2023-09-19 21:33:00
The Denver Broncos are off to a horror start to the Sean Payton era with two defeats. The relationship with star quarterback Russell Wilson is already clearly in crisis and is threatening to collapse.
von Daniel Kugler
“I’ll be pissed if this isn’t a playoff team.”
With these clear words, Sean Payton unmistakably set the course for his first season as head coach of the Denver Broncos at the end of July.
After years of suffering, the new savior finally brought about a change. After winning the Super Bowl in the 2015 season, Denver missed the postseason in each of the following seasons.
After two game days and two defeats in the 2023 season, the optimistic mood in Denver has long since evaporated and the announced goal of the playoffs is already a long way off after the sobering start.
And Coach Payton isn’t the miracle worker he was hoping for either.
“Winning! It’s the cure for the whole organization. It makes everyone feel better,” the 59-year-old said on “USA Today” looking back on his era with the New Orleans Saints, which he already had in his debut season in 2006 to win the division and win the title three years later.
The most important thing about the NFL
Denver Broncos: Sean Payton’s statements are flying around his ears
In Denver they were hoping for a similar paradigm shift from second one. But there hasn’t been much of Payton’s winning mentality on the pitch yet.
Much worse: The full-bodied promises of acute improvement are already flying around Payton’s ears.
Apart from the first quarter and a half against the Commanders, when the Broncos literally overwhelmed the opponent both offensively and defensively and it looked like a clear pack, the team under the new leadership still lacks consistency and penetration throughout the game.
Ironically, it was star quarterback Russell Wilson himself who, after a brilliant start and an early 18-point lead, let Washington get into the game with a lost fumble and thus opened the door for the break-in.
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Payton and Wilson’s relationship is in crisis
Meanwhile, the pressure in Denver is already increasing noticeably. This is also shown by Payton’s reaction after the defeat against the Commanders, when he shifted the blame for the debacle and playmaker Wilson got rid of his fat.
Communication with his quarterback was inadequate. Against Washington, the vote on play calls would have taken far too long, meaning the coach would have had to use several timeouts with the clock running out in the first period.
He wasn’t used to something like that from his past, Payton said, and the coach then suggested that Wilson wear a bracelet with the different plays on it.
This almost borders on lese majeste.
However, Wilson himself subsequently downplayed the problem.
After the season for Chubb: What are the Cleveland Browns doing?
The Cleveland Browns will be without running back Nick Chubb for the remainder of the season. The 27-year-old seriously injured his knee against the Pittsburgh Steelers. How can the Browns compensate for the loss? ran shows you some free agents and two trade candidates that could now become an issue in Cleveland. © USA TODAY Network
Leonard Fournette (most recently Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Fournette, who has played for the Buccaneers for the past three seasons, would be one of the “big names.” He scored a total of 22 touchdowns for the “Bucs” from 2020 to 2022 and has shown that at the age of 28 he is still a valid option.© ZUMA Wire
Kareem Hunt (most recently Cleveland Browns)
Or are the Browns bringing back an “old friend”? Kareem Hunt played for Cleveland last season and collected 468 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 17 games. So the franchise knows exactly what they could get from him if they sign Hunt.© 2022 Getty Images
JD McKissic (most recently Washington Commanders)
McKissic was released by the Washington Commanders in mid-March and did not find a new team in the offseason. The 30-year-old has already played in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions and Washington. He had 2,748 scrimmage yards and a total of eleven touchdowns (four rushing and seven receiving).© 2021 Getty Images
Darrell Henderson Jr. (most recently Jacksonville Jaguars)
The 26-year-old scored a total of 17 touchdowns for the Los Angeles Rams from 2019 to 2022 and won the Super Bowl with the franchise. Was released by the Rams at the end of November and was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars a short time later, but had to leave there in mid-December. Since then, Henderson Jr. has been a free agent.© NurPhoto
Rex Burkhead (most recently Houston Texans)
Was under contract with the Houston Texans for the past two years, but only acted as a backup last season. At 33 years old, he would provide a lot of experience, but it is doubtful whether he would be the desired reinforcement.© 2022 Getty Images
Dontrell Hilliard (most recently Tennessee Titans)
Like Kareem Hunt, Hillard would also be a returnee. The now 28-year-old played for the Browns from 2018 to 2020 before being released in mid-December 2020. In the following years he played for the Texans and Titans, but mostly only as a backup.© 2021 Getty Images
Malcolm Brown (most recently Los Angeles Rams)
After his second stint with the Los Angeles Rams, Malcolm Brown has been without a team since the offseason. The 30-year-old, who has been playing in the NFL since 2015, scored 13 rushing touchdowns in his career, but most recently showed really good performances in 2020. A commitment from the Browns would therefore definitely be a surprise.© 2020 Getty Images
Cam Akers (Los Angeles Rams)
If the Browns don’t have a free agent running back, the franchise could of course also pursue a trade. One option in this case would probably be Cam Akers. The 24-year-old is probably on the trade block with the Rams. If a reasonable offer were made, the franchise would probably give up the ball carrier. In 2022, Akers scored seven rushing touchdowns.© Icon Sportswire
Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts)
Or are the Cleveland Browns trying the “big solution”? In the offseason, Taylor wanted to leave the Colts via trade, but a deal did not materialize. Is things moving again now? The 24-year-old could only play from week five at most, and he is currently still on the NFL PUP list. © 2022 Getty Images
Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts)
Taylor would be a mix of risk and huge addition for the Browns. In the 2021 season, he dominated the NFL in terms of running, his 1,811 rushing yards were tops, as were his 18 rushing touchdowns. Due to some injury problems, he was unable to build on these performances last season.© IMAGO/USA TODAY Network
What is noticeable, however, is that it was not the first clear criticism of Wilson from Payton in recent weeks. “Are you going to fucking stop kissing all the babies? You’re not running for public office,” Payton is said to have recently harshly criticized Wilson’s activities off the football field and his focus, according to ESPN.
Signs of an early fracture? It might be too early to give an answer. However, the image of the hoped-for coach-QB dream duo in Denver has already suffered some deeper cracks in a very short time.
But the mere fact of publicly calling out a Super Bowl winner and nine-time Pro Bowler with reference to such basics paints a questionable picture.
Denver Broncos: Coach Payton under pressure early on
The two defeats at the start against teams that are not at the top of the league are far too few overall and raise the alarm bells in Denver early on. There’s no question about it: Payton is sitting on the biggest powder keg in the NFL right now.
For him this means: He has to deliver results and not just look for excuses from others. Otherwise there is a risk of something historic.
Only one Broncos head coach began his tenure worse than a 0-2 record. Namely Vic Fangio, who lost his first four games of the 2019 season and ended up going 7-9.
In the next three games against the Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears and New York Jets, there must be several wins, otherwise it will be very uncomfortable for Payton early on.
After that, the program becomes much more difficult with two duels with the Kansas City Chiefs and a guest game at the Buffalo Bills within just four games from week six.
But what became clear before week three: Even Payton’s experience and much-recognized coaching qualities don’t even remotely make the Broncos a contender overnight.
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