Broncos' Sean Payton angers Panthers players with fourth-quarter play calls

Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton isn't one to be shy with his play decisions, even when games appear to be in hand. And perhaps there was still some New Orleans Saints blood left in him when the Broncos took a 28-7 lead in the third quarter on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, a longtime rival of Payton's in the NFC South.

With about 10 minutes left in the game, the Broncos attempted a fake field goal, but the attempt failed as defending quarterback Riley Dixon completed a 3-yard pass to tight end Lucas Kroll and ultimately failed to score a first down. Then, with 4:29 left in the fourth quarter, Payton called for a one-two pass, with wide receiver Courtland Sutton completing the attempt to Troy Franklin for a 28-yard gain. That drive also ended with no points as Sutton fumbled the ball away at the Broncos' 2.

Carolina scored a late touchdown to give Denver a 28-14 victory, but the game ended with Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn charging Payton, who coached Horn's father, Joe, in New Orleans.

“I trained his father. So I yelled at him. I don’t know what the exchange was, but I enjoyed coaching his dad,” Payton said in Sunday’s postgame press conference. “He was frustrated. I think he yelled at one of our other players. I like him. I think he’s a good player.”

Sean Payton was confronted on the court after the game by Carolina's Jaycee Horn, who said he was “trying to run up the score.”#9Sport #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/PZMvHZk2dh

— 9NEWS Sports Denver (@9NEWSSports) October 27, 2024

Horn was not yet in the locker room when the media entered after the game. But special teams captain Sam Franklin said the Panthers didn't appreciate Payton's decisions in the fourth quarter.

“We just felt like it was something that could have been avoided, like not trying to run up the score even though you're already winning,” Franklin said. “There are five minutes left. You're making trick plays and still trying to score. Basically it’s just trying to embarrass us.”

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Payton also didn't hold back when pointing out the state of the Panthers' offense, led by 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young at quarterback.

“I said this, it’s not a good offense that we played. It’s just the truth,” Payton said. “So that’s what we expected, and we’re going to see a lot better teams.”

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(Photo: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)