Broncos' Sean Payton explains why he didn't go for FG in first half that would later haunt Denver in snowy AFC title game defeat vs. Patriots

DENVER - Sean Payton didn't take the points in the first half of the AFC championship game, and it lingered right to the end of the Denver Broncos' 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots.

The Broncos were ahead 7-0 in the second quarter when Jarrett Stidham ran and was a yard short of the first down. Payton had a decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 or take a short field goal. He went for it. The Broncos rolled out Stidham on a pass, he was pressured and the pass fell incomplete.

The Broncos didn't score again. The Patriots won 10-7 as snowy weather wrecked both offenses in the second half. The field goal would have helped.

Payton said he liked the way his defense was playing and wanted to try to go up 14-0.

I felt like we had momentum, to go up 14," Payton said after the game. I felt we had a good call.

I think the feeling was, let's be aggressive."

Payton said the Broncos had a run called but switched to a pass seeing the Patriots played six men on the line. He said in hindsight, the run was a better decision."

Payton was asked if he regretted passing on the field goal.

There's always regrets," Payton said. Yeah, there's always going to be second thoughts."