US EditionSean Payton’s gamble: The decision that derailed the Broncos’ Super Bowl dreams
- On Jan. 25, 2026, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton kept his offense on the field at the New England 14-yard line on fourth-and-1, but backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham failed to convert, a decision that proved costly.
- The coach's analytics-first approach guided the call as Payton followed Romer-era analytics and relied on Evan Rothstein despite snow threatening kicking conditions.
- Payton called 11 personnel and ran Nickel Duo on fourth-and-short, but New England showed Red Two behind a six-man front, pressuring Jarrett Stidham whose pass was incomplete.
- Denver left three points on the field and lost its best scoring chance as the Broncos offense never reached inside the New England 30 again, enabling the Patriots field-position sequence to tie the game.
- The call adds to scrutiny of Payton's playoff legacy as he expressed regret, saying `I wish I'd stayed with the initial play call`, while Rex Ryan and Mark Schlereth criticized relying on analytics with a backup quarterback.
36 Articles
36 Articles
NFL World Gloating Over Sean Payton's Self-Sabotage In AFC Championship Game: 'Couldn't Happen To A Worse Guy'
sean payton The Denver Broncos fell to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship over the weekend, scoring just a single touchdown in the 10-7 loss. The Broncos could’ve taken a 10-0 lead in the first half, but head coach Sean Payton opted for a failed fourth-down conversion instead. Given that former New Orleans Saints Super Bowl-winning head coach Sean Payton has cultivated quite an arrogant persona over the years, NFL fans were quick t…
Associated Press News
Sean Payton's gamble: The decision that derailed the Broncos' Super Bowl dreams
Sean Payton's decision to go for it on fourth down instead of kicking a field goal has sparked plenty of debate after the Denver Broncos' 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC championship.
Kansas City Mayor Says ‘Slow’ AFC Title Game the Result of Chiefs Not Playing
If you weren’t enthralled by the New England Patriots’ 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game on Sunday, January 25, the mayor of Kansas City can explain why. “Sorry about that AFC Championship, y’all. Pretty slow,” Mayor Quinton Lucas wrote via X after the game. “This is what happens when Kansas City isn’t in it. Be back soon.” Rather than seeing the star-studded Chiefs roster make another run at Super Bowl glory, fans in…
Rex Ryan rips Broncos’ 4th and-1 decision — ‘You don’t have Tom Brady’
The Broncos made a decision to go for it on 4th-and-1 and not kick a field goal to try to go up 10-0 on the Patriots in the second quarter of the AFC Championship Game. For Rex Ryan, he believes Sean Payton relied too heavily on analytics.
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