The Denver Broncos have had their share of one-score games recently, and the most recent win got a helping hand from an unexpected source. After the game, Sean Payton mistakenly called out a reporter for smoking in a lighthearted press conference moment, according to a post on X by Zac Stevens.
“Can we not smoke in here?” Payton asked with a stern look on his face. “Please. Oh, you’re not smoking. You got a pencil. I’m sorry. I thought you were smoking.”
After laughter, Payton added, “I had a flashback, thinking, ‘Who’s smoking a cigarette?’ I’m sorry. I’ll start again.”
The Broncos held off the Panthers for their fifth straight win. It was a tough 26-21 decision at Carolina.
Will the Broncos be a trade deadline player?
While Payton seeks out press conference smokers, the organization may have a deal on its mind to improve the roster for the second half of the season, according to Sports Illustrated.
“I mean, that's impossible to predict,” Payton said. “We'll discuss what's out there, and I think we'll see what happens, but I like this team. There's room for us to get better, but I like this team a lot. We just got to take advantage of the position we're sitting in right now.”
It’s definitely a position of strength for the Broncos. They stand at 7-2 and are No. 5 in the NFL power rankings, according to Fox Sports.
“Head coach Sean Payton is quietly fixing the Broncos’ offensive woes while pushing the defense to maintain its dominance,” Bucky Brooks wrote. “Although the box score doesn’t fully reflect his impact, the Super Bowl-winning coach is pushing the right buttons to inch his squad closer to a top seed in the tournament.
“With 16 one-score wins (eight points or fewer) since the start of last season, the Broncos are built to thrive in the playoffs, which is when tactics and toughness matter more than talent.”
Also, the Broncos have a very favorable schedule down the stretch. They get the Raiders twice, the Dolphins, Jets, and Chargers, along with a few tougher games like the Bills.