Sean Payton Reveals Reason for Broncos' Lack of Explosive Plays

The Denver Broncos operated on a far more competent level in the team's season-opening loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Going into halftime, it looked as if Sean Payton had already completed his offensive renaissance in Denver.

But in the second half, the Broncos only scored on one possession — a field goal. New kicker Wil Lutz also missed a 55-yarder, and on the third second-half possession, the Broncos punted following a three-and-out with 5:14 to go in the fourth quarter, never to see the ball again.

Denver's offensive team stats were mostly efficient. Absent from the equation, however, was even a semblance of big-play production.

It didn't help that Russell Wilson was without Jerry Jeudy for the entire game — easily the Broncos' most explosive receiver — nor was it convenient that tight end Greg Dulcich exited the game early. But with Duclich hurt and Jeudy's outlook still clouded, it's worth asking how Payton plans to manufacture explosive plays.

In a conference call on Monday, Payton spoke to how the Raiders stopped the Broncos, but in his typical fashion, he was reticent to reveal how he plans to open the way to big-play production.

“I would say two things," Payton said. "Certainly, you miss Jerry and you miss Greg. The other thing, we got a little bit more—a lot more—soft zone coverage. To Russ' credit, the ball came down underneath a number of times when it needed to. It’s that back-and-forth. You’re waiting for the down safety looks, you’re waiting for the opportunities that maybe provide you those chances down the field, but I would say a little bit more shell [coverage] than expected and force the throws to come underneath.”

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The Broncos' two longest plays of the day — not counting penalties — were a pair of Wilson passes — a 21-yarder to Brandon Johnson and a 20-yarder to Samaje Perine. The Raiders executed their game plan well, keeping their safeties in a shell and forcing Wilson to take the underneath throws, which he did.

Denver had to nickel and dime its way downfield all day. Both teams had only six possessions (Jimmy Garoppolo's kneel-down to end the first half not counting), and on Denver's three scoring drives, the Raiders forced Wilson and company to run an average of 13 plays to get points.

Las Vegas may not have forced any turnovers, but it did sack Wilson twice, and it executed its defensive game plan with great discipline and efficiency. Somewhat shockingly, Payton's play-calling never really seemed to adjust to how the Raiders were playing them.

Wilson took a couple of shots, and one paid dividends in the form of a pass interference penalty that the officials oddly spotted only 17 yards past the line of scrimmage, though the play resolved 30 yards downfield inside the 5-yard line. Courtland Sutton was the target, and he sold the interference well. The Broncos got a touchdown on that drive, which ended their first half.

Although the explosive plays were lacking, Payton liked Wilson's decision-making in Week 1. One QB cliche around NFL circles is that 'you can't go broke taking a profit.'

The results of Denver's season opener proved the fallacy of that cheap maxim. However, Wilson did finish 27-of-34 for 177 yards and two touchdowns with a QB rating of 108.0.

“I was pleased with the decision-making," Payton said of Wilson. "The key is to be able to run the ball and have the sustained success. We were able to do that at times. Part of that—where the ball went—was a byproduct of what we were seeing. So yes, teams will be in and out of different coverage looks. We were the same way defensively.”

Entering halftime, Wilson was on pace to finish with north of 250 passing yards and at least one additional touchdown, but the lack of 20-plus-yard plays limited him to what can only be called an efficient day at the office instead of an explosive one. Meanwhile, Payton's run-game emphasis resulted in 94 yards on the day on 22 attempts, averaging 4.3 yards per rush.

Jeudy was a game-time decision in Week 1, so there's a decent chance he'll play next week vs. the Washington Commanders. Dulcich's timetable is up in the air.

But whether either pass-catcher plays in Week 2, one thing is certain: the Raiders just gave opponents a blueprint on how to limit the Broncos, and unless Payton and Wilson adjust, fans can expect to continue seeing the offense inch its way downfield.

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