The Denver Broncos not only lost in dominating fashion at the hands of the Detroit Lions 42-17 on Saturday, but there was one moment where head coach Sean Payton visibly lost his cool.
And of all players on the Broncos, he lashed out at his quarterback, Russell Wilson.
Why Was Sean Payton Yelling at Russell Wilson?
Payton was seen chastising his QB1 on the sidelines during the second half at Ford Field.
Why is Sean Payton yelling at Russell Wilson here? Russ was great on that drive. Payton is the one who didn’t throw challenge flag on what looked like a TD. pic.twitter.com/CN6nxb9xPR
— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) December 17, 2023
Many fans wondered why the head coach unloaded his emotions on Wilson. Some fans began thinking that perhaps Payton is not too fond of Wilson.
“Sean Payton doesn’t like his QB. Russell Wilson is not the QB Sean Payton wanted. He doesn’t like coaching Russ,” one fan posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).
It’s no secret that Payton and Wilson have had their ups and downs together. Despite being past Super Bowl winners, the early part of their relationship witnessed rough moments.
They began the season 0-3 together, which included enduring the 70-20 embarrassment against the Miami Dolphins.
After six games, Denver was 1-5. However, Wilson still threw for 12 touchdowns during that time with just four interceptions.
Since that bad start, the Broncos went on a five-game winning streak with Payton and Wilson at the controls. But Saturday’s 25-point beatdown dropped them to 7-7 with three games left and a playoff spot slipping away.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Now, this fierce sideline confrontation points to a possible locker room divide in the final stretch of the 2023 season.
When asked about the heated discussion, Payton’s answer surprised many NFL folks.
Payton Offers Reaction to Why He Lost His Temper
Payton claimed he was more upset over this particular sequence: The Broncos being called for a controversial offensive offsides call.
#Broncos HC Sean Payton is LIVID 😳
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) December 17, 2023
Payton explained that was the real reason he was seen yelling on the sidelines, denying he was scolding Wilson over a mistake.
But then there was one more tense moment involving the first-year Broncos head coach and longtime NFL coaching veteran. He blasted the question or thought of Wilson being chewed out.
“What I talk with Russell about is none of your business,” Payton strongly said.
Sean Payton said when he was yelling on the sideline on the direction of Russell Wilson, he was “upset about the call,” referring to the offsides penalty, and not yelling at Wilson.
He added later, “What I talk with Russell about is none of your business.” pic.twitter.com/AxVgk9Qmiq
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) December 17, 2023
That rhetoric confused many fans — even Denver media personalities like Kelly Werthmann of CBS Colorado.
“What I talk to Russ about is none of your business.” – Coach Sean Payton when reporter asked about his obvious yelling at Russell Wilson tonight pic.twitter.com/uxlyRIaNki
— Kelly Werthmann (@Kelly_OnTV) December 17, 2023
Another Denver radio personality, Rachel Vigil of DenverSports.com, ripped Payton for that sidelines moment.
“Hey Sean Payton…instead of yelling at your QB, how about we throw the red flag you have in your pocket on any of those last plays,” Vigil posted.
Is Sideline Skirmish a New Dent to Wilson’s Broncos Legacy?
There will more than likely be more fans who view the Payton/Wilson moment as a controversial and tense one.
But for Wilson, many more fans will look at this moment and believe it’s an added dent to what’s already been a rough Denver chapter.
Already, Wilson was ripped by NFL and Bronco fans for his disappointing Broncos debut last season, which led to an in-season coaching firing. Nathaniel Hackett’s dismissal came during his first season as head coach — a first in NFL history.
Furthermore, Saturday’s loss adds another dilemma for Wilson — it’s loss No. 17 in a Broncos uniform. He now holds a dismal 11-17 overall record with his newest team.
He’s even witnessed his career completion percentage drop in the Rocky Mountains. After owning a 65% completion percentage in Seattle, Wilson has since posted a 63.4% completion percentage in Denver.
Following this sideline spat, the talk of Denver’s latest loss isn’t just how the Broncos were thrashed throughout the night in the Motor City but how Payton and Wilson became involved in a new late-season distraction.
Want to predict the rest of the 2023 season with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? Looking for the most up-to-date NFL standings? What about a breakdown of team depth charts or the NFL schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with that and more!
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