Perhaps no coach since the 1950s has praised the Detroit Lions more than Sean Payton for being an NFL model team.
But when the Broncos faltered to a 1-5 start this season, precisely as Dan Campbell did with Detroit a year earlier before the Lions recovered to finish 9-8, Payton did just that. The Lions then continued that momentum into 2023, where they now sit atop the NFC North at 9-4.
Back on October 18, Payton said, “There’s a fine line here between a groove and a rut.” “You have to consider Detroit, who was sitting 1-6, a year ago. There’s grit component to it. mental fortitude. They are now one of the teams that is in the running. We are in a similar situation.
particularly during this time.
The Broncos’
They now have six victories in seven games after a 24-7 thrashing of the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. They are one of six AFC clubs with a 7-6 record. Additionally, they trail the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs, who have lost four of their last six games, by only one game.Payton once again acknowledged his respect for the Lions and the work Campbell has done to improve the team’s losing culture ahead of the Broncos’ trip to Detroit this coming weekend.
Payton said on Monday, “It stems from our relationship with their head coach.” “I was the offensive coordinator in New York when Dan was selected, and I contributed to our ability to sign him as a free agent when I was in Dallas. Eventually, I signed Dan to play for the Saints. He suffered harm. That was the end of his career. Subsequently, I managed to appoint him as an assistant coach.
“He’s a great coach and a close friend, and I’ve always enjoyed working with him,” Payton said. Therefore, we only mentioned a comparable circumstance from a year ago at 1–5. Put differently, a 1-6 squad that managed to completely change the course of events.
Throughout the previous two months, Payton’s squad has shown many of the same traits as Campbell’s in its comeback: more gnash than shine and often wins tough, not beautiful.
The Broncos’ victory on Sunday was both their first away game in the AFC West in four years and their first triumph at SoFi Stadium, the site of Nathaniel Hackett’s dismissal after an ugly 51-14 defeat to the Rams on Christmas Day last year.
The Broncos have defeated Justin Herbert on the road for the first time in four efforts, Patrick Mahomes for the first time in 13 tries, and Andy Reid for the first time in eight years during their winning run.
They’ll get another opportunity to defeat the Raiders in January, which will be their first since the team relocated to Las Vegas after the 2019 campaign.
Naturally, they’d really want to break their seven-year postseason drought, and if present trends continue, they may also be able to end the Chiefs’ seven-year dominance in the division.
What is effective
Russell Wilson’s relationship with wide receiver Courtland Sutton, who seems to produce a highlight-worthy touchdown grab every week, is about the only thing that clicks on offense regularly. This one was done with one hand.
46-yard catch as CB Michael Davis hauled him down. Vance Joseph, the defensive coordinator, played Herbert and his backup, Easton Stick, with unrelenting aggression. Denver’s defense bounced back from a setback in Houston, with a season-high eight pass breakups, six sacks by six different players, and two takeaways.
WHAT HAS TO BE DONE
The Broncos were in a funk coming out of halftime last week, despite emphasizing their opening drives in the second half. This was the sixth week in a row that they went three and out. They started the half with the ball in the air 11 times in total, and their results were 9 punts, 1 field goal that was missed, and 1 field goal that was blocked.
AVAILABLE STOCK
PJ Locke has been an absolute beast on the field during Kareem Jackson’s second suspension, which concludes this weekend at the Detroit game. When Locke stripped Stick in the fourth quarter, he became the first safety in franchise history to earn a sack in three straight games.
LOW STOCK
Payton’s play-calling in the second half after the break and the Broncos’ offensive performance to begin the third quarter. Since October 29 versus Kansas City, Denver has not recorded a single first down on its first drive of the second half.
PERSONAL HARM
Regarding OLB Nik Bonitto’s knee injury, Payton did not provide an update. With a fast pulse on Sunday night, he reported that G Quinn Meinerz was OK and was on his way back to Denver after his visit in Southern California.
Important Numbers
1-for-18 — The Broncos stopped the Chargers five times out of six times on fourth down and prevented them from getting a first down on twelve of their third-down opportunities.
NEXT ACTIONS
Even against an NFC club like the Lions, the Broncos cannot afford another mistake. They would be much more comfortable in the postseason race if they had defeated Houston a week ago.
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