Payton Questions 4th-Down Call in Broncos’ Snowy Title Loss

The Denver Broncos lost to the New England Patriots 10-7 in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High. Coach Sean Payton highlighted his choice to go for it on fourth-and-1 in the second quarter instead of kicking a short field goal as a key regret in the close defeat, which came during a heavy snowstorm that stalled both teams.

Background

The Broncos entered the game with high hopes after a strong season. They started fast, building momentum on offense in the first half. Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham led a scoring drive with a 52-yard pass to Marvin Mims Jr. and capped it with a 6-yard touchdown toss to Courtland Sutton, putting Denver up 7-0 early.

The Patriots struggled at first, unable to string together long drives. Their longest possession in the opening stretch went for just 11 yards. Denver's defense held firm, giving the offense good field position multiple times. Three drives began from the Broncos' 40-yard line or better in the first half, but only one ended in points.

Weather played no role at the start. Clear conditions let both teams move the ball at times. Denver piled up 125 yards over its first four possessions. But things shifted as the half wore on. The offense slowed, managing just 24 yards on three drives before halftime. A missed 54-yard field goal by Wil Lutz added to the troubles.

Then came a turning point. Deep in their own territory, Stidham tried a backward pass that turned into a fumble. The Patriots recovered and scored quickly when quarterback Drake Maye ran into the end zone, tying the game at 7-7 just before halftime.

Key Details

Payton's biggest regret centered on a fourth-and-1 call from the Patriots' 14-yard line with 9 minutes left in the second quarter. The Broncos led 7-0 and had the ball deep in enemy territory. A field goal would have made it 10-0, but Payton opted to go for the first down.

He first called for a run play. During a timeout, he switched to a pass, putting Stidham in a bootleg roll to the right. Patriots defenders Cory Durden and Milton Williams broke through immediately. Stidham rushed a throw into traffic, and it fell incomplete, turning the ball over on downs.

"Decisions like that. The tough ones," Payton said. "The fourth-and-1. Frustrated. I felt like we would be able to run the ball more consistently."

Payton later said the original run call might have worked better in hindsight. He thought the momentum and defensive play justified the aggressive move to go up by two scores.

The fumble before halftime hurt too. Stidham explained his thinking on the play.

"I thought I had thrown it forward. Obviously, the replay said differently. Probably should have just eaten the sack, anyway."

Payton called the turnover a big play that shifted momentum.

Second-Half Snowstorm

Halftime brought snow that grew heavier as the game went on. It turned the field into a mess, limiting both offenses. The Broncos managed just 32 net yards and one first down after the break. Their longest play was 12 yards. They never got inside the Patriots' 20 again.

New England controlled the third quarter with a 9-minute, 31-second drive, taking a 10-7 lead. Denver's final chance came on a 45-yard field goal attempt with under five minutes left. Lutz's kick had a chance, but Patriots defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III tipped it wide.

The run game stalled in the snow, gaining only 22 yards. Stidham completed passes for 10 yards total in the second half. Special teams and field position became the focus, but Denver could not close the gap.

Offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey spoke about the day.

"It's obviously an unfortunate day. We didn't execute. We made mistakes before the weather turned that really flipped the game on its head."

What This Means

The loss ends Denver's season and sends the Patriots to Super Bowl LX on February 8 in Santa Clara, California. For the Broncos, it means reflecting on close calls in a game defined by small margins. Payton stressed the first half as the area to review most. Good field position did not produce enough points, and errors like the fumble and failed fourth down loomed large once the snow hit.

Payton took responsibility.

"We didn't score enough points and capitalize on that field position. Starts with the head coach and rest of our staff."

The coach plans to watch tape and note several regrets, including the fourth-down choice. He noted that points became vital as weather worsened, making the passed-up kick even more costly.

Denver's players and staff head into the offseason grateful for the year but disappointed. The team showed promise with its early play and defensive effort. Stidham stepped up as a backup but faced pressure throughout. The snowstorm recalled tough conditions from past title games, like the 2001 AFC Championship in Foxborough.

For Payton, the focus now shifts to building on the positives. He praised the run plan coming in and the defense's start. Fixing first-half execution could position the Broncos better next year. The tight score shows how competitive the AFC remains. New England's clock management and block sealed their advance.

Broncos fans leave with memories of a gritty fight. The stadium saw a mix of early excitement and later frustration as flakes piled up. Players like Sutton and Mims flashed potential. Lutz's misses highlighted kicking challenges in bad weather.

Payton summed up the big picture.

"The big thing was that first half, that first half momentum and field position didn't yield what it needed to yield. We needed more than that."

The offseason brings time to address these issues. Denver aims to return stronger, learning from a game that slipped away in the snow.