One week after Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton was spotted yelling at quarterback Russell Wilson on the sideline, Payton is now expressing his disappointment in the team’s passing attack.
Payton did not directly criticize Wilson — in fact, he noted the offensive line’s protection, the receivers’ inability to get open and even his own play calling — but everyone knows the success of the team’s passing game ultimately falls on the quarterback.
“[We faced] a little bit more coverage looks,” Payton said after Thursday’s loss to the Chiefs. “We had some balls batted, we had some pressure. We have to continue to find ways to get guys open in bunch and stack looks. We came in and knew third down was going to be a bit of a challenge with what they do defensively, but we wanted to get to the line with the some plays spontaneously and quickly. Overall, it wasn’t good enough.
“There are a handful of plays that I called that I look back on and was anticipating one thing and got something else. We have to be better there. To win in our league, you have to be better throwing the ball.”
Wilson finished Thursday’s game 13-of-22 passing for 95 passing yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. That’s not going to cut it in the NFL. If the passing game doesn’t improve going forward, Payton will have to consider making changes to the starting lineup.
