Russell Wilson Yet to be Welcomed into Sean Payton's 'Circle of Trust'
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Saturday night couldn’t have been more detrimental to the Denver Broncos’ playoff hopes after they were blown out on the road 42-10 by the Detroit Lions. This game tested Denver’s viability, and Sean Payton and Vance Joseph fell woefully short.
From defensive breakdowns to offensive blunders to questionable calls by the officials and a controversial sideline altercation, the Broncos didn’t show up when they had the chance to set themselves apart in the AFC postseason race. Denver's momentum in NFL.com's Week 16 power ranking came to a screeching halt as it has fallen three spots from last week.
Here’s what Eric Edholm has to say about the Broncos' loss and the nature of their coach-quarterback relationship.
Broncos Rank: 14
The mid-game squabble was the big moment in the Broncos’ Saturday night blowout loss in Detroit, and Sean Payton seemed to pour kerosene on the fire when answering questions about it after the game. Even through the Broncos’ baptismal hot streak, winning six of seven coming into Week 15, most of the games were tight and tense, and it’s never quite felt like Payton has welcomed Russell Wilson into the Circle of Trust. It felt like Payton took out his frustration over a tough penalty that wiped out a touchdown on Wilson, but perhaps it’s much ado about nothing. What appears more concerning is that even with three winnable games remaining, the Broncos are on the outside looking in for the playoffs after being dominated from the second quarter on against the Lions.
The Broncos’ defense collapsed, and their offense never found their footing after the opening drive fumble, but the culpable moment of the night was Payton verbally demolishing Wilson. After three failed touchdown attempts, Payton was seen berating Wilson on the sideline.
In the post-game press conference, Payton was asked why he was so furious with Russ.
“Listen, what I talk with Russell about is none of your business,” Payton said Saturday night, though he went on to say, “I was upset about the call; that’s all simple.” Payton was referencing how the officials called back a Trey Burton touchdown due to a ticky-tack offsides penalty on right guard Quinn Meinerz.
If that’s true, it’s hard to see why Payton was grilling Wilson. Since arriving as head coach in Denver, Payton and Wilson’s relationship has been... spotty. Payton isn’t joined at the hip with his quarterback like he was with Drew Brees in New Orleans all those years.
Perhaps Payton and Wilson's personalities don’t align, and we're seeing the fractures in their relationship. Be that as it may, the question is, can Payton make the offense work with Wilson?
The past eight weeks have proven the answer to be yes. But can they thrive together?
So far, that question has gone unanswered, though it doesn't appear that Payton's offense is going to suddenly go gangbusters any time soon. This offense has been far from consistent, and it has to do with Payton having to work around Wilson rather than with him.
As Edholm said, it seems Payton doesn’t trust his quarterback. Wilson still has some magic, as evidenced by so many of his big plays in the clutch this season, but he can’t put this team on his back like his prime years in Seattle. Whether fans like it or not, speculation on the Broncos moving on from Wilson will be plentiful this coming offseason.
If Denver is to have any chance at making the postseason, it must win out, and that starts on Christmas Eve against Bailey Zappe and the New England Patriots.
On the surface, these last three games may seem like layups, but the Broncos must stay hungry and press the lump of coal that was Saturday’s loss into a diamond.
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