3 plays.

That’s all it took to tell how the Broncos’ day was going to go on Sunday. On the third play from scrimmage, 83 seconds into the game, Tua Tagovailoa found a wide open Tyreek Hill for a touchdown. That sequence of events would happen again. And again. And again.

All day long, Dolphins receivers found themselves wide open, and Dolphins quarterbacks hit them for explosive gains. I had to specify quarterbacks there because backup Mike White came into the game and proceeded to throw a 68 yard touchdown bomb to Chosen Anderson.

But as bad as things were in the air, it might have been even worse on the ground. Veteran Raheem Mostert, rookie De’von Achane, and UDFA Chris Brooks all took turns slicing through the Broncos defense. Down after down, Broncos defenders were either blown by or ran through by the Dolphins backs, and their performance was aided by Denver’s sudden inability to tackle.

The Broncos missed 25 tackles on Sunday, the most by any team since Pro Football Focus started tracking the stat in 2017; That number is particularly stunning given how many veterans the Broncos employ on defense.

By the time the dust settled, the Dolphins had scored 70 points. The NFL is no stranger to high-scoring games in this era of explosive plays and elite offensive play, but 70 is a truly unfathomable number. It’s the most points a team has scored in a game since 1966, and a score we’re unlikely to see again for a good long while. In fact, the only reason Denver didn’t surrender a league record in points is because Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel decided to show mercy to his childhood team. Denver’s loss on Sunday wasn’t just a bad loss; There’s a solid argument we just watched one of the single worst performances in the history of football. 

So where do the Broncos go from here?

Unfortunately, that’s a question that doesn’t have very definitive answers in the short or long term. Vance Joseph is public enemy number one in the state of Colorado right now, and a large portion of Broncos country wanted him left on the tarmac in Miami. But for now, he still has his job, and Sean Payton’s faith. One can’t imagine his leash is very long, however. After the defense underwhelmed in the first two weeks, many asked if Joseph would make it to the end of the season. Now there’s a genuine question if he makes it to the trade deadline. Coordinators being fired mid-season is a very rare occurrence, but so is surrendering 70 points. Denver has the talent and veteran leadership to get the defense turned around, but if they don’t figure it out, the game against Miami might be remembered as the day Denver’s era of elite defenses died.

And on offense, things don’t really seem much better. The Broncos lost against Miami solely because of their defense, but it’s not like they kept up with Miami’s scoring either. Through three games, this team has finished with final scores of 16, 31, and 20 points. The Commanders game aside, Denver’s offense simply has not been as advertised. After an offseason of hype, Denver’s output is still mediocre at best, and not what anyone expected from a Sean Payton-led team.

Russell Wilson has absolutely improved from last year, but he hasn’t improved enough to lift his struggling team. He’s serviceable, which is a testament to how much work he put in to get better after last year; but he is no longer a Pro Bowl talent, and that means Denver has some decisions to make. Wilson is nowhere near the biggest problem on offense, though.

That honor goes to the offensive line, who have allowed their QB to take bone-crushing hits game after game. The receiving room has also underwhelmed thus far.

The most concerning aspect of the Broncos rancid start is probably how poorly coached this team seems to be; Dropped passes, missed tackles, penalties and overall low effort all doomed Denver on Sunday. All of those things are hallmarks of a poorly-coached team, which is shocking for a team coached by a man as respected as Sean Payton. It’s doubly concerning seeing as the Broncos have devoted so many resources to their marriage with Payton. Beyond his massive contract, Denver also traded a first-round pick last year and a second-rounder in the upcoming draft to secure their coach. It’s far, far, far too early to deem the move for Payton as a failure, but the early returns are poor.

There’s no sugar-coating the Broncos situation. They’re in dire straits, with a team that looks completely lost and with an unforgiving schedule up ahead. That schedule, however, begins with next week’s showdown against the spiraling Chicago Bears. That game has already been dubbed the “Caleb Williams Bowl” by some fans, which can’t sit well with the Broncos.

A game against a floundering team that looks headed for a complete house cleaning does present an opportunity for Denver to get off the mat and start moving in the right direction. A win certainly won’t fix all their problems, but it would provide a starting point for improvement. A loss, however, would turn things from very bad to downright apocalyptic.

If the Broncos want to avoid that doomsday scenario, Sean Payton and every single member of his team have to be better. Otherwise, the tough questions being asked about the Broncos will quickly turn to tough realities.