Broncos' 70-Point Fourth Quarter Exposes a Pattern No One Can Fix

Denver Broncos fans have learned a specific rhythm over the last eight weeks. The offense stalls early, the scoreboard shows a deficit, and then the game swings back. This season, the team has scored just 26 points in the first quarter but 70 points in the fourth quarter. For a squad currently holding a 6-2 record, the late surge is the defining feature of their games.

The most recent example occurred in a matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Denver entered the final period trailing 24-13. The Broncos had failed to gain positive yardage on three consecutive drives in the third quarter, each ending in a three-and-out. By that point, the defense had held the Chiefs, and the offense had gone quiet. Then, in the final minutes, the dynamic shifted entirely.

Quarterback Bo Nix led two touchdown drives to close the gap and secure a 28-24 victory. The win was finalized by a goal-line stand from the Denver defense. This marked the 15th career game-winning drive Nix has completed in the fourth quarter or overtime. No other quarterback in the league has more such drives in their first three seasons.

Head coach Sean Payton acknowledged the pattern during a press conference on Wednesday. He said he does not have an answer for why the team starts slowly. Payton noted that the internal coaching staff always wants to start fast. He added that they have not yet had a week where they do not want to get going immediately.

Nix offered a simpler explanation. He said he does not think anything changes in the fourth quarter. He described the late games as a matter of opportunity. When the score is close at the end, he said, the team goes out to win it. Nix emphasized that the team has 15 game-winning drives as a unit, not just him as an individual.

The Broncos have built four fourth-quarter comebacks this season. They defeated the Jaguars, Rams, Chargers, and Chiefs after trailing. In three of those games, the deficit was double digits. Across those four specific games, Denver outscored its opponents 56-10 in the final quarter.

Wide receiver Courtland Sutton said the repeated exposure to these high-pressure moments builds confidence. He compared the situation to a math problem. The more times a player sees the problem, the easier it becomes to solve. Sutton noted that the team has never felt out of a game, even when the scoreboard suggests otherwise.

The reliance on late drama is not new for Denver. In 2025, the team went 11-2 in one-score games. This year, they are 5-0 in such contests. Of their 20 regular-season wins since the start of 2025, only four have been by more than one score. Sutton said he would prefer to coast in the fourth quarter, but cushions have been rare lately.

The Broncos travel to Carolina on Sunday to face the Panthers, who are 3-4. The schedule continues to test the team's ability to maintain a lead early. Payton said the coaching staff will keep working on the start. Nix said the team will keep playing fast. The next game will determine if the pattern holds or if Denver can finally win without the late surge.