Sean Payton's Clock Management Questioned After Broncos Lost to Steelers

Payton's decision not to attempt an onside kick puzzled fans.

Payton's game management came under question during Denver's loss to the Steelers. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The Denver Broncos are 0–2 in the Bo Nix era, but Week 2's loss can be more accurately blamed on his head coach.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton's clock management in a 13–6 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday was atrocious. And no one seemed to understand what he was doing.

The Broncos kicked a field goal with 1:54 remaining in the game to cut the lead to 13–6. With that little time left and only one timeout, everyone expected Denver to line up for an onside kick. That's not what happened.

For some reason, Payton elected to kick it deep, which meant at best the Broncos would get the ball back with a few seconds left. And that's exactly what happened. The Broncos forced a three-and-out and forced the Steelers to punt with 18 seconds left. Nix and the offense got the ball back at their own 19-yard line with nine seconds on the clock. And they needed a touchdown and an extra point to tie the game.

Things didn't work out.

Nix hit Josh Reynolds, who lateraled the ball to Marvin Mims for a 15-yard gain. Then, with one second left, Nix threw the ball downfield but was intercepted to end the game.

Payton explained his reasoning in the postgame press conference.

Sean Payton explains the decision:

We were hopeful to have 2-3 plays before we went to the end zone. It was just weighing the odds vs. recovering an onside kick or getting the ball back with 26 seconds.

So we chose to kick off. https://t.co/eV1KOOxezx pic.twitter.com/Ysxh2259Pv

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 15, 2024

That just doesn't make sense.

NFL fans were roasting Payton after the game.

That end-of-game situation management by Sean Payton was dreadful. Then again, nothing in the first 59 minutes was all that stellar either

— Nate Kreckman (@NateKreckman) September 15, 2024

Sean Payton is going to get the ball back with 10 seconds left after declining to onside kick

what?

— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) September 15, 2024

Sean Payton deciding against an onside kick is a good example of you either die a hero or you live long enough to become the villain

— Tate Frazier (@tatefrazier) September 15, 2024

I'm going to need someone much smarter than me to explain why Sean Payton didn't onside kick

— Jared Smith (@jaredleesmith) September 15, 2024

Sean Payton explaining how the odds of Bo Nix having to go 81 yards in 9 seconds is better than just TRYING an onside kick will be fascinating.

— John Lund (@lundinbridge) September 15, 2024

Sean Payton kicked the ball away down 7 with 1:55 left and 1 timeout. That is one of the dumbest coaching decisions I have ever seen

— Jeffrey Cooperstein (@Jeff_Coop27) September 15, 2024

Things are not going well in Denver.

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