Courtesy: Denver Broncos/Gavin Liddell.
Sean Payton likes when his Denver Broncos play CFL-style offence.
The 61-year-old head coach felt his team did that in a 44-24 win against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon in Week 8.
“Yesterday was the first day where our ‘CFL numbers’ were good. In other words, we were getting first downs offensively on first or second down. In that league, you’re punting on third down. That was important,” Payton said on Monday.
That 44-point total was the most Denver has scored with Payton as bench boss. He was hired by the Broncos in January 2023.
Denver quarterback Bo Nix completed 19-of-29 passes for 247 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception in the victory, while feature running back J.K. Dobbins rushed 15 times for 111 yards. Offensive weapon RJ Harvey scored three offensive touchdowns — two rushing and one receiving.
The Broncos averaged 7.5 yards per play, using 57 snaps to produce 25 first downs, 426 yards, and 44 points. They scored seven times in 12 offensive possessions.
Payton knows the CFL game having briefly spent time as a backup quarterback with the Ottawa Rough Riders during the 1987 season. He spent 16 years as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints and led the team to a Super Bowl victory in 2009. The San Mateo, Calif. native briefly retired following the 2021 season.
Denver extended its home winning streak to nine and ripped off the team’s fifth-straight victory as the Broncos improved to 6-2. Former CFL star Alex Singleton led the Mile High defence with 11 tackles in the win.
Justin Dunk
Justin Dunk is a football insider, sports reporter and anchor.