Broncos' coach Sean Payton at a 'loss for words' after huge defeat by Dolphins

Sept. 25 (UPI) -- An obviously irked Sean Payton unleashed some frustration after the Denver Broncos' historic Week 3 defeat by the Miami Dolphins, telling reporters he was at a "loss for words" after the 50-point blowout.

"Obviously, that was embarrassing and tough to watch," Payton said after the 70-20 loss Sunday in Miami Gardens, Fla.

The Dolphins scored 10 touchdowns and punted just once. They set numerous offensive franchise records and were just three points shy of breaking the NFL record for points (72) in a single regular-season game, set in 1966 by the Washington Redskins.

They were 9 yards shy of the NFL's single-game yardage record (735), set in 1951 by the Los Angeles Rams.

The Broncos allowed 726 total yards, including a Dolphins franchise-record 350 rushing yards. The Broncos offense totaled 363 yards, but also logged three turnovers.

Payton was visibly frustrated when asked about the historic significance of the loss, cutting off a reporter several times.

"What's the question? What's the question?" Payton said, in the middle of the reporter's attempts to ask his question.

The veteran coach then said: "I just finished telling you. Next question," ending that exchange.

Payton, who signed a five-year deal in February to coach the Broncos, said he will start to cope with the loss by looking inwardly.

"You always start inwardly and look at, all right, where can I be better? And then you start with the staff," Payton said. "Then we go through the tape, and then you get on to the meetings with the players.

"So, these next two days we'll have a lot to look at and discuss. Again, it's disappointing. I mean, I'm at a loss for words because I've never been in -- I've been on the other side of some games like that, and every once in a while in this league you get your butt whopped, but this was more than that."

Payton said Monday would be "tough for a lot of players" and coaches as they watched game footage. He ended his news conference by saying that his players need to "get back up on the mat" and prepare for Week 4.

The Broncos' struggles over the last two seasons come on the heels of several lucrative investments in personnel, including on the roster, coaching staff and in the front office.

The team traded away five draft picks, including two first-rounders, two second-rounders and a fifth-rounder, in addition to three players, in 2022 for quarterback Russell Wilson and a fourth-round pick from the Seattle Seahawks.

They then signed Wilson to a five-year, $245 million contract. The Broncos shipped another first-round pick and a second-round selection to the New Orleans Saints in February to acquire Payton and a third-round pick.

Wilson turned in one of the worst seasons of his career in 2022, when he posted a 4-11 record as a starter, completed a career-low 60.5% of his throws and logged 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

He appeared on the rebound this year, with five touchdowns, one interception and nearly 500 passing yards through his first two starts, but the Broncos could be in for another long season if the defense remains porous.

Denver has lost 14 of its last 17 games dating to last season. Wilson, who went 98-45-1 over his first nine seasons as a starter with the Seahawks, is now 10-22 as a starter since the start of the 2021 year.

"From a leadership standpoint, I think the biggest thing we have to do is learn everything that we can from the film," Wilson told reporters. "Learn what we did well. Learn what we didn't do so well. Learn that every game has a history of its own. That was one we want to put in -- not think about anymore, but we have to learn from it still.

"I think the best thing we can do is come back on Monday and have the best film session we can have, have the best work ethic we can have."

The Broncos (0-3) have the worst defense in the NFL in yards and points allowed.

They will face the Chicago Bears (0-3) on Sunday in Chicago. The Bears have the second worst defense in terms of points allowed. They surrendered the fourth-most yards through three weeks.