Broncos HC Sean Payton admits big mistake in heartbreaking loss to Colts

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton admitted he allowed a major blunder to happen at the end of Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts.

A leverage penalty on Broncos linebacker Dondrea Tillman allowed the Colts a second chance to make a successful field goal to claim a 29-28 victory over the Broncos in Week 2.

On Monday, Payton explained that the Broncos used a situational field-goal blocking play that wasn't needed, given Colts kicker Spencer Shrader needed to make a distance of 60 yards to nail the game-winner. 

"We had a certain field goal block [in the game plan] in the event of a game-ending field goal,'' Payton said via Jeff Legwold of ESPN. "But that's on me in that situation. 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.''

A costly mistake for the Denver Broncos

On his second opportunity to win the game, Shrader knocked in a 45-yard field goal attempt, and the Broncos fell to 1-1 before playing the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3. 

Situational football is important, and the mistake should have been caught by Rizzi or Payton before the Colts got lined up.

Payton said the Broncos planned to "work" Colts defensive tackle Grover Stewart, who lined up at left guard. But Tillman and defensive end Eyioma Uwazurike flipped spots. Regardless of the error getting lined up, Payton admitted that Denver should have brought a "normal" rush against the Colts.

The mistake was one of a few mistakes the Broncos want back from the fourth quarter. An interception by quarterback Bo Nix and a missed 42-yard field goal attempt by Wil Lutz proved costly.