In two seasons as Denver’s head coach, Payton’s aggressiveness has been a gift and a curse. While there are times he has used that mindset to his advantage, there have also been moments when it has cost his team, leading to head-scratching in-game decisions, especially in big moments.

Facing 4th-and-6 right near midfield down by 3 points with 4:35 remaining in the game, Broncos coach Sean Payton opted to punt.

Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker made the attempt, the longest free kick in NFL history and L.A. went into halftime trailing 21-13. L.A. eventually came back in the second half to win 34-27. For Harbaugh, it was a joyous opportunity and moment.

And so here we are: On to Cincinnati. The Broncos lost because of Dicker the Kicker and Hassan Haskins. The Chargers, despite trailing 21-10, despite giving up a touchdown on the Broncos’ first three possessions, were better.

It would be an understatement to say that Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton is pleased with rookie quarterback Bo Nix. Arriving via the No. 12 overall pick in this year's NFL draft, Nix won the Broncos' open quarterback competition,

In the first-ever flexed Thursday Night Football game on Amazon Prime—a huge game between two teams for the final playoff spots in the AFC—Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton had one thing on his mind. Run the ball. We know this because the words "RUN IT!!" were scribbled on Payton's laminated call sheet.

The Broncos took an 11-point lead in the third quarter but gave up three unanswered touchdowns as the Chargers won 34-27. The Broncos struggled to contain quarterback Justin Herbert and the Chargers passing game, with the secondary coming under fire by Payton after the game.

Initial thoughts from the Broncos’ 34-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16 at SoFi Stadium: 1. Self-inflicted wounds: As sheer pain goes, that Chiefs road game’s got a little company now. You don’t need to see the world with orange-and-blue glasses to notice that the Broncos gifted the Bolts at least nine points in the middle of the contest.

For years, the Broncos continuously held below-500 seasons. They've only had one winning year post-Peyton Manning era, and from 2017-2023, the team's overall record was 43-72. While Sean Payton was already the head coach in 2023, one could argue that it makes the current resurgence even sweeter for him.

Denver's head coach is under heavy fire for a decision that could ultimately cause the Broncos to miss the playoffs.

The Denver Broncos suffered a tough 34-27 loss to their AFC West rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday Night Football after being outscored 21-6 in the second half and squandering a 24-13 lead.