Broncos’ Sean Payton Admits to ‘Boneheaded Mistake’ in Loss to Chiefs

Kansas City added three points, thanks in part to a Denver miscalculation.

Sean Payton’s first season at the helm of the Broncos is off to a rocky start, with Denver falling to 1-5 after a 19-8 loss to the Chiefs on Thursday night.

One particular gaffe seemed to illustrate the team’s season overall, as the veteran coach made a crucial mistake that cost the Broncos three points against Kansas City.

At the end of the first half, with Denver trailing 10-0, Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson was sacked on third down with 22 seconds left in the half. The sack occurred at the Chiefs’ 37-yard line, effectively pulling Denver out of field goal range.

However, instead of letting the clock run out, Payton called timeout, leaving enough time for the Chiefs to drive the other way and kick a field goal of their own.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton acknowledged making a strategic mistake at the end of the first half against the Chiefs :: Denny Medley/USA Today network

After the game, Payton admitted he shouldn’t have called a timeout in that situation, revealing that he didn’t realize it was fourth down.

“That’s a boneheaded mistake by me,” Payton said. “They were calling one as well and I’m off by a down, but that was stupid.”

Sean Payton on calling a timeout after Wilson was sacked late in the first half: “Boneheaded mistake by me” pic.twitter.com/a0OSwu2DZ0

— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) October 13, 2023

Denver came into the game as a massive road underdog against the defending Super Bowl champions and needed to limit its mistakes to have a chance to win. Instead, Payton made it a little easier for the Chiefs to add three points despite a solid first half by the Broncos defense.

With the defeat, Denver has now lost their past 16 games against the Chiefs, dating to 2015.