Broncos coach Sean Payton downplays yelling at Russell Wilson on sideline

“It wasn’t as big of an exchange or big deal [as made out to be],” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of his sideline moment with Russell Wilson

Trailing the New York Jets by three points in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game, the Denver Broncos progressed the ball to the 41-yard line with 41 seconds remaining in the game.

With one timeout left, the Broncos had a chance to get within field goal range if they managed the clock well. Quarterback Russell Wilson was then strip-sacked and the Jets recovered the fumble and returned it for a touchdown, sealing a loss for Denver.

After that play, CBS cameras spotted Broncos coach Sean Payton giving Wilson an earful on the sideline. Here’s video of the play, followed by Payton’s sideline exchange.

The next day, Payton downplayed the moment.

“I don’t think I was that animated,” Payton said during a conference call with reporters on Monday. “Every attention to exchange or discussions I have with ‘Russ’ — I just wanted to make sure he knew the linebacker was a free rusher, so it wasn’t as big of an exchange or big deal I think maybe as some may have thought.”

Denver got the ball back but wasn’t able to score before time expired, resulting in a 31-21 loss that dropped the Broncos to 1-4 this season.

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