Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton didn’t sugarcoat it after a back-and-forth win: when asked about trusting Courtland Sutton and going for it on key fourth downs, Payton essentially said the “whole analytics thing” doesn’t apply the way people want it to.
Denver beat the Green Bay Packers 34-26, in a game where the Broncos were home underdogs according to sportsbooks. Payton showed he didn’t buy the betting consensus, nor does he subscribe to every advanced analytic.
Payton’s point wasn’t that numbers never matter. It was that they don’t tell the full story in games like this one, especially when the opponent is scoring and your quarterback is playing with confidence.
Sean Payton Takes a Shot at “Analytics” After Broncos’ Aggressive Night
Asked about Bo Nix’s trust in Sutton — and Payton’s trust in Sutton in big moments — Payton said Denver “wanted to be aggressive,” then launched into his most headline-grabbing answer of the night.
“Sometimes that’s why the whole analytic things don’t work,” Payton said. “Because the analytics don’t tell you who the quarterback [is] and how the other team’s doing offensively… I know they want it to work, but it doesn’t.”
Payton framed it as a week-to-week, game-to-game decision, pointing out that Denver’s approach can change depending on how the opponent is moving the ball. He even mentioned a two-point decision as another example of how context matters.
“When you play a team that’s scoring… you’ve got to think differently a little bit,” he said. “Those were plays that we like.”
The comment is the kind that will instantly light up talk shows, not just because it’s blunt, but because it touches the NFL’s loudest ongoing argument: film-and-feel vs. spreadsheets.
What It Means for the Broncos and Bo Nix Going Forward
Payton didn’t just defend the decision-making. He also painted a picture of an offense he believes is trending up, and a second-year quarterback he thinks is still early in the journey, but clearly growing.
Payton praised Nix for one of his “better games,” pointed out the offense allowed “no sacks,” and highlighted the way Nix created with his feet and climbed the pocket on third-and-long situations. He also credited the way receivers adjust with Nix when he breaks contain, turning into targets as the play extends.
Payton also gave a memorable “journey” analogy for Nix, comparing the quarterback’s development to running a half marathon and putting him around “mile marker 4” — early, learning, and building endurance.
And while Payton acknowledged clinching a playoff berth, he made it clear he isn’t treating that like the finish line.
“Goal one is try to go win your division,” Payton said. “Goal two is try to get the best seed. And then goal three is… try to win a world championship.”
Payton Also Revealed the Moment He Knew the Opponent Was “Gassed”
If the analytics comment was the spiciest quote, the most cold-blooded coaching detail came later.
Payton said the Broncos wanted to use tempo — factoring in the altitude — and at one point literally called the entire offense over during a stoppage to make sure they saw what he saw.
“Are you watching these guys right here?” Payton recalled telling them. “They’re gassed… Keep the pedal down.”
That’s the kind of postgame admission that turns into an “oh wow” clip fast: not just that Denver pushed the pace, but that Payton identified a fatigue edge in real time and leaned into it.
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