Bennie Fowler isn’t just another former player tossing takes from the sidelines. He’s the guy who caught Peyton Manning’s final career pass, the two-point dagger to win Super Bowl 50. He’s lived the highest of Denver highs. Which is why his words this week about the HC Sean Payton hit a little harder. Fowler looked at the Broncos’ back-to-back heartbreakers and didn’t sugarcoat it.
“Sean Payton is my biggest takeaway,” Fowler said on September 21, on an episode of DNVR Sports. “You’re paying Sean Payton $20 million a year. I don’t know where that ranks. It might be the highest of the coaches who are getting paid in the NFL. But when I think about these close losses, these are 23-20 games we’re losing, I’m putting it on Sean Payton.” That’s not just criticism. That’s a Super Bowl winner questioning whether Denver’s $20 million man is earning his paycheck. And Fowler’s not wrong to point fingers.
Let’s break it down. Payton’s Broncos tenure has been a tale of underachievement. In 2023, they finished 8-9, third in the AFC West. A slight improvement came in 2024 with a 10-7 record, but they still ended up third in the division and suffered a first-round playoff exit. Now, in 2025, the Broncos are 1-2, again sitting third in the AFC West.
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In those 3 games, they have already committed 24 penalties for 218 yards, 11th highest in the league. And the numbers have slowly peaked. In the first game, they lost 45 yards for 6 penalties, 83 yards for 8 penalties. But in the week 3 game against the Chargers, they had 10 penalties for 90 yards. Not only that, the HC has to work on his QB’s development too.
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Bo Nix has shown flashes of potential but is inconsistent under pressure. Week 1 against the Titans, he went 25 of 40 for 176 yards, one touchdown, and two picks. Week 2 at Indianapolis, 22 of 30, 206 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. And Week 3 at Los Angeles, 14 of 25 for 153 yards and a touchdown. The numbers hint at promise. 61 of 95 passing for 535 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions across three games. But the margin for error is thin in Denver.
Fowler’s critique underscores a deeper issue. Sean Payton’s focus needs to shift. This isn’t just about play-calling or penalties. The Broncos have the talent, but talent alone doesn’t win 23–20 games. Preparation does. If Denver continues to drop close contests, the criticism will mount, and Payton’s $20 million salary will feel like an increasingly heavy price tag.
Sean Payton’s Broncos suffer 2nd loss of the 2025 season
The Denver Broncos dropped their second game of the 2025 season in a nail-biting 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium. After an early deficit, the Broncos showed flashes of offensive brilliance, but it wasn’t enough to overcome mistakes and a surging Chargers team. Quarterback Bo Nix delivered a mixed performance.
His standout connection with Courtland Sutton, who hauled in 6 catches for 118 yards and a 52-yard touchdown, highlighted Denver’s potential. Running back J.K. Dobbins led the ground attack with 83 yards on 11 carries, including a 19-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Overall, the Broncos rushed for 118 yards at an impressive 5.6-yard average per carry.
However, the Broncos’ offensive sparks were offset by key inefficiencies. Denver converted just 2 of 13 third downs (15.4%) and struggled to maintain possession, controlling the ball for only 23:40. Missed opportunities in the red zone haunted them. They scored on 1 of 2 trips inside the 20 and failed on their lone goal-to-go attempt.
Defensively, the Broncos pressured Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert, recording 5 sacks, but the secondary couldn’t contain the big plays. Herbert finished 28 of 47 for 300 yards, a touchdown, and one interception, hitting Keenan Allen for the go-ahead 20-yard score with under three minutes remaining.
Denver’s defense also gave up multiple field goals, including a 43-yarder as time expired, sealing the loss. Special teams were a mixed bag. Kicker Wil Lutz converted both field goals but couldn’t compensate for the Broncos’ turnovers and missed third-down conversions.
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Enter Cameron Dicker. The Chargers’ kicker calmly lined up for a 43-yard field goal while fans watched in silence. He struck the ball perfectly. It sailed through the uprights, giving Los Angeles a 23-20 lead with the clock reading 00:00. The Broncos had no answer, and the field goal instantly became the game-winning score.
Now, Sean Payton needs to find the answer in the 4th week. And the pressure is slowly rising!