'Tough to Watch': Payton Admonishes 'Embarrassing' Loss at Miami

Payton reacted in kind to Denver's 70-20 blowout.

As shellshocked as anyone who witnessed Sunday's Massacre in Miami, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton took the podium following the 70-20 defeat and attempted to make sense of ... well, what was senseless.

"I’ll be brief. Obviously, that was embarrassing and tough to watch," Payton conceded in his post-game press conference. "Aside from the kick return there weren’t a lot of positives to take from that game. We had our opportunities offensively early. Two penalties. You know, take touchdowns off the board and I don't know that -- I think they punted one time."

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Indeed, the Dolphins punted just once amid their 50-point dog-walking. They spent the rest of the afternoon recording NFL history, racking up 726 total yards and 10 touchdowns — five through the air, five on the ground. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had more TD passes (4) than incompletions (3). Rookie running back De'Von Achane averaged 11.3 yards and scored twice across 18 carries.

This was Madden on rookie mode, and the home team dominated the sticks.

"Listen, we knew we were playing a really good offense. But we’ve got to look closely at what we were doing," Payton said. "When someone runs the ball up and down the field like those guys did, throw it up and down the field, it's not acceptable."

Unacceptable doesn't begin to describe the worst loss in franchise history and the league's first 70-point outing since 1966, which effectively ends the 0-3 Broncos' playoff hopes, intensifying calls to fire beleaguered defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

But that's all a gobsmacked Payton was willing to offer.

Awkward exchange between Sean Payton and a reporter, who asked how the #Broncos coach feels about the historically bad loss.

"What's the question? What's the question? I just finished telling you. Next question," Payton said. pic.twitter.com/EwE55LvvLh

— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) September 24, 2023

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