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Reactions are pouring in after the Denver Broncos' season came crashing to an end in Upstate New York, as the Buffalo Bills spanked them 31-7 in the Wildcard Round of the playoffs. One of the pervading storylines is the 'heated' exchange between Broncos head coach and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph about halfway through the fourth quarter.
Here's what that looked like courtesy of CBS:
Should Vance Joseph return as #Broncos DC next season?pic.twitter.com/lYZ7RhLseS
— Zack Kelberman (@KelbermanNFL) January 12, 2025
We've seen what a Payton sideline tirade looks like. This wasn't that.
While we can't make out what Payton said to Joseph, he was obviously pointing out something on the field from the defense that he didn't like. At that moment, Bills quarterback Josh Allen had just completed a 19-yard strike to Matt Hollins, who was subsequently flagged for taunting Patrick Surtain II.
The flag pushed the Bills back to their own 18-yard line. Buffalo would ultimately settle for a field goal, the last points of the game.
If Payton had a bone to pick with Joseph, there was plenty of material there in Buffalo. What Payton was taking exception to in that very moment is up for debate, but the Broncos defense couldn't get off the field, relinquishing 210 rushing yards and allowing the Bills to convert 8-of-13 third-down tries.
Outside of Bo Nix's 43-yard touchdown strike to fellow rookie Troy Franklin on Denver's opening drive, nothing went according to Payton and Joseph's game plan. And both veteran coaches share complicity in how the Broncos performed in their first playoff game since Super Bowl 50.
While the CBS cameras captured a heated conversation between Payton and Joseph, it's ultimately much ado about nothing. Joseph's defense was obliterated but overall, the unit punched way above its weight class this season.
Joseph would definitely like to get the entire month of December back, but his defense led the league in sacks, finished second in scoring, and seventh in yards. The 63 sacks Joseph's defense put on the board broke Denver's single-season franchise record, which had stood since 1984.
For as much shade as Joseph is getting following the disappointing loss in Buffalo, he's not going anywhere, unless a team hires him away as head coach. If Payton wouldn't fire Joseph after a historically bad showing in Miami last year, he's not going to do it after all the Broncos accomplished defensively this year, sending two guys to the Pro Bowl and three players to the All-Pro Team.
More must-reads:
- Commanders HC Dan Quinn admits controversial Jayden Daniels decision was a mistake
- Bears TE Colston Loveland, Bills CB Maxwell Hairston headline list of NFL standout rookies from Week 9
- The 'NFL Passing YPG leaders' quiz
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Cowboys Announce Major Roster News Before Cardinals Game
All eyes are on the Dallas Cowboys, set to play the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9 of the NFL season. As the Cowboys prepare for a matchup against the Cardinals on "Monday Night Football," Dallas announced some big news regarding the roster. On Monday, the Cowboys announced that they have activated center Cooper Beebe. Beebe entered the season as the starting center, serving as an anchor for the Cowboy's offense and quarterback Dak Prescott's right-hand man. He returned from injured reserve as is designated to return to the Dallas Cowboys after suffering an ankle and foot injury early in the season. Cooper BeeBe has been with then Dallas Cowboys since 2024. He was selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft and has since emerged as one of the Cowboy's top players. Beebe played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats from 2019 to 2023. He was a First-Team All-American in 2022 and a unanimous All-American in 2023 for the Wildcats. The Cowboys' center was also a Three-Time First-Team All-Big 12 player during his college days at Kansas State. Dak Prescott will now have his starting center back, who should give the Dallas Cowboys more security on the offensive line. The Cowboys have already proven to have one of the best offenses in the NFL and it just got better. Several other stars who have flourished this season include George Pickens, CeeDee Lamb and Javonte Williams. Pickens and Williams are playing in their first season with the Cowboys. Athlon Sports may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over our coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside. It is your sole responsibility to act in accordance with your local laws. The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice. Gambling involves risk. Please only gamble with funds that you can comfortably afford to lose. While we do our utmost to offer good advice and information we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of gambling.
Commanders are reportedly ready to trade 2 Super Bowl veterans
The NFL trade deadline is 24 hours away, and the Washington Commanders have been thrust firmly into a seller position after falling to the Seattle Seahawks 38-14 to fall to 3-6 on the year. There was hope that a solid defensive performance against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8 would transfer to an even better showing against the Seahawks. Still, ultimately, the Commanders fell further than ever before, and with the loss of quarterback Jayden Daniels, there isn’t much outside hope left for the season, despite eight games remaining on the schedule. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Washington may not be punting on the season, but may be looking to move players as the deadline nears. The First Names to Surface “Sources: The Commanders have been open to trading several players, including OL Andrew Wylie and OL Nick Allegretti, both of whom bring extensive starting and playoff experience,” Schultz reported. “Wylie has valuable position flexibility, having played both guard spots and right tackle during his career.” Why These Players Make Sense Both Wylie and Allegretti arrived at the Commanders with Super Bowl experience, having been part of championship Kansas City Chiefs rosters in the past. Although both have played important roles on this team at times, they were eventually replaced by younger options. For Wylie, his replacement in the starting lineup came in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft when the team drafted right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. out of Oregon. Allegretti started all of last year at left guard for Washington but was moved to the right side to start the season while the team tried second-year lineman Brandon Coleman at his position after trading for left tackle Laremy Tunsil in the offseason. With Sam Cosmi returning from his knee injury, both Wylie and Allegretti now serve backup roles with versatility. Wylie has the ability to play as a tackle and guard. At the same time, Allegretti can also serve as a team’s center and was counted on at times last year to help set protections when center Tyler Biadasz was battling injury. The Potential Return Each player would likely return a future Day 3 draft pick to the Commanders, who currently have six picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, including two in the sixth round after trading away second and fourth round picks to the Houston Texans for Tunsil. Of course, there’s also a possibility Washington could look to trade player for player in this scenario, as Schultz’s report doesn’t state exclusively that the team is looking for draft capital. With eight games remaining, and a ‘never say die’ approach to the game, we wouldn’t be totally floored if the Commanders tried to bring in players at other positions to try and save their sinking season before it takes on too much water. The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, November 4, at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Saints-Cowboys Trade Speculation Makes Perfect Sense
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Kevin O'Connell provided multiple positive injury updates in his Monday press conference with one significant
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