The Denver Broncos reached the AFC Championship game, where they suffered a 10-7 loss against the New England Patriots.
Considering the Broncos didn’t have their starting quarterback, Bo Nix, for the game, the loss should be understandable. However, it appears that head coach Sean Payton is overreacting to the loss.
Payton hasn’t done any favors to his own team by first firing offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi shortly after the conference championship game. Then, he also commented about Nix’s injury, which the quarterback found inappropriate.
After both of his actions blew up in his face, NFL insider John Frascella slammed the head coach for acting like “a childish sore loser.”
It’s been an EMBARRASSING week for Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, after losing to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game
He’s acting like a childish sore loser
1. He fired his offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi for no reason – Sean calls the plays, not Joe!! -… pic.twitter.com/AJU4EEnWQI
— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) January 29, 2026
More: 3 Sean Payton calls that came back to bite the Broncos in AFC championship loss to Patriots
Sean Payton receives stunning reply from Joe Lombardi and Bo Nix
Joe Lombardi didn’t take the firing well. He threw back a jab against Payton, claiming the head coach’s decision stemmed from being “in one of those moods” rather than clear shortcomings on the performance end.
“You could tell he was in one of those moods where he felt like some changes needed to be made and I guess he decided one of those was me… I’ve been around him long enough to kind of read the tea leaves,” Lombardi said.
Then there’s the issue of Bo Nix as well. Payton said Nix’s season-ending injury was “predisposed” and inevitable due to a condition. The quarterback immediately fired back against his head coach, claiming Payton’s remarks were inaccurate and inappropriate.
“Nothing predisposed, nothing that was there originally,” Nix said. “That might have gotten confused. Just a simple step with my foot up in the air, my body weight came down on it, sort of got twisted up.
“I don’t think he really should share how many surgeries I’ve had in the past, to be honest with you — he doesn’t even really know that.”
Many believe Payton is not handling the loss well and that his behaviour could take down this team next season.
More Broncos news:
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Sean Payton on decisions in AFC title game: ‘There’s always regrets’
Denver Broncos predicted to land major weapon for Bo Nix in free agency
Broncos’ list of 2026 NFL draft picks, free agents and cap space going into offseason