Sean Payton cautions against judging short-yardage play calls

DENVER , CO - SEPTEMBER 27: Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos watches the action during the fourth quarter of the Broncos' 30-26 win over the Los Angeles Rams at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, September 27, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images

It has been an up and down start to Davis Webb's career as an offensive coordinator as the Denver Broncos offense has been completely defunct for large stretches of games in each of the first three games. Some of the more perplexing calls have come in short-yardage situations, which was something head coach Sean Payton was asked about today.

I think you're looking at three weeks, you're probably looking at three snaps total," Payton said. So it'd be hard to draw a conclusion to say, You guys are mostly in the gun.' We're three games in, and I think we've had probably three snaps of third-and-1. Typically, we're under center in short yardage with run. When you have to run it, maybe there are times you take a shot. So I think, yes, statistically speaking, we're way early in the process."

I'm not one to question three snaps total, but I do feel like there have been more than that. Perhaps not at 3rd and exact 1, but the annoyances of an empty set or shotgun formation on a third and 2 or under is definitely something we have all noticed. I remember two times last night it was a short yardage situation and we would comment how they'll should just come in with the big heavies and let Adam Prentice go get the first down - instead it was a shotgun, incomplete pass and punt.

While Payton is right to caution making any conclusions after three games, we also have a legitimate concern about some of the situational play calls through those first three games. The offense has to start performing with more consistency or these amazing game-winning comeback wins are going to start turning into blowout losses.

What do you think?

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Potent quotablesSean Payton

On the late defensive pass interference call and if it reminded him of the 2018 NFC Championship Game

Well this is years later, so a completely different game, different players. I think there were two calls really that I guess that a lot of people were looking at, one over on [WR] Pat Bryant's side and then the one that was a little bit later. Each week when these things come up... The longer you get in this thing, the less you discuss penalties. You just got to go out and play. I've yet to see one get changed either way. You hope that when the game's over with, the season's over with, you're on the positive side of the ledger. I focus a little bit more on the penalties that we can control relative to pre-snap, post-snap, those types of things, but that's really where I sit with it."

On WR Pat Bryant's performance

He has real good hands away from his body. He high points the two-point play. It was really covered, and [QB] Bo [Nix] and he do a great job of just finding a throwing lane. Because of how he can catch, he's good with run after the catch. We saw a few snaps of it last night. You guys saw it all through training camp, so it's good to see him come up in a game like that."

On if the team lacked urgency in the first half and how it can establish that urgency earlier

I thought defensively we played pretty well, 13 points and then the last two-minute drive for a field goal. It's hard to pinpoint it on urgency. I think there probably are a handful of things that we didn't do particularly well and that they did well for the way the game started. Clearly everyone has a sense of urgency when the game starts. You understand who you're playing. So I think that it was a tale of two halves, but I don't know that it wasn't because of urgency."

On what they can work on to improve the slow starts to games

I think it gets back to your initial assessment of the gameplan and how you want to begin a game. Cleaning up the details. Obviously you can't throw them all in a first-half slow start bin. What you have to be able to look at is, All right, what are the things that have kept us from some early-down efficiency?' We're not splitting the atom here relative to trying to move the football more efficiently earlier in the games. I just think that we've had a few games that-look at Kansas City and then this game-where just from a yardage, third down, all of those numbers, and even Jacksonville for that matter."

On if they anticipated the Rams' offense being so pass heavy

No. I would've said no. Sometimes it's a by-product. I don't think we get that game from them if we don't tie the game or fight back into the game. Then when we were able to, it was never one-dimensional, but I think all of the sudden you throw six passes or however many in the final series. Generally it's kind of a by-product of you're not in the lead late. We've seen a number of times where those guys-with the lead-are doing a great job with the run-action, the run, the run, and then boom they hit a tight end over the middle to take a knee. I think a lot of it had to do with the second half, and how that unfolded and the attempts then really spiking up."

On if there is an art form to NFL players selling calls like in the NBA or soccer

We're not at that soccer level yet, cause we saw that for a summer. (Laughs) I think it's probably south of where the NBA is. I think there's nothing that anyone works on. If they're trying to catch a pass or... It's not something that's practiced. I don't know other than his [WR Pat Bryant] natural reaction, outside of that, there's really nothing we look at."

Under the radar

Underdogs the next 3 games. Which line is the most surprising? pic.twitter.com/nEuEr4BkNg

- Trevor Judge (@TrevorJudge) September 28, 2026

All 32 teams ranked by their opponents' combined record EXCLUDING games against them, through Sunday night:

1) Dolphins: 6-0
2) Broncos: 5-1
2) Rams: 5-1
2) Saints: 5-1
5) Bears: 3-1
6) Lions: 4-2
6) Jaguars: 4-2
6) Chargers: 4-2
6) Patriots: 4-2
6) Buccaneers: 4-2
11)...

- Ryan Paganetti (@RyanPaganetti) September 28, 2026

The Denver Broncos are now 13-4 in one score games over the last two seasons. The Chiefs are 2-11. https://t.co/hQqyqTa5Qkpic.twitter.com/pgIvARClyu

- Joe Mahoney (@ndjomo76) September 28, 2026

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