwing for 328 yards and the above game-winning dime to Tyler Lockett in overtime. Smith is still not writing the haters back.

Denver had no business sending this game to overtime (as evidenced by a failed two-point conversion), but you still love this effort. Kudos to Brandon Johnson for the remarkable effort.

This pass doesn’t count because, you know, offensive linemen can’t catch passes. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t shout out Smith for showing off some great hands. The big boys are sneaky great athletes, folks!

The Lions’ C.J. Gardner-Johnson got way too ahead of himself by trying to make blue ski masks a “thing” for Detroit, and Reed couldn’t help but mock the attempt. This is when sheer, unfiltered pettiness is a beautiful development in the NFL.

The Rams benched Akers after offering nothing from the backfield in Week 1, and they’re probably not going to look back after Kyren Williams scored two touchdowns in Week 2. But hey, at least Akers doesn’t seem bothered by losing a starting job. Positive thoughts.

It was this kind of afternoon for Wilson. After Aaron Rodgers’ crushing Achilles tear, the former top-two pick threw for 170 yards and three picks. The Dallas defense is a tough matchup for any quarterback, but Wilson looked predictably overwhelmed. It’s probably time to fade the Jets now and with urgency.