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Sean Payton Takes Shot at Falcons Fans in Broncos’ Preseason Win
0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton didn't hesitate to take a shot at the Atlanta Falcons during his team's Friday night preseason win over them.
At halftime, NFL Network's Cynthia mentioned to Payton that he had won previous games in Atlanta and was on the verge of continuing his streak. However, the Broncos coach referred to the lack of fans showing up to support the home team.
"A lot of people dressed up as empty seats today, so, anyway," Payton told Frelund before exiting the interview to head back to the locker room.
At halftime, the Broncos held a commanding 24-0 lead over the Falcons behind touchdowns scored in a variety of ways. Adam Prentice's one-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter got things started.
After a Will Lutz field goal increased the score in the second quarter, backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham threw a five-yard touchdown pass to Jaleel McLaughlin.
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Jahdae Barron's 97-yard interception return boosted the score to 24-0 ahead of Payton's halftime interview. They only scored a field goal in the second half, as there was no urgency to keep scoring TDs, with Atlanta scoring one touchdown all game.
According to ESPN's game details , over 68,000 fans attended Friday night's preseason game at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium. However, Payton made it appear that maybe there weren't enough fans supporting the home team.
Last season, the Falcons finished 8-9 on a four-game win streak, but missed reaching the NFL Playoffs. The team struggled after losing starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in Week 11 against the Carolina Panthers to a knee injury, later revealed as a partially torn ACL.
Penix remained on the sidelines after undergoing surgery in November 2025 and is still waiting for his chance to get back on the field. During the offseason, Atlanta signed former Miami Dolphins starter Tua Tagovailoa to a one-one year deal , hoping he can become a suitable starter in the interim.
The Falcons used three different quarterbacks in Friday night's game, none of whom performed particularly well. Cooper Rush threw for the most yards, just 62, but also had two interceptions, while Jack Strand completed 6 of 12 passes for 50 yards.
Tagovailoa had limited time on the field, which included fumbling a snap and completing just three passes for 22 yards. Atlanta's sole touchdown came courtesy of Strand, who ran in for a three-yard score.
It's understandable why the fans who showed up might boo the team at halftime, based on such an underwhelming performance. While it's still the preseason, there wasn't much to love about what the Falcons showed on the field Friday night.
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