The Denver Broncos escaped with a 30-26 Sunday night win over the Los Angeles Rams, but head coach Sean Payton made clear that another slow start is becoming a concern despite the club’s latest comeback.
Key takeaways
- Denver erased a 16-point halftime deficit by scoring 30 points after intermission.
- Safety Talanoa Hufanga delivered a decisive interception return touchdown in the second half.
- The Broncos produced three touchdown drives after being blanked over the opening two quarters.
- Bo Nix has recorded seven fourth-quarter comeback wins and nine game-winning drives across the past two seasons, both NFL highs in that span.
- Denver also rallied from a 13-3 deficit to beat Jacksonville last week.
Payton wants faster starts
The Broncos heard boos from their home crowd after an ineffective first half in which the offense could not generate a point. Denver had four possessions before halftime, going three-and-out twice, collecting only five first downs and missing a field-goal attempt.
Los Angeles built a 16-0 lead, while Denver’s issues continued briefly after the break with another three-and-out on its first possession of the second half. The Broncos then found the urgency and execution that had been missing, putting together consecutive touchdown drives and converting two two-point tries to pull even.
Denver ultimately scored 30 second-half points, with Hufanga’s pick-six joining three touchdown possessions in the turnaround.
Payton credited his team’s resilience, particularly its ability to perform in tight fourth-quarter situations, but said he cannot accept the opening-half form becoming routine.
“I’m comfortable with the grit of a team that can play well in the fourth quarter,” Payton said. “I’m uncomfortable with how we play at the start of games. Our games are going to be close, but as the head coach, you can’t be comfortable with the way the first half unfolds.”
Comeback formula has its limits
The Rams victory followed a similar pattern from Denver’s previous game. The Broncos trailed Jacksonville 13-3 before recovering to win, extending a stretch in which Nix and the offense have repeatedly delivered late-game answers.
Over the last two seasons, Nix has guided seven fourth-quarter comebacks and nine game-winning drives. No other NFL quarterback has more in either category during that period.
Still, Payton warned that regularly falling behind by double digits could prove costly as the schedule moves forward and the opposition stiffens.
“I’m pleased with the response,” Payton said, “but it will cost us in bigger games. Against teams playing better later in the season — including us, whoever it is — it is something we will be frustrated about if we cannot fix it.”
