The Denver Broncos fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi on Tuesday, two days after a 7-point performance in the AFC Championship Game loss to the New England Patriots. Denver was the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The offense scored one touchdown in the conference title game.

The Broncos finished tied for the best record in the league and earned the No. 1 seed. The defense carried the team. The offense ranked 10th in total yards and 14th in points per game at 23.6. In the AFC Championship, Denver scored seven points in a snowstorm with backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham filling in for injured Bo Nix. The season ended with the offense unable to produce when it mattered most.

Head coach Sean Payton released a statement thanking Lombardi: “I’ve been fortunate to work with Joe Lombardi for 15 years and am particularly grateful for his many contributions to our success as offensive coordinator.” The Broncos also fired wide receivers coach Keary Colbert and cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch. Three coaches gone two days after the championship loss.

Davis Webb, the current offensive pass game coordinator, is an internal candidate to replace Lombardi. Webb has also been mentioned for head coaching jobs, including the Las Vegas Raiders opening. Denver needs to move quickly if they want to retain him. The new coordinator will be responsible for developing Bo Nix, who struggled in his second season before the injury.

Denver’s defense was among the best in the league. The offense never matched that level. A 14th-ranked scoring unit on a team with the best record indicates a gap between the two sides of the ball. The AFC Championship performance—seven points, one touchdown, a backup quarterback—was the final evidence Payton needed. The coordinator search begins with the expectation that the next hire closes that gap.