In a humiliating 70-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton utilized 46 out of 47 available players. The Broncos" day turned sour, losing to a 0-3 record for the season.
Notably, quarterback Russell Wilson remained on the field throughout the entire game, despite the starkly lopsided score. The only player who didn"t see action was backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham.
Update: According to #Dolphins star CB Xavien Howard, it was "Totally disrespectful" for #Broncos coach Sean Payton to keep Russell Wilson all the way to the end of the 70-20 game, per @AdamHBeasley
"That was totally disrespectful."
"That man did a lot for this game. They’ve… pic.twitter.com/1S7ehXG5my
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 24, 2023
Xavien Howard, Miami Dolphin"s cornerback expressed his criticism of this judgment, “That was totally disrespectful. That man did a lot for this game. They"ve got to do better on that side. You can"t be leaving guys like that out there."
This decision became even more questionable, especially against a Dolphins defense that anticipated the Broncos" pass-heavy strategy in the second half.
𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: #Dolphins CB Xavien Howard says it was "totally disrespectful" for Sean Payton to keep Russell Wilson in the game when they were down by 50 points, via @AdamHBeasley
"That was totally disrespectful. That man did a lot for this game. They’ve got to do better on… pic.twitter.com/Ry0vfAG4AP
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) September 24, 2023
Wilson"s performance, statistically speaking, wasn"t terrible. With one touchdown and interception, he could complete 23 out of 38 passes going for 306 yards. However, the offense managed only one touchdown, with the main concern lying in the defense"s surrender of 70 points.
With 12 hits and getting sacked during the game, Wilson"s performance added to the concern. Keeping him on the field increased the risk of injury and placed him squarely in the spotlight during the blowout loss.
Reflecting on the game, Wilson remarked, “That was a tough one today… It felt like the game kind of got away from us." Looking ahead, he emphasized, “It’s a 14-game season. That’s what we have to focus on going forward."
Christian Wilkins just destroyed Russell Wilson
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) September 24, 2023
On the other hand, the Dolphins preserved their undefeated record at 3-0. They are gearing up for a powerful showdown against the Buffalo Bills in the upcoming weekend.
Howard expressed his excitement, saying, “I’m excited and really just to have a team like this, man, [it’s] the best roster I’ve been on since I’ve been here."
We need to put Jarrett Stidham instead of Russell Wilson, the man that lost it he doesn’t have his edge anymore it’s gone. https://t.co/nOtzM23AIz
— 1twig (@1twig) September 21, 2023
While the absence of backup Jarrett Stidham on the field throughout the game raises questions, it is likely that the Broncos will swiftly shift their focus to more pressing concerns. Denver now stands at 0-3, and Wilson holds a 4-14 record as the team"s starter.
