Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton directed a pointed remark at the Atlanta Falcons' home crowd during the team's preseason opener on Friday, which saw Denver dominate Atlanta with a 27-7 victory. Following a first half that ended with the Falcons trailing 24-0, Payton commented on the sparse attendance.
"Yeah, a lot of people dressed up as empty seats today, so, anyway..." Payton said, as reported by OutKick.
The game featured several notable moments, including struggles from Falcons' new quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who completed a few short passes to Kyle Pitts and fumbled the second snap of the game. The reporting noted that this performance was "midseason form" for Tagovailoa, drawing on past observations.
The criticism from Payton comes as the NFL season is underway, with preseason games serving as a warm-up for teams and fans. However, the context of the Falcons' performance and the concurrent home game for the Atlanta Braves, who are in a division race, was also highlighted.
Payton, entering his second season with the Broncos, is described as being "in midseason form" himself, setting a tone for the team. The report suggests that the Broncos, who were considered contenders last season, have reloaded for the current year. The team's dominant performance in the preseason opener was seen as a reflection of this approach.