Sean Payton's Ego Undermined 4th-and-1 Call That Haunted The Broncos

This wasn’t just a bad call. D.A. says it was an ego call — and one Broncos fans will never forget. In the AFC Championship Game, Sean Payton chose to go for it on a controversial 4th-and-1 instead of kicking the field goal and trusting a dominant Denver Broncos defense to protect a 10-point lead. The play failed. The moment flipped. History changed. D.A. theorizes this decision was rooted in something deeper — Payton’s documented resistance to publicly crediting defensive coordinator Vance Joseph throughout the season, even as the defense carried the team week after week. The pattern matters. D.A. argues Payton didn’t want the defense to be the story. He wanted the offense — and himself — to get the credit for the win. Instead, that 4th-and-1 call became the moment that denied a great defense its shot… and cemented a decision that will live in Broncos infamy. 🔥🔥🔥 FRESH FOOTBALL CONTENT EVERY DAY🔥🔥🔥 Welcome to the official channel of Damon Amendolara (D.A.), host on SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio 🏈🔥 Here you’ll find: 🎬 Watch D.A. Live – Sundays at 7:30p ET