'Horrible,' NFL Exec Rips Bo Nix's Broncos Despite Clinching No. 1 Seed in Playoffs

One NFL executive isn't convinced by the Denver Broncos despite their 14-3 record and No. 1 seed in the AFC.

"Denver has looked horrible on offense, and they looked horrible again today," the exec told The Athletic's Mike Sando.

The Broncos came out on top 19-3 in Week 18 against the Los Angeles Chargers, though their performance wasn't all that convincing. Denver finished with 240 total yards despite L.A. resting some key veterans with an eye toward Wild Card Weekend. Quarterback Bo Nix failed to hit 200 passing yards for the second straight week.

 Full Chargers-Broncos Recap

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Across the entire season, Sean Payton's squad ranks just fifth in the AFC in point differential (plus-90), and the offense was 10th in yards at 342.6 per game.

On paper, the unit simply isn't all that imposing.

When listing the best QBs in the playoff field, how far down do you go on the list before you hit Nix? The last time he tasted the postseason he threw for 144 yards in a 31-7 blowout at the hands of the Buffalo Bills.

J.K. Dobbins finished as Denver's leading rusher (772 yards) despite having not played after Week 10.

There are justified reasons to be skeptical of the Broncos' Super Bowl odds.

Still, Payton has found a winning formula so far thanks to a stifling defense and an offense that does enough without committing too many turnovers.

Having home-field advantage could be crucial as well. The playing conditions in Denver may not be all that conducive to high-scoring affairs, and that would play right into the Broncos' hands.

Winning ugly was pretty much how the franchise lifted its last Super Bowl title in 2015. Perhaps history will repeat itself.