The Denver Broncos lost to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in part because of a controversial call, but Sean Payton says he never should have put his team in a position for that to happen.
Colts kicker Spencer Schrader kicked a 45-yard field goal as time expired to lift his team to a 29-28 victory over the Broncos at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. It initially looked like Denver won after Schrader missed a 60-yard field goal attempt wide right, but linebacker Dondrea Tillman was called for a “leverage” penalty. That gave Schrader a second try at the field goal from 15 yards closer, and he drilled it for the win.
The play, which you can see here, was controversial. Some felt the infraction was too subtle and that the officiating crew should have let it go. Payton said on Monday that it was “the correct call” and that he should have had the Broncos in a different alignment.
“We had a certain field goal block (in the game plan) in the event of a game-ending field goal … but that’s on me in that situation,” Payton said, via ESPN’s Jeff Legwold. “It’s not on (special teams coach) Darren (Rizzi), it’s not on Tillman. A 60-yard field goal attempt is different … The alignment got wrong and the (officials’) call was correct … My big regret flying home was, you know … that (block attempt) is more for a gimme than a 60-yard attempt. And that’s on me.”
Payton added that Tillman and defensive tackle Eyioma Uwazurike flipped spots before the 60-yard attempt and ended up in the wrong spots.
We have seen officials in the past miss the penalty that cost the Broncos the game, but that does not mean the wrong call was made. While Payton could have complained about the call, he decided to shoulder the blame instead.
