Controversial Play Call Was Not The Reason The Broncos Lost

The term "Monday Morning Quarterback" has been in existence - believe it or not - since the 1930s. For nearly one hundred years, people who think they know better than the players and coach have been commenting on what their favorite team SHOULD have done the day before, all with the benefit of hindsight, of course.

Such is the case this year, as Broncos fans and critics alike have been trying to point out this one singular reason or that, that Denver lost to New England in this past weekend's AFC Championship game, missing out on a chance to advance to another Super Bowl.

Get our free mobile app

One common theme has been criticism over head coach Sean Payton's decision to go for it on 4th and 1 at the New England 14-yard line, rather than taking a chip shot field goal and three points to extend their lead to 10-0 before the conditions got ugly. Those three points cost them dearly, as the Broncos ended up losing the game 10-7.

The one thing that most of the fans calling for some kind of insane discipline for Payton forget is that without him, there's zero chance the Broncos would have been playing that game in the first place.

Related: Denver Broncos Head Coach Has Some Pretty Sick Moves

I've even read online some fans suggesting that Payton should be fired, because "the Broncos will never get over the hump with him coaching the team." You have got to be kidding me.

The coach is why Denver has a team to be excited about again. Yes, he is aggressive, but did you not watch the entire season that got them there? Or did you just jump on board when the playoffs started? Because Payton called the AFC Championship like he called the entire year: keep it close, be aggressive to get as many points as possible and hit the gas pedal in the 4th quarter.

Some will argue that's a plan that only works with Bo Nix at quarterback (who was out of the game injured) and you're right about that, but you have to admire the guy who tells his team - one that he's essentially built from the ground up - and especially his backup quarterback: you're my guys and we're going to go out there and do what we do.

In the end, "Stiddy City" ended up being more something that rhymes with "Stiddy" but starts with "sh" kind of city, if you get the play on words. But don't blame Sean Payton. He's the reason we were there in the first place.