Payton vs. Fangio as Eagles host Broncos Sunday
When Sean Payton took over as head coach of the Denver Broncos before the 2023 season he had no problem calling out the man he replaced.
Payton said Nathaniel Hackett’s performance during the 2022 season was “one of the worst coaching jobs in NFL history.’’ Hackett, who was fired before his first full season ended, went 4-11 as the Broncos head coach.
So how does Payton feel about the man Hackett replaced as Broncos head coach, Vic Fangio, who went 19-30 in his three seasons (2019-21) in Denver?
Since the two will meet Sunday when Payton and the Broncos (2-2) travel to Philadelphia to meet the Eagles (4-0) where Fangio is now defensive coordinator, Denver’s head coach chose his words a little more wisely.
Payton Speaks about Fangio
“No. 1, I have a tremendous amount of respect for Vic,’’ Payton said this week. “He went to the same high school my father went to in Scranton (Pa.). So long before we ever met each other I knew of him. I have a cousin who taught him sixth-grade math.
“Vic’s one of those guys who’s always stayed ahead of the curve. You know you’re getting someone who is going to have a real good game plan and that’s going to understand your strengths and weaknesses. You’re going to have to be on point with the details. That’s one of his strengths, all the little things. There’s more to this game than just our offense vs. the Eagles defense, but there’s a tremendous amount of respect on my part for him and what he’s accomplished.’’
Fangio’s defense, which has five new starters from last year’s Super Bowl winners, has struggled somewhat despite the team’s 4-0 start. The Eagles rank 22nd in yards allowed, but 14th in the more important points allowed. It has forced five turnovers and that number could increase against a Broncos offense that ranks 9th in the league, but has turned it over six times, the sixth most in the league.
Philadelphia has another advantage thanks to the NFL schedule maker. This will be Denver’s third road game in four weeks and the Broncos are traveling to Philly after a Monday night game last week.
4th Quarter Magic
Here’s something to watch for in Thursday night’s between the Rams and the 49ers: The Rams have beaten their long-time rival three straight times and in all three games the 49ers took the lead into the fourth quarter. That includes a game last year on Thursday Night Football where San Francisco led 6-3 after three quarters and the Rams won, 12-6.
Tonight’s game will also be the 17th time head coaches Sean McVay (Rams) and Kyle Shanahan (49ers) have gone head-to-head. Shanahan holds a 10-6 advantage among the old friends.
Disappointing Starts
Baltimore and Houston were both favored to win their divisions, the AFC North and South respectively. Both are off to slow 1-3 starts as they face each other Sunday in Baltimore. Unless there’s a tie, one of these teams will be 1-4.
The Ravens have only started a season 1-4 once — in 2015 — and they finished that year 5-11. The Texans have gotten off to a 1-4 start seven times. The last time was also 2015 and they came back to go 9-7 and win the division.
Third Man In
Cleveland’s decision to bench veteran Joe Flacco and start rookie Dillon Gabriel makes the former Oregon QB the third rookie QB to start this year.
Tennessee has started No. 1 overall pick, Cam Ward, from week one, while the New York Giants made Jaxson Dart their starter last week. Gabriel’s first start will come Sunday when the Browns take on Minnesota in London. He’s believed to be the first QB to make his first start in a game played outside the U.S.
Roll Tide?
Sunday’s battle between Miami (1-3) and Carolina (1-3) will feature two former Alabama QBs who were better with the Tide than they have been in the NFL.
The Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa is 24th in the league in passing yards and 19th in QB rating. Carolina’s Bryce Young is 23rd in yards (one more yard than Tua) but his 77.1 rating is better than just Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence (75.1), Tennessee’s Cam Ward (63.9) and Cleveland’s just-benched Joe Flacco (60.0).
Ironically, just as Young was, Lawrence and Ward were also No. 1 overall picks.
The Last Time
As the 0-4 Saints prepare to host the Giants, Sunday, they are on an eight-game losing streak. New Orleans also lost its last four games of the 2024 season. It’s the Saints longest losing streak since the 1980 team went 0-14.
So who was the last team the Saints beat? That would be the Giants, 14-11, last season at the Meadowlands.
