The Denver Broncos got absolutely clobbered by the Green Bay Packers on Friday night, a performance head coach Sean Payton himself called “not good enough,” but maybe, just maybe, that ugly showing is exactly what they needed for a team with Super Bowl expectations.
Payton Didn’t Pull Any Punches After That Total Mess
Listen, Sean Payton didn’t sugarcoat a thing after watching his Denver Broncos get dominated by the Green Bay Packers. He laid it all out for the media: the Packers “won a lot of the battles.” And when he says “a lot,” he means *all* of them, apparently. He reeled off the list: the line of scrimmage, kick coverage that gave up a huge return, penalties torpedoing field position, and even the rushing battle. “Pick a topic,” he said. The kicker? “I can’t think of one area that we played or outplayed them, honestly. I’m just being honest.” That’s brutal, but it’s what you need from a coach who expects better, expects *more*. For a squad with Super Bowl expectations, what they put on the field against the Packers was just plain unacceptable, period.
Ja’Quan McMillian Says That Ain’t How They Roll
It wasn’t just Coach Payton feeling the sting. Cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian, always a straight shooter, weighed in too. He said he wasn’t “necessarily bothered,” but you could feel the frustration. For him, it’s about a consistent mentality. “We’ve just got to bring that same mentality each week,” he told reporters. No “one-offs,” no “different weeks,” and absolutely no “we don’t feel like playing” moments. That’s the accountability needed. He kept it real, admitting, “Obviously, we’re not where we (want to be).” But here’s the key quote: “That’s not our ball. That’s not our type of ball. That’s not what we want to be like.” They know they dropped the ball, big time. This isn’t the standard. This preseason smackdown, as rough as it was, is being framed as a crucial “moment to grow,” a chance to refocus and ensure everyone aligns with the high expectations Payton has set. It’s better to have these hard lessons in August than in November, isn’t it?
So, where do the Broncos go from here? They’ve got one more week of practice and their third preseason game to iron out every wrinkle that showed up against the Packers. This isn’t just about winning a meaningless preseason game. It’s about building “good habits and trends heading into the regular season,” exactly what Payton preaches. With expectations of playing in and winning the Super Bowl this season, every detail matters. They need to sharpen every area, from special teams to the line of scrimmage, because “the real fun begins” very, very soon. Let’s see if this tough loss truly was the wake-up call they needed.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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