Sean Payton talked all that smack about Nathaniel Hackett in the offseason, in turn making it clear his version of the Denver Broncos would be better. After all, he was the “brilliant” coach with a Super Bowl ring. Payton’s team couldn’t possibly be worse than the guy who presided over the worst season of Russell Wilson’s NFL career. Right?
About that.
Through five games in 2023, Payton’s iteration is 1-4. Through five games in 2022, Hackett’s Broncos were 2-3. Even if Denver might, theoretically, be better in places (like on offense), there’s nothing meaningful to suggest that Payton is doing any better of a coaching job than Hackett, the now offensive coordinator for the New York Jets. What a coincidence that the two teams had the pleasure of meeting in Denver on Sunday. And what a dream for those of us fond of drama after the Jets’ 31-21 win.
With how the Jets conducted themselves in the pregame and how they congratulated Hackett afterward, you could tell that Payton’s trash talk was stuck in their craw. They weren’t about to let him disrespect their offensive coordinator and get a win. (Note: Payton’s offense had three turnovers, including a game-clinching fumble-return score by Bryce Hall in the final moments.) If Payton has any more meaningful criticisms of Denver or anyone at the helm in the past, I would advise holding off for now.
His team is 1-4, and the heat is assuredly on. The question isn’t about the terrible job Hackett did with Denver anymore. It’s about Payton taking a lesson in humility while trying to dig out of an impossible hole the rest of the way. No one will care about who Payton deflects to until (or if) the Broncos start winning more often. Perhaps he should’ve kept quiet about the Jets and Hackett until he actually achieved something in Denver.
Oh, well!
Elsewhere in For The Win’s Week 5 NFL awards, the Vikings’ trickery had to make up for their trademark fumble issues. Meanwhile, Tony Romo was a tad overdramatic talking about what might have happened to Travis Kelce.
Worst job of backing up your words: The Giants' Evan Neal, on this brutal whiff
Evan Neal wasn’t happy with how New York Giants fans have treated the team amidst a tough 2023 start. He backed those words up by horrifically blowing a block against the Miami Dolphins. C’mon man:
https://t.co/Rcuh37i2p0 pic.twitter.com/5m2WCXOAcl
— TMKSburner (@TmkSburner) October 8, 2023
Best one-handed, gloveless catch: This one by Aidan Hutchinson, a defensive end
Aidan Hutchinson is quickly becoming a superstar force for the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions. And for a 6-foot-7, 265-pound man, he’s got some pretty slick hands, as he showed again on this interception of Bryce Young Sunday:
This is not normal.
📺: #CARvsDET on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxi72 pic.twitter.com/8RfwiYBIPP— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
Worst stat for a QB trying to follow in Tom Brady's footsteps: This one about Mac Jones, after another clunker
The New England Patriots have benched Mac Jones in back-to-back games after getting outscored by a total of 72-3. Jones has responded by throwing pick-sixes in back-to-back games. Sunday’s against the New Orleans Saints was the fourth of his career at home, matching Tom Brady, who needed 20 seasons to do it:
.@SAINTS PICK 6! 🚨 @Mathieu_Era with the steal!
📺: #NOvsNE on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/ASK40UJKxL— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
Best job of playing yourself: Travis Etienne Jr., after literally playing himself in fantasy football
The Jacksonville Jaguars needed a big win over the Buffalo Bills in London. So, they turned to Travis Etienne Jr., who put up over 180 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. Little did Etienne Jr. know, but he was playing himself in fantasy football. Oof. Tough break!
You can’t win em’ all:
I played against myself in fantasy fb today 😭
— Travis Etienne Jr⁶𓅓 (@swaggy_t1) October 8, 2023
Worst display of self-awareness: This Dolphins fan, who didn't realize a TD ball was for someone more important
Tyreek Hill is used to finding the end zone almost every Sunday, but that doesn’t mean he shares every glorious moment with his mother. After he scored on a 69-yard pass against the Giants, Hill ran to the end zone and wanted to give the touchdown ball to his mom. There was one problem.
This silly Dolphins fan refused to accept that Hill wasn’t gifting it to him. You gotta be better than that, dude:
.@cheetah to the 🏠!
📺: #NYGvsMIA on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/oTWuO5I4uD— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
Best stake on rookie QB history: C.J. Stroud, after another sparkling performance
Stroud has been a revelation for the Houston Texans through five games. Even amidst a tough loss to Atlanta, the rookie set a notable mark. He has now gone 186 pass attempts without throwing a pick — the longest streak to start a career in NFL history.
He only needed to get to 177 to do it:
C.J. Stroud now has 177 passes to start his career without throwing an interception – a new NFL record.
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) October 8, 2023
Worst rebound after a blowout: Bill Belichick's listless Patriots against the Saints
After losing 38-3 to Dallas last Sunday, the Patriots were hoping to get back on track against the New Orleans Saints. They responded with a 34-0 loss.
It is officially the worst home loss of Belichick’s entire NFL head coaching career, including his half-decade with the Cleveland Browns. Any time you throw the Browns in, you know it’s a brutal look.
Today is the first time Bill Belichick has trailed by 30 points at home in his head coaching career, including his time with Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/so86lUWV2J
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 8, 2023
Worst timing for a broadcast snafu: Fox, as its feed cut out during a game-winning field goal
The Falcons were set to win a tough matchup with the Texans on Sunday. Younghoe Koo needed just 37 yards to boot a chip shot kick in for the last-second 21-19 victory. Except as Koo began his follow-through, the Fox broadcast cut away for a second, almost making us miss the entire kick:
Sorry the broadcast blacked out but the Falcons win pic.twitter.com/YOXsTZ2QWp
— alex (@highlightheaven) October 8, 2023
Best way of breaking tough news: Jim Nantz, after revealing Taylor Swift wouldn't be at Chiefs-Vikings
After attending the Kansas City Chiefs’ last two games to support Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift was not in attendance as they played the Minnesota Vikings. So, CBS announcer Jim Nantz used some creative football wordplay to break the news to anyone tuning in for “Swelce”:
"Seven words I thought would never leave my lips in my career: Taylor Swift is not at the game… She was questionable all week, but it looks like it's officially inactive. "- Jim Nantz pic.twitter.com/En7iKAoBjb
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 8, 2023
Worst irresponsible call of a player's injury: Tony Romo, while watching Travis Kelce
For a moment, it seemed like Travis Kelce had potentially (read: potentially) suffered a serious injury after catching a routine outlet pass in Minnesota. That didn’t stop Romo from breaking out the unnecessary melodramatics while barely toeing the line of reckless speculation:
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce limped off the field after an apparent injury on this play.
Hope he’s okay 🙏pic.twitter.com/OMsag59DFo
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 8, 2023
Best sneak onto the field: Travis Kelce, before Chiefs coaches caught him
As it turned out, Kelce was OK after an apparent ankle injury. (See, that’s why you don’t speculate!)
And when the star tight end came back, he tried to sneak onto the field. It almost worked until some Chiefs coaches reeled him back in. You gotta be wary of those franchise players always chomping at the bit!
Got to love the effort from #TravisKelce to try and sneak back in after ankle injury. pic.twitter.com/VN3tHaOqF3
— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) October 8, 2023
Worst "script" to start a season: The Vikings, after a third-straight opening possession fumble
No one has quite turned the ball over just like the Vikings this year. Through five games, Minnesota now has 12 turnovers (eight of which are fumbles). After the Vikings fumbled on the opening possession for the third-straight game, Jim Nantz pulled out all the stops blasting their giveaway woes:
"He fumbles the ball and the script continues! [The Minnesota Vikings] have been a DISASTER in the first quarter this year! Coughing up and turning over the football! And it starts today on the very first play of the game!"- Jim Nantz pic.twitter.com/X7odZMz51e
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 8, 2023
Best fake punt: The Vikings, with this creative play design
Minnesota needed a spark to try and turn the tide against the Chiefs on Sunday. They turned to backup safety and running back for one of the coolest fake punts you’ll ever see:
FAKE PUNT WORKS! @Vikings
📺: #KCvsMIN on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/LxW25sxPWA pic.twitter.com/6vhvGWwcqf— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2023
