Broncos' Davis Webb gets fresh warning ahead of game at winless Chargers

Calls among Denver Broncos fans for head coach Sean Payton to strip offensive coordinator Davis Webb of play-calling duties grew louder after the Broncos suffered a 24-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers that dropped Denver to 2-2 this past Sunday. 

Webb and Payton are now spending this week preparing the Broncos for a Week 5 matchup at an 0-4 Los Angeles Chargers side that could be one more loss away from potentially parting ways with first-year offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. For a piece published on Tuesday, NFL analyst Ben Solak of ESPN shared fresh warnings for Webb and for the Broncos regarding this coming Sunday's game at SoFi Stadium.

Does Sean Payton have a date in mind for making a big change?

Specifically, Solak predicted that Payton could take over as Denver's offensive play-caller as soon as the team's Week 6 home game versus the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 15.

"The Broncos have a key matchup with the 0-4 Chargers this Sunday -- another offensive stinker, and I could see coach Sean Payton switching up the headset on a short week before facing the Seahawks on Thursday night in Week 6," Solak wrote. "Seems like a smart way to get the drop on an elite unit." 

This is the first time during his career as a head coach that Payton is delegating offensive play-calling duties to a coordinator. Thus far, that experiment hasn't gone all that well for Payton and the Broncos. 

ESPN stats show that the Broncos ended Week 4 ranked 27th in the league with an average of 280.3 total yards gained per game and 27th with an average of 18.5 points scored per contest. Despite those worrisome numbers, DraftKings Sportsbook had Denver as a 3.5-point road favorite over the Chargers as of Tuesday afternoon. 

Why Sean Payton could make a change after the Chargers game

According to Fernando Ramirez of The Sporting Tribune, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert went 14-of-17 passing for 159 yards and a touchdown in the second half of the club's 30-23 loss in Seattle this past Sunday. That performance has Solak convinced that Herbert could guide the Chargers to a Week 5 win over the Broncos. 

"Los Angeles finally looked respectable on offense in the second half against Seattle (do not ask me about the first half)," Solak added. "Without two more backbreaking Justin Herbert interceptions, the Chargers would have had a totally acceptable day moving the football (despite three injuries on the offensive line). You can feel the running game starting to churn, and the defense also has elevated its play over the past two weeks. This week, they are home against a struggling Broncos offense. Keep an eye out."

It remains to be seen how Payton may respond if the Broncos fall to 2-3 on the second Sunday of October.