After a very promising recent stretch, the Denver Broncos ran into a Detroit buzzsaw on Saturday night against the Lions.
The Broncos got punched in the mouth during their trip to Motor City, falling behind by multiple touchdowns in a game Denver really could’ve used to stay afloat in the AFC playoff hunt.
Broncos coach Sean Payton looked particularly irate after an offensive offsides penalty took away a Denver touchdown for fullback Michael Burton on 4th-and-goal late in the third quarter. It forced the Broncos to kick a field goal, which didn’t really help take much away from the Detroit lead.
The offsides looked to have been because right guard Quinn Meinerz’s helmet was slightly over the line of scrimmage before the touchdown play.
Payton got so livid about the penalty that he chewed out Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson of all people on the sideline after the penalty cost them the touchdown.
The Broncos were called for offensive offsides, wiping out a TD on 4th-and-goal.
Sean Payton was livid at the officials… and Denver QB Russell Wilson.
"Well, there is a very animated discussion. I'd say it's a one-sided discussion with his quarterback." – Kevin Harlan pic.twitter.com/k9KKcoSain
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 17, 2023
We’re not really sure why Payton got so mad at Wilson in particular, as he can’t really be held accountable for an offensive lineman’s helmet going offsides in theory. Wilson really didn’t look like he wanted to engage with Payton, either.
Maybe there was something going on that the viewers at home couldn’t see, but it’s just rare to see a head coach yell at his quarterback like this, even when down by this many points late in the game.
