ENGLEWOOD, Colo — The Broncos win the opening coin toss more often than not -- they are 9-3 this year -- and when they do, head coach Sean Payton has always chosen to defer.
Take the ball to start the second half. Which makes perfect sense strategy-wise -- games usually work out so that a deferral will allow a team to have the ball for the final possession of the first half and first possession of the second half -- but has not worked as a matter of practice.
The Broncos have now gone three-and-out on their first series of the second half in each of their last four games. In all the Broncos have scored just once in 12 games on their first series of the second half with seven three and outs. The breakdown:
1. Raiders, missed 55-yard field goal
2. Commanders, three-and-out punt
3. Dolphins, four plays, punt
4. Bears, three-and-out punt
5. Jets, three-and-out punt
6. Chiefs, interception
7. Packers, 7 plays, 75 yards, touchdown
8. Chiefs, 14 plays, 55 yards, blocked field goal
9. Bills, three-and-out (with two offensive penalties) punt
10. Vikings, three-and-out (with an offensive penalty) punt
11. Browns, three-and-out punt
12. Texans, three-and-out punt
“I start off the first play of the second half with a naked (bootleg pass play), we take a minus play (on an Anderson sack), it’s a bad call by me,’’ Payton said. “I don’t think it’s one thing specifically. But certainly it’s something we’ve talked about. We may look at putting together a second script between the second quarter and start of the third quarter but that’s not going to impact whether we defer or not.”
The NFL allotts a 12-minute halftime break for fans to use the restrooms, players to get a breather from their top-speed collisions and coaches to make strategic adjustments.
Perhaps from now on at the halftime intermission, the Broncos' offensive players should start eating hot dogs.
“I start off the first play of the second half with a naked, we take a minus play (on an Anderson sack), it’s a bad call by me,’’ Payton said. “I don’t think it’s one thing specifically. But certainly it’s something we’ve talked about. We may look at putting together a second script between the second quarter and start of the third quarter but that’s not going to impact whether we defer or not.”
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