Who are you? What have you done with Sean Payton??
By Adam Uribes
· Opinion
·
· 2 min read
Whatever it may be, a newfound conservatism may be just what Denver needs to secure its first division title since 2015 and secure the conference's top seed for the playoffs.
The adage “you can’t make everyone happy” can be used to describe Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton at present. How that's reasonable for the boss of an 11-2 football team is anyone’s guess, but it makes sense if you support the Denver Broncos.
For all the hoopla of Bo Nix being in the same offense for a 2nd consecutive season and the Broncos having the same play-caller for 3 seasons in a row, the offense has been bland all season. Except for the win versus Dallas at home, this group has been VERY average if you’re being generous. Getting lost in the lack of points on the scoreboard is the elephant in the room that Payton may not have command of his fastball, so to speak, for the majority of the season as well. From wideout option passes on 4th and 1 to forgetting his running game at times, Payton has been more miss than hit this year, at least. If players can have down years, Payton is knee deep in his own slump, too.
But good coaches adapt and move forward, and Payton has been curiously more conservative in these past wins versus Kansas City, Washington, and Las Vegas. Against the Chiefs at home, Payton chose Wil Lutz as his primary weapon deep inside KC territory instead of going for the jugular with touchdowns. He even let his defense get him the ball back with the game tied before finally winning it late. The game plan versus the Commanders and Raiders has looked remarkably similar; a short-to-medium passing game with some runs sprinkled in for balance (kinda). But it has also played into quarterback Bo Nix’s strengths instead of forcing the ball down the field. How has Nix responded? By having some of his most efficient performances in the last three weeks, throwing just one pick in that span, while initiating game-winning or tying drives in 2 of those contests. Credit has to go to Payton for a more vanilla approach. In terms of boxing, Payton has been using his jab and footwork more to win rounds instead of looking for the knockout.
A matchup of division winners looms on Sunday, with the Green Bay Packers visiting Mile High, bringing with them a Top 10 defense in their own right and looking to solidify their own postseason positioning. What version of Sean Payton will we see on Sunday? Will it be the maddening version using wideout screens that never set up deeper throws down the field? Is the revolving door of personnel changes on every play going to rear its head again?
Or will it be Payton putting the ball in Nix's hands and letting him work fast? Is this Sean Payton that will take field position and defense over big momentum swings that never pan out? A proven record of winning football is playing clean football on offense and letting your defense play with a lead. Maybe, just maybe, Payton has gotten out of his own way and is coaching more to the strengths of his team rather than trying to force a square peg in a round hole.
Whatever it may be, a newfound conservatism may be just what Denver needs to secure its first division title since 2015 and secure the conference's top seed for the playoffs.
Just don’t call him Marty Schottenheimer just yet.
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