Sean Payton Puts Broncos' Special Teams Coordinator On Notice
Denver Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi is under fire. The Denver Broncos defeated the Houston Texans on the road 18-15, but they had to overcome two major special teams snafus to get it done.
The first was a blocked 51-yard field-goal attempt by Wil Lutz. That took three potential points off the board. Remember, Lutz is the reigning AFC Special Teams Player of the Month, and had only missed one field-goal kick this season.
The second was a muffed punt return by Michael Bandy, who was filling in for the injured Marvin Mims Jr. That gave the Texans a short field, in which they were able come away three points.
After the game, Broncos head coach Sean Payton was more concerned with the kicking aspect of his team's third-phase blunders, sending a blunt message to Rizzi.
“We'll look at that on film. All of that without watching it on tape," Payton said. "My concern was just the late subs. It was a little bit sloppy. The kicking game, we'll get that cleaned up or we'll find someone else that can do it.”
Broncos' Path to Rizzi
Rizzi is in his first year with the Broncos. He served for several years as the New Orleans Saints' special teams coordinator under Payton.
When Payton first got the job in Denver, he hired Ben Kotwica as special teams coordinator and Mike Westhoff as assistant head coach and third-phase czar. Last season, the Broncos had a would-be game-winning chip-shot field goal blocked by the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, and Westhoff retired two days later.
Kotwica survived the season, seeing Mims earn All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as a returner once again. The Broncos' special teams under Kotwica last season wasn't elite, but it was competent. Outside of that one blocked kick in Kansas City, Kotwica's special teams didn't cost the Broncos wins.
Rizzi's unit has already cost the Broncos one win and has threatened several others. The controversial 'leverage' penalty vs. the Indianapolis Colts saw the Broncos lose a heartbreaker to one of the AFC's juggernauts in Week 2. That wasn't a freak play; the Colts recognized a Rizzi tendency on film and exploited it.
The Broncos' special teams have been a mess all season. Even Bandy's muffed punt in Houston can be laid at Rizzi's feet because it was a failure to communicate late in late in Week 8's blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys that saw Mims in the game returning a punt. He should have been on the sideline with his feet up in garbage time.
Rizzi has a lot of explaining to do. It's not just Week 9's blunders, but the Broncos rank dead last in giving up kick return yardage and their coverage on punt returns has been terrible this season, including against the Texans.
It's rare to hear Payton be so blunt or critical of one of his assistants, let alone a coach known as a Payton guy. Here's to hoping it lights a fire under Rizzi because the Broncos' schedule will soon stiffen up, and any special teams foibles will be hard to overcome against opponents like the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders, and Green Bay Packers.
Mike Tomlin Declares Steelers Have 'Saved Their Season' After Stunning 27-20 Victory Over Colts
Just a week ago, it looked like the Pittsburgh Steelers had reached their lowest point of the season. A discouraging home loss to the Green Bay Packers on national television left fans frustrated and losing hope, but that narrative shifted on Sunday with a 27-20 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. The Steelers’ defense stepped up in a big way, holding the league’s top-ranked offense to its fewest points of the year while forcing six turnovers.
It felt like there was a completely different Steelers team on the field in Week 9 compared to the one we saw in Week 8. Despite a couple of hiccups, the defense played their best game of the season against the toughest opponent they’ve faced thus far in the Colts.
In his postgame press conference, Head Coach Mike Tomlin praised his team’s energy and focus throughout the week, saying it was exactly the kind of response he wanted to see after a disappointing showing against Green Bay.
"It was a tough week, but we certainly deserved it based on the last performance," Tomlin said. "I like the way the guys absorbed it and smiled in the face of it and prepared and waited for the next opportunity, that's the National Football League. It’s a big-time win for the collective."
The Steelers certainly made the most of that opportunity. After going three straight games without forcing a single turnover, the defense exploded for six takeaways against the Colts, intercepting Daniel Jones three times and recovering three fumbles. It once again was a flash of how good this defense really can be.
Inside linebacker Payton Wilson had a monster performance, compiling 14 total tackles to go along with two passes defended and an interception in the first half that completely changed the game's momentum. Joey Porter Jr. had his best game of the season, despite a couple of penalties. Porter made eight tackles to go along with a sack while defending four passes and sealing the game with an interception late in the fourth quarter.
Perhaps what makes the defensive performance that much more impressive is the fact that the Steelers were down multiple key contributors. Cole Holcomb, Chuck Clark, DeShon Elliott, Cory Trice, and Jabrill Peppers all sat out Sunday's game with injuries and illness, but those who did suit up were able to fill their shoes in route to the win.
Offensively, it wasn't a flawless performance, but it was enough to get the win. The Steelers totaled only 225 yards of offense while committing one turnover, but the Steelers took advantage of Indianapolis' mistakes and were able to get points when it mattered most. Pittsburgh scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter as well as 10 points in the fourth quarter to build their lead, which ended up being the difference.
Steelers Might've Saved Their Season With Big Win Over Colts
The victory couldn’t have come at a better time. The Steelers snap their two-game losing streak and remain in first place in the AFC North. Pittsburgh still has some difficult opponents ahead of them, but this win certainly has to be a confidence booster for a team that really needed it. After back-to-back weeks of giving up 33+ points, the Steelers held the highest-scoring offense in the NFL to just 20 points, and held potential MVP candidate
If the Steelers can carry the momentum from Sunday’s performance, they could be back in the hunt for a top seed in the AFC. A huge win over a strong, legitimate contender can shift the team’s mindset and boost confidence, and they’ll need to ride that energy with tough opponents coming up on the schedule.
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