{"id":435351,"date":"2026-01-28T19:19:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T19:19:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/435351\/"},"modified":"2026-01-28T19:19:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T19:19:10","slug":"sean-paytons-biggest-regret-from-broncos-playoff-heartbreak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/435351\/","title":{"rendered":"Sean Payton\u2019s biggest regret from Broncos\u2019 playoff heartbreak"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sean Payton knows he may have cost the Broncos a chance at a Super Bowl.<\/p>\n

After losing in Sunday\u2019s AFC Championship game to the Patriots, 10-7, in what turned into a winter wonderland during the second half, where snow furiously came down sideways<\/a>, Payton would love a do-over during a first-half fourth-down decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know which is the greater regret, the decision \u2014 certainly the play call,\u201d Payton said regarding a fourth-and-one decision from the Patriots\u2019 14-yard line while Denver was already leading 7-0.<\/p>\n

Payton drew up a rollout pass for his backup quarterback, Jarrett Stidham, which was immediately blown up by the Patriots\u2019 defense, and the pass to running back RJ Harvey fell incomplete, forcing a turnover on downs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe used a timeout,\u201d Payton said. \u201cProbably what irks me more is the call, more than the decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

The weather was still mostly clear at this point in the game. However, reports had indicated that it would be changing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s still early in the game, and we knew that there would be flurries \u2014 well, we have a new feel for flurries here,\u201d Payton said, hinting that the weather wasn\u2019t expected to turn as drastically as it did during the second half.<\/p>\n

\"HeadSean Payton revealed his biggest regret from the Broncos\u2019 loss to the Patriots. Getty Images<\/p>\n

The turnover on downs would be the last time the Broncos would be in the red zone during the game, as conditions worsened and normally consistent kicker Will Lutz missed two field goals, thanks to swirling winds and snow.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are those moments you wish you had back,\u201d Payton said. \u201cI don\u2019t pay attention to all the criticism. If I paid attention to that, I don\u2019t know that we\u2019d ever be in this position.\u201d<\/p>\n

4th and less than a yard and Broncos go for it instead of kicking a field goal. <\/p>\n

They decided a roll out right pass play with Stidham was better than a run when they are averaging 3.3 yards per rush this game\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/90skwm58Bu<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) January 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Offense wasn\u2019t just at a premium during the second half \u2013 it was nearly non-existent. <\/p>\n

From that drive on, the Broncos put up just 41 yards of total offense. <\/p>\n

The Patriots took advantage of a Stidham backwards pass that set them up deep in Broncos territory and led to a game-tying touchdown. The Patriots then drove down the field for the go-ahead field goal at the start of the third quarter. <\/p>\n

\"DenverWill Lutz had a tough time kicking field goals in the second half as snow game down in Denver. AP<\/p>\n

What followed was a slew of punts, missed field goals and a game-sealing interception by Stidham that sent New England to Super Bowl 2026.<\/p>\n

The Broncos badly missed their quarterback, Bo Nix, who is much more mobile than Stidham, who started his first game of the season for Denver.<\/p>\n

The Patriots now face the Seahawks in Santa Clara on Feb. 8.<\/p>\n

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