Sean Payton Snaps at Reporter After Berating Russell Wilson on Sideline

Sean Payton was still a little hot at the podium after the Detroit Lions' 42-17 beatdown on the Denver Broncos.

The Denver Broncos just had their lunch money stolen by the Detroit Lions. In desperate need of a win on Saturday night, the Broncos were steamrolled by the Lions, 42-17. 

There were a few turning-point moments in this game, the first of which was Russell Wilson's fumble on the Broncos' opening possession. Another turning point was on the Broncos' second possession of the third quarter. 

After driving 65-plus yards, the Broncos were in business with a 1st-&-Goal from Detroit's 9-yard line. First down saw Wilson unable to connect with Courtland Sutton, though the quarterback did complete to Jaleel McLaughlin on second down for an eight-yard gain. On third down from the 1-yard line, Javonte Williams was stopped for no gain.

Sean Payton "bowed up," keeping his offense on the field for a pivotal fourth-down attempt.  

The give went to fullback Michael Burton, who pounded it home for a Broncos touchdown. Then the yellow laundry fell. In a bizarre call that the officials utterly botched, Broncos right guard Quinn Meinerz was called for an offsides, wiping the touchdown off the board. 

As Broncos kicker Wil Lutz trotted onto the field for a gimme chip shot on 4th-&-Goal from the 5-yard line, the television cameras panned to Payton on the sideline, where he seemed to be berating Wilson, who stood next to QBs coach Davis Webb. Considering that it was the refs who nullified Denver's touchdown, it wasn't obvious what a frustrated Payton was getting on Wilson about, especially after he'd publicly been dog-cussing the refs and was still pretty hot. 

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— Zack Kelberman (@KelbermanNFL) December 17, 2023

Indeed, it was a one-sided conversation, as Wilson just took Payton's dressing down. Post-game, the first few questions to Payton at the podium were about that series, and, specifically, why he was so upset. 

"I was upset about the call. Simple," Payton said. "That's it." 

The press corps in attendance weren't ready to let Payton off the hook. Another dogged, blunt question was volleyed Payton's way on the subject. 

"Listen, what I talk with Russell about is none of your business," was the Payton retort. 

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For his part, Wilson kept it shallow when pressed at the podium about what Payton said to him on the sideline. 

"Obviously, we wanted to score on that drive. Unfortunately, we didn't," Wilson said. "I think more than anything else, we were just frustrated that we didn't score there because we were going to make that 28-14. Obviously, they ended up stopping us, and really, that was honestly the disappointing part because of that play where Burton got in. I think that's just why [we were] a little frustrated." 

Clearly, Payton was in no mood to suffer gotcha questions after he'd patiently, and quite politically, attempted to smooth past and not get roped into a hot-take quote for the local headlines. The last question was the straw that broke the camel's back and Payton snapped at the reporter. 

It could have been that Wilson was just the whipping boy in that situation, and that Payton was just looking for a target on whom to express his frustration. Then again, it could have had something to do with the first and second-down plays on that 1st-&-Goal series, which was an incompletion followed by an eight-yard gain. 

Wilson did not play well. That lost fumble early in the game robbed the Broncos of any and all momentum — when the offense was driving. Vance Joseph's defense hung in there for a time, forcing three straight Detroit punts before Jared Goff kicked open the floodgates and entered halftime with a 21-0 lead. 

In the wake of Denver's defense suddenly reverting back to its Week-3-in-Miami form on Saturday night, Payton needed his offense to come out and get points to open the third quarter. The Broncos did just that, as Wilson led a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive culminating in a passing score to Lil'Jordan Humphrey, cutting into Detroit's 28-7 lead.  

That gave Denver a glimmer of hope. But the Lions immediately answered with an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. The Broncos punched back, and that whacky series on the goal line turned out to be Payton's last bite at an apple that had suddenly turned rancid. 

Wilson finished the night 18-of-32 for 223 yards and a passing touchdown, with a QB rating of 88.4. He also rushed seven times for six yards and another rushing score. 

But it was another disjointed performance by the Broncos' offense. And as the triggerman charged with operating the offense, Wilson obviously shares a good chunk of the blame for Denver's pitiful offensive showing, that horrendous officiating call notwithstanding. 

Denver only converted 5-of-13 third-down attempts (38%) and Wilson was sacked twice. Meanwhile, Joseph's heretofore predatory defense had suddenly become the prey, as Goff and company joyously licked their chops as the Broncos were whipped up and down the field to the tune of 42 points and 448 total yards. 

In the locker room post-game, Payton told his team that the Broncos need to "shake it pretty soon here" and get ready for the next opponent. 

"I said this to the players afterwards. 'You're going to play in these games once in a while and it's difficult to swallow. Certainly as coaches. It starts with us. We've got to be better. But, man, we've got to be able to shake it pretty soon here and get ready to play New England.'" 

Falling back to .500 at 7-7, the Broncos are still in the playoff hunt with three games left to go. But this loss did diminish Denver's chances.

The Broncos robbed themselves of the chance to have more than a fighting chance at controlling their destiny. Now, Denver can only hope that winning out will be enough if Payton can whip this team to a 10-7 finish. 

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