Broncos coach Sean Payton has seen ups and downs in NFL playoffs
Julie Jacobson
In his second season with Denver, coach Sean Payton led the Broncos to their first postseason berth since the 2015 season.
During Payton’s run as head coach of the New Orleans Saints he had several ups and downs in the postseason which has him with a 9-8 record overall.
Here are some of Payton’s most memorable playoff moments:
The good
Super Bowl XLIV: Saints 31, Colts 17
Payton and quarterback Drew Brees outdueled former Broncos QB Peyton Manning and the Colts to win the New Orleans’ only Super Bowl title. Saints, and later Broncos, cornerback Traci Porter picked off Manning to seal the win.
2013 NFC wild card game: Saints 26, Eagles 24
This was Payton’s only road playoff win. Payton played up the fact that a dome team couldn’t win in cold weather before beating the Philadelphia Eagles. The Saints would lose to the eventual Super Bowl champ Seahawks in the next round.
FILE - In this Jan. 20, 2019, file photo, Los Angeles Rams' Nickell Robey-Coleman breaks up a pass intended for New Orleans Saints' Tommylee Lewis during the second half of the NFL football NFC championship game in New Orleans. The NFL is considering adding a “booth umpire” and a senior technology advisor to the referee to assist the officiating crew. NFL clubs received a list of potential rules changes on Thursday, May 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
Gerald Herbert
FILE – In this Jan. 20, 2019, file photo, Los Angeles Rams’ Nickell Robey-Coleman breaks up a pass intended for New Orleans Saints’ Tommylee Lewis during the second half of the NFL football NFC championship game in New Orleans. The NFL is considering adding a “booth umpire” and a senior technology advisor to the referee to assist the officiating crew. NFL clubs received a list of potential rules changes on Thursday, May 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
The no call
NFC Championship: Rams 26, Saints 23, OT
The infamous no call game in 2018 that is still talked about. Officials missed a blatant pass interference penalty against the Los Angeles Rams that could have secured another Super Bowl trip for Payton and Brees. Instead, New Orleans went on to lose in overtime at home.
New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton looks up as he walks off the field after overtime of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in New Orleans. The Vikings won 26-20. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
Brett Duke
New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton looks up as he walks off the field after overtime of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in New Orleans. The Vikings won 26-20. (AP Photo/Brett Duke)
The bad
2019 NFC wild card: Vikings 26, Saints 20
The Saints finished 13-3 on the regular season but were the No. 3 seed going into the playoffs. They hosted the No. 6 seed Minnesota Vikings and lost in overtime when quarterback Kirk Cousins hit Kyle Rudolph for a touchdown. It was the second straight home overtime playoff loss for Payton.
2010 NFC wild card game: Seahawks 41, Saints 36
The game that featured the “Beast Quake.” The Saints were defending Super Bowl champs but were forced to play the 7-9 Seahawks in Seattle. Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch’s 67-yard run that virtually shook the ground and clinched the game.
FILE - In this Jan. 14, 2018, file photo, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) makes a catch over New Orleans Saints free safety Marcus Williams (43) on his way to the game-winning touchdown during an NFL divisional football playoff game in Minneapolis. The Vikings defeated the Saints 29-24. New Orleans is counting on Williams, a 2017 second-round draft choice, to build on a largely promising rookie campaign that helped solidify the Saints’ secondary and propel the club back to the playoffs for the first time in four years. At issue now is how Williams will move forward from the missed tackle on Diggs last January, It’s a question that, for now, Williams declines to field. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
Jeff Roberson
FILE – In this Jan. 14, 2018, file photo, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) makes a catch over New Orleans Saints free safety Marcus Williams (43) on his way to the game-winning touchdown during an NFL divisional football playoff game in Minneapolis. The Vikings defeated the Saints 29-24. New Orleans is counting on Williams, a 2017 second-round draft choice, to build on a largely promising rookie campaign that helped solidify the Saints’ secondary and propel the club back to the playoffs for the first time in four years. At issue now is how Williams will move forward from the missed tackle on Diggs last January, It’s a question that, for now, Williams declines to field. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
The miracle
2017 NFL divisional round: Vikings 29, Saints 24
The Saints were leading 24-23 with 10 seconds left. Then what would be known as The Minneapolis Miracle happened. Saints rookie safety Marcus Williams missed a tackle on Stefon Diggs and the receiver scored a 61-yard touchdown for the first walk-off TD in NFL playoff history. Another former Broncos QB, Case Keenum, threw the pass to Diggs.
Honorable mention
2020 NFC divisional round: Buccaneers 30, Saints 20
In Brees’ final game of his career, the Saints were unable to stop Tom Brady and the Buccaneers at home. New Orleans had already beaten Tampa Bay twice that season before falling in the playoffs.
2011 NFC divisional round: 49ers 36, Saints 32
The Saints were once again 13-3 in the regular season but traveled to San Francisco to face off with San Francisco. Brees hit Jimmy Graham for a touchdown with under two minutes to go to take the lead. But the Saints could not stop Alex Smith as the quarterback hit Vernon Davis for the winning score.