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'Bitter pill to swallow': Broncos' Sean Payton speaks after wild-card loss to Buffalo Bills
Posted
January 13, 2025
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January 13, 2025
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0:32Now Playing"It's always a bitter pill to swallow...and yet, it'll go down," said Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton.
The Denver Broncos were steamrolled by the Bills, 31-7 in an AFC first-round, Wild Card playoff game before a crowd of around 70,000 at Highmark Stadium.
The No. 7-seeded Broncos were the last of the three wild-card teams to fall in these AFC playoffs, which sets up what football fans not pulling for the Broncos, Chargers or Steelers would say is an ideal AFC Final Four. The No. 2-seeded Bills will host the No. 3-seed Baltimore Ravens next weekend in a second-round playoff game. The No. 1-seeded Kansas City Chiefs will be home against No. 4 Houston in the other Division Round playoff matchup.
“Obviously we’re disappointed in the finish to the season,'' said Broncos head coach Sean Payton. "We tip our hats to Buffalo. The things we felt we needed to do on the road to win, we didn’t do nearly well enough. Time of possession, shoot, was heavily tilted in their favor. ... We never really had an answer to stop their running game. When you play in a game like that—you’re not rushing the passer nearly as much as you’ve been accustomed to.
"Offensively, I thought we struggled on third down. Kicking game, I thought we lost that field position battle. It starts with me. It’s always a tough pill to swallow especially when it’s a postseason game. I’m proud of the fight. There are a lot of disappointed guys in that locker room.''
Despite getting whipped, the Broncos were able to make the long flight home with their heads held high. After eight consecutive non-playoff seasons over 9 years and with 7 consecutive losing record finishes, the Broncos snapped both skids by finishing the regular-season 10-7 to qualify for their first playoff appearance since they capped the 2015 season with a Super Bowl 50 title.
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