The Denver Broncos executed a fake punt to perfection early in their playoff game on Sunday, and the Buffalo Bills may have been the only ones who were surprised.
The Broncos were trailing 10-7 midway through the second quarter of their Wild Card game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. Denver head coach Sean Payton called a fake punt on 4th-and-9 from his own 43-yard line, and punter Riley Dixon completed a 15-yard pass to Marvin Mims Jr.
Riley sold the fake incredibly well. He also put the pass right on the money to Mims. Had the pass fallen incomplete, Denver would have given Josh Allen and company a very short field.
Getting tricky.
: CBS pic.twitter.com/78GsdsSCCH
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 12, 2025
The Broncos ended up punting later in the drive, but the successful fake got fans buzzing. Most people said the same thing about Payton and his affinity for taking risks in big moments.
Fake punt! Always fun surprises with Sean Payton
Great execution selling the fake by punter Riley Dixon. Marvin Mims with good concentration catch. pic.twitter.com/hwDQ780VRh
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) January 12, 2025
Literally said on the first punt you know Sean Payton wants to get a fake punt watch it.
The difference between a Payton and a Tomlin/Vrabel is he accepts he has a much worse team and needs to take risks to win before it’s too late in the game.
— Liam Murphy (@ChessLiam) January 12, 2025
Sean Payton said you can take away my surprise onside kicks but you can't take our freedom!!!!!
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) January 12, 2025
Sean Payton is the GOAT of fake special teams plays when it matters most pic.twitter.com/ckBjzMkNF9
— King of Phinland🐬👑 (@KingOfPhinland) January 12, 2025
Sean Payton not afraid of a good fake
— Tone Digs (@ToneDigz) January 12, 2025
Sean Payton seeing an opportunity to create special teams chaos in the playoffs pic.twitter.com/T56LufCSQA
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) January 12, 2025
Payton’s teams are always exciting to watch for reasons like that. Some NFL rule changes have stopped him from surprising opponents with one of his favorite moves, but the coach has found other ways to keep defenses guessing.
With Payton, you should always expect the unexpected.
