Discover the Broncos’ dramatic game against the Jets, Sean Payton’s sideline reaction, and the challenges they face as they head to Kansas City. Get the inside scoop on their quest for success.
On Sunday, with 41 seconds remaining in the game and trailing the New York Jets 24-21, the Denver Broncos had a chance to either win or tie the game. They possessed the ball on their own 41-yard line, holding one timeout, and a potential game-tying or winning opportunity within reach.
However, their chances of victory, and perhaps their playoff hopes, quickly slipped away. A mere second after the ball was snapped, Jets’ linebacker Quincy Williams burst through the Broncos’ right offensive line, untouched, as right tackle Mike McGlinchey struggled to fend off Jets’ defensive lineman Will McDonald IV. Russell Wilson, the Broncos’ quarterback, recognized the pressure and dashed to the left sideline in an attempt to evade it. Regrettably, Wilson couldn’t elude Williams, who stripped the ball from him. The Jets recovered the fumble and returned it for a touchdown, effectively sealing the game.
As Wilson walked back to the Broncos’ sideline, removing his helmet, CBS broadcast captured footage of Sean Payton, seemingly agitated, yelling and gesturing, questioning the unfolding events. The video of Payton’s apparent frustration with his quarterback quickly went viral, raising questions about their relationship and future together. On the NFL on ESPN’s YouTube page, the video was titled, “Sean Payton berates Russell Wilson after sack-fumble.”
When asked about the incident on Monday morning, Payton downplayed its significance, stating, “I don’t think I was that animated. It wasn’t as significant an exchange as some may have perceived.”
Payton went on to explain what he had communicated in the heat of the moment, saying, “I just wanted to make sure he knew the linebacker was a free-rusher.”
This incident capped off a challenging second half for the Broncos, particularly in their passing game. It was Wilson’s fourth sack of the game and the team’s third turnover, all of which were fumbles, ultimately solidifying the Broncos’ fourth loss of the season.
The protection for Wilson had been a concern throughout the game, and Payton highlighted a few reasons for it on Monday, saying, “We were in some longer yardage situations. I thought we could have been stronger at tackle. The pocket collapsed a few times. He managed to make some plays, but the zone coverage we were facing slowed down the immediate throws or progressions. So, cleaning that up and understanding our positioning in the pocket will be crucial. We’ll face teams that lean more towards coverage like we saw in Chicago, so we need to counter that with a combination of the running game and our ability to attack such coverage.”
In the second half, Denver’s offense struggled, managing only 125 yards, including 27 yards on the final drive when the Jets played prevent defense. Payton acknowledged the need for improvement in the second-half offense, saying, “We’ve had better starts offensively in the first half, and we need to maintain that in the second half. Yesterday was a tale of two halves. We did well collectively in the first half but couldn’t score as we hoped. In the second half, our offensive struggles emerged, and we gave up a big run defensively, leading to a close game. Consistency across all four quarters is something we need to address.”
As the Broncos prepare to face the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday Night Football, it becomes imperative to put together a complete four-quarter performance on both sides of the ball.