Sean Payton didn’t stick to his usual script Sunday night, and the Broncos needed every bit of that change.
Denver’s 30-26 comeback win over the Los Angeles Rams included a pair of two-point conversions that ended up looming as much larger than they first appeared. The Broncos were down 16-0 in the third quarter when they started climbing back, and there’s a strong case that without those two conversions, the finish looks very different.
That’s what makes Payton’s decision stand out. He talked through the calls after the game, and Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post reported on how the coach explained the process.
Payton compared two-point tries to Christmas presents, saying you can feel good about what’s inside, only for things to come apart once you start opening it. He also made clear the Broncos had several options they liked.
Still, this wasn’t the kind of spot where Payton usually gets aggressive. He described his normal approach as “conservative,” and said he generally doesn’t go for two in the third quarter, even when his team is trailing by 16 like Denver was against Los Angeles. He said he usually doesn’t even turn to the chart that guides those decisions until the fourth quarter.
Sunday night forced a different read. Payton saw the game settling into a low-scoring stretch and noticed the Rams defense had slowed Denver’s short offensive burst. That was enough for him to push the issue earlier than usual.
The first conversion was the kind of play that had to be checked more than once. Bo Nix fired to Jaylen Waddle in the corner of the end zone, and the ball appeared to slip over Josh Wallace’s helmet before landing in Waddle’s hands.
The second try was built on deception. Denver lined up several receivers on the right side, then moved Courtland Sutton in motion to sell a receiver screen to Bo Nix. The defense didn’t chase the fake, and Nix instead lofted a high throw to Pat Bryant, who used his body to shield the defender and make the catch.
Bryant said afterward that it played out exactly the way it had in practice.
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