When Sean Payton took the Denver Broncos’ head-coaching position this past offseason, one of the first things he did was criticize ex-Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett, calling his lone season in Denver one of the worst coaching jobs in NFL history.
Well, now the shoe is on the other foot.
Payton’s Broncos have gotten off to an 0-3 start, most recently falling to the Miami Dolphins in an embarrassing 70-20 loss this past Sunday.
On Monday, former NFL coach and current ESPN analyst Rex Ryan ripped Denver.
“I see it as absolutely a disgrace. This is an absolute disaster,” Ryan said on ESPN’s Get Up. “This defense was literally supposed to be a top-five defense in the league…and maybe number one with the right guy running it.”
The Broncos’ defense has been anything but the sort.
Through the first three weeks of the season, Denver ranks last in both yards allowed and scoring defense. Obviously, the numbers could be a little skewed by the Dolphins loss, but it doesn’t change the fact that Payton’s Broncos have not been as advertised.
Denver has put together six straight losing seasons and appears well on its well to recorded its seventh in a row. The franchise has not made the playoffs since last winning the Super Bowl during the 2015-16 campaign. The Broncos have gone through six head coaches during that span.
While Hackett’s short tenure in the Mile High City certainly wasn’t impressive, Payton has looked even worse through three games in his first season at the helm.
Payton experienced considerable success with the New Orleans Saints, going 152-89 in 15 seasons with the club, winning a Super Bowl during the 2009-10 campaign. He made the playoffs nine times and led the Saints to seven NFC South division titles.
That success has certainly not carried over into Denver.
The Broncos will aim to pick up their first victory when they take on the Chicago Bears in a battle of winless teams next Sunday.
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