Broncos’ Payton on 4th down decision: ‘It felt like we had a good call’

On Sunday, in the AFC Championship Game, the Denver Broncos got the start they wanted against the New England Patriots—backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who made his first career playoff start and his first start two years after replacing the injured Bo Nix, connected with Courtland Sutton from six yards out to give Denver a 7-0 lead on team’s opening drive.

However, the snow came in the second half, the Broncos would not score again, and they would lose to the Patriots 10-7 at Empower Field at Mile High.

With the win, the Patriots will battle the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, on February 8.

After the first drive, Stidham(17/31, 133 yards, TD, INT) struggled the rest of the way as he had a costly fumble, which set up New England’s only touchdown, and an interception in the fourth quarter on Denver’s final possession.

Following the loss, Broncos coach Sean Payton discussed how he felt Stidham played against the Patriots.

“I thought he fought hard in tough conditions,” “I think we’re going to look at the film. I know this. I’m going to look at it and be critical of myself, and I think there were a number of things that we just had to do better. We didn’t finish some runs, and we dropped some passes. Again, felt like that was a problem all year. Early, when we had the momentum, we didn’t it felt like… Let’s just say, most of the first half, and we didn’t come away with enough. Having had that momentum and that field position.”

Maybe the outcome of the game would have been different if Payton had decided to kick a field goal on fourth and 1 at the Patriots’ 14-yard line in the second quarter. However, he decided to go for it, and Stidham’s pass would fall incomplete.

Payton explained why he felt going for it was the right move.

“Yes, it just felt like we had momentum to get up 14,” Payton said. “It felt like we had a good call. What were we at yard-line-wise there? Yes, I think the feeling was, ‘Man, let’s be aggressive.’ To get up 14, I was just watching the way our defense was playing. Look, the turnover on our end resulting in a touchdown, and outside of that, I thought we did a good job in containing them. There’ll be a number of things when we watch the tape I’ll look at. You know, critique and pay close attention to. But it was a hard-fought game, and we didn’t do enough to win it.”

Hindsight is always 20-20, and if they score a touchdown in that spot, they probably win the game. However, if they had kicked the field goal, there’s also a decent chance they could have won. In the end, they went for it and didn’t make it. Now, they go home.