Sean Payton Acknowledges Second-Guessing His Choice in Loss to Bengals.
The Denver Broncos suffered a tough loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, a defeat that has them one loss away from playoff elimination. A win would have secured their postseason spot, but now they’re facing a do-or-die scenario.
The game was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams taking turns looking like they could seal the victory. However, for head coach Sean Payton, one decision looms large — his choice to kick an extra point rather than attempt a two-point conversion at the end of regulation.
With just eight seconds left, Bo Nix connected with Marvin Mims for a touchdown, bringing the Broncos within a point of tying the game. While many experts would have advised going for two to avoid overtime, Payton played it safe with the extra point, a decision that ultimately led to a Broncos loss.
Payton addressed this decision recently, as DNVR Broncos detailed on X, reflecting on his choice to kick the extra point instead of going for a two-point conversion.
As Payton reflected, when the final buzzer sounded and the Broncos suffered the loss, it was easy to second-guess his decision.
However, had he opted for the two-point conversion and it failed, the Broncos would have lost regardless, and fans would have been quick to question his judgment.
NFL head coaches face immense pressure, with every move under intense scrutiny. A split-second decision can make or break a game — and, in some cases, a career.
