Sean Payton gave the same response Monday to complaining Carolina players that he shared with his own team after the Denver Broncos’ 28-14 win over the Panthers: “Play better.”
Payton stood by his decision to attempt a fake field goal and run a trick play while leading by three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. “We’re trying to finish the game the right way. We’re not trying to run up the score on anyone,” the Broncos’ head coach said Monday when asked about the frustration from some Panthers players.
Panthers coach Dave Canales dismissed those plays after the game, saying he understood Payton’s desire to secure the win. However, he admitted that some players were unhappy about the fake, even though the Panthers had tried a fake punt earlier in the game.
“I think they were a little bit frustrated,” Canales said. “At the same time, we got to put ourselves in a better position by playing well throughout the whole game. I never really fault the other coaches for whatever we’re giving them.”
The fake field goal occurred with 14 minutes left, when holder Riley Dixon threw a short pass to tight end Lucas Krull, who was stopped five yards short of a first down.
The trick play took place with under five minutes remaining when Bo Nix quickly passed to Courtland Sutton, who then threw a 28-yard pass to fullback Michael Burton on fourth-and-2.
“It’s the National Football League,” Payton said. “I’ve been in games with a 28-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost. So, we’re trying to finish. The Burton throw from Sutton is trying to continue a drive.”
“Play better.” This was Payton’s message to his team the day before and again during Monday’s film review.
He was upset about Lil-Jordan Humphrey’s fumble on Denver’s first drive, which allowed Carolina to score a touchdown, and about Sutton’s fumble near the goal line that changed the game by giving the Panthers a 14-point swing in the last minutes, as Bryce Young led them 98 yards for a touchdown, breaking a nine-drive scoreless streak.
Instead of celebrating another win, he criticized his team in the locker room for these turnovers and the poor defense during the final drive.
“It’s not the perfect game we’re searching for,” Payton said Monday. “But it’s a game that we know when played with bigger stakes against a better team, it’ll cost you.
Then all of a sudden, you’re in the locker room, players have their garbage bags out, players are in the interview about what happened? Early exits from the whatever and you have your exit meetings.
“So, we have to get better at that.”
This was another indication that Payton is serious about not viewing this season as a rebuilding year. It also showed a change in team culture after several seasons where any win, no matter how messy, was celebrated because they were so rare.
