NFL
By: Rick O’Donnell
The Denver Broncos were looking for a quick fix when they hired Sean Payton as head coach. The team was in a bad way and looking for quick success to not waste young talent. Sean Payton had success with the New Orleans Saints and now heads into his first playoff games as coach of the Broncos. If Payton doesn’t walk away with at least one playoff victory, will it be considered a failure for Denver?
Before you even dive into that question, let’s establish what Payton has done for the Broncos has been impressive. When he took over, the team was in last place in their division and looked like they had zero direction or resemblance of a competitor. In his first year, they’d win 8 games which was 3 more than the year before.
That same year, the team struggled with QB Russell Wilson and no one expected them to finish with 8 wins with how much dysfunction the team had. Now, in his second year, the Broncos notched 10 wins, most of which came with a rookie QB in Bo Nix who has shown tremendous heart and promise. Despite finishing third in their division again, the Broncos were in the playoff hunt and were able to edge out other AFC hopefuls.
With that being said, we have to take a look at Denver as a whole. Could it be considered a failure if the Broncos don’t walk away with a playoff victory this year? While it may depend largely on what they set out to do and what their timetable was. Did Denver expect Payton to be in the playoffs in year two with a rookie QB? Do they expect him to be the guy to make a deep playoff run? Is just being in the playoffs enough to say he’s on track? It probably all depends on who you talk to.
Now we have to look at Sean Payton’s career as a whole. He’s had great success as a coach with a 179-113 win/ loss record (.613). Winning 60% of your games is quite a resumé but let’s put a pin in that. Where you really need to put the pressure on Sean Payton as a coach is his playoff record. While he did take the Saints to a Super Bowl victory, that was many years ago. He did so with one of the greatest passers of all time in Drew Brees. Where the blemish comes in for Payton is that playoff record of 9-8(52%). Sure winning 52% of your playoff appearances puts you on the right side of a winning record, but take out the year they won the Super Bowl and it skews back the other way.
Okay, you can’t just take out wins to make a point. He won those games, he deserves his flowers. However, it does highlight his ability to get to the playoffs and not make a deep run. You also have to give him the benefit of the doubt that the Denver Broncos will be taking on the Buffalo Bills and MVP hopeful Josh Allen. Yet, that’s where the credit has to end. The strength of the Buffalo Bills is the exact reason the Broncos went out and paid a guy like Sean Payton. There were other coaches the Broncos could’ve hired. They went out and paid Sean Payton to beat the tough teams like the Bills.
Yes, Sean Payton has done a great job turning the Denver Broncos around but where is the line for success drawn? Did he do enough with a rookie QB to avoid a sophomore slump? Is an early playoff exit a success in year two? Does he need to make a divisional or conference championship? No matter where the line is, fans have to be excited for the hope he’s given them.
