Sean Payton’s transition into full-time Kevin James meme continued Sunday when Nathaniel Hackett, the coach he trashed to USA Today this summer, returned to Denver and helped the Jets sink the Broncos to 1–4.
Hackett received a game ball. Payton wilted like a sour grape in the sun when he was asked about it (and referred to his predecessor only as part of Robert Saleh’s staff).
The Jets’ offense, with Zach Wilson at quarterback, put up more than 400 yards against Denver. Meanwhile, the Broncos’ receiving corps was one 23-yard Jerry Jeudy catch away from being rendered almost completely irrelevant. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport noted after the game that Saleh named Hackett an honorary team captain Friday and the place went haywire. The Broncos are almost assuredly out of the playoff race, after Payton projected the team would be in it during that same preseason rant.
