DENVER — Coach Sean Payton is among those reflecting on his choice to aim for a tie instead of pushing for a win in the recent game against Cincinnati. Payton expressed his thoughts during a Monday session, saying, “Definitely, you contemplate your calls all the time.” He noted that as a head coach, second-guessing always comes with the role, particularly in light of the game’s outcome. Initially, after the Broncos lost 30-24 in overtime, Payton had stood firmly behind his decision, asserting, “The decision we made was the right one.”
One major aspect of the game Payton acknowledged was perhaps not the best strategy was giving the ball back to Joe Burrow, who is recognized as one of the league’s leading quarterbacks. Throughout the regulation period, the Broncos struggled against the Bengals’ offense, failing to force even a single punt, a revelation Payton did not realize until it came up in the postgame discussion. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix of the Broncos threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims Jr. with just 8 seconds left on the clock, and after this, he signaled to Payton they should go for the win.
Nix voiced his eagerness, saying, “Yes, I definitely want the ball and a chance to win the game,” though he ultimately deferred to Payton for the final decision. After Mims made a spectacular catch that was confirmed after a lengthy review, Payton opted to send kicker Wil Lutz out to tie the game instead of making a play for the victory. The Bengals’ ineffective clock management earlier provided the Broncos an opportunity to score, but instead of playing it safe with Burrow taking a knee, Bengals coach Zac Taylor chose to call for a run play that resulted in a player injury, altering the dynamics as the Broncos utilized their final timeout.
Unfortunately for Denver, their strategy of seeking overtime did not pay off when the Bengals outperformed them in overtime by a margin of 119 to 6 yards, as Burrow connected for a touchdown to Tee Higgins, which kept Cincinnati’s slim playoff chances alive while simultaneously thwarting the Broncos’ aspirations to secure a playoff spot for the second consecutive week. This also added complexity to the matchup of remaining playoff contenders. The Broncos (9-7), along with the Bengals (8-8) and Dolphins (8-8), are all in contention for the last playoff spot in the AFC, with the possibility of facing second-seeded Buffalo looming for whoever clinches that position.
In Denver, the Broncos will host the Kansas City Chiefs (15-1), who have already secured the top seed in the AFC and are expected to rest many of their starters during the game. A loss for Denver would eliminate the Bengals, who are seeking to continue a four-game winning streak, and would also prevent the Chiefs from facing Burrow, who is experiencing a remarkable season. Payton wasn’t the only coach left reflecting on missed opportunities, as the Atlanta Falcons faced a similar fate. Coach Raheem Morris’s questionable management of the clock led his team to a 30-24 overtime loss against the Washington Commanders.
The Falcons experienced issues when Morris opted not to call a timeout before a crucial field goal attempt by Riley Patterson, which ultimately fell short and extended the game into overtime. When Washington won the coin toss, quarterback Jayden Daniels led his team on a decisive drive that concluded with a touchdown pass to tight end Zach Ertz, securing a playoff spot. The loss left the Falcons (8-8) needing a win over the Panthers and hoping for a Saints upset against the Buccaneers (9-7) to reach the playoffs.
Morris, reflecting on the situation after the game, admitted he “probably could have” made a different choice in calling a timeout after a key reception. He explained that instead of preserving time, he aimed to save that timeout for later use. “In hindsight, it might have been better to take that timeout, but I wanted to maximize our opportunity,” he stated. Morris successfully saved five of his six available timeouts throughout the match. Like Nix, rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. also deferred the timeout decisions to his head coach, stating, “That’s on Coach Raheem. He calls the timeouts whenever he feels fit.”
This weekend of games has set the stage for crucial matchups impacting playoff scenarios, leaving teams to navigate through their reflections on decisions that could alter their seasons.
