Sean Payton Critiques Broncos Defense After Jaguars Loss
In the aftermath of a disappointing 34-20 defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton took a hard look at his team’s defensive shortcomings. It was a stark contrast to the winning streak the Broncos had enjoyed since September, and the loss served as a wake-up call for the franchise.
Defensive Struggles Under Scrutiny
Payton expressed his frustration during the postgame press conference, pointing to the team’s poor performance on third downs. “I think the No. 1 thing, I don’t know what the third down numbers were, but I know they weren’t good,” he remarked, highlighting a critical area of the game where the Jaguars excelled. The numbers confirmed his observations, with Jacksonville converting 8 of 15 third-down attempts, while Denver managed only 5 of 14.
The Jaguars also demonstrated their efficiency in the red zone, scoring on 4 of 5 opportunities. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence had a standout performance, throwing for 279 yards and three touchdowns while adding another score on the ground. “He [Lawrence] played a really good game, and so you can try to pin that down on… I’m sure we’re going to look at the tape,” Payton noted. “We missed a lot of tackles in space. There were a lot of yards after the catch that showed up, which was evident.”
Mixed Defensive Performance
While the Broncos’ defense recorded five sacks and managed to hit Lawrence 14 times, these achievements were overshadowed by a series of missed tackles and blown assignments. The absence of starting safety Brandon Jones was felt acutely, as the defense struggled to maintain its composure against the Jaguars’ offense. Payton lamented “too many” coverage breakdowns, noting that Jacksonville threw with greater efficiency than the Broncos, which ultimately made a significant difference in the game.
Looking Ahead to Kansas City
As the Broncos prepare for a quick turnaround ahead of their Christmas night matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, Payton is eager to make necessary adjustments. “We’ll look at it all, but we’re going to have a quick week,” he stated. “We’re going to be on to Kansas City like ASAP. So that’s just how it is with this quick turnaround.”
With the pressure mounting, the Broncos will need to address their defensive issues swiftly if they hope to regain their footing in the competitive landscape of the NFL.
