Sean Payton downplays sideline flare-up with Russell Wilson: ‘I was upset about the call’

As the Denver Broncos lined up to kick a field goal down 21 points late in the third quarter, coach Sean Payton ripped into the officials before turning his ire toward quarterback Russell Wilson in the team’s 42-17 loss to the Detroit Lions on Saturday at Ford Field. I really try to play penalty-free football.” Payton said after the game any perceived frustration with Wilson was related to the offensive offsides call that wiped away the score. Simple.” Asked what he said to Wilson during the interaction on the sideline, Payton replied: “Listen, what I talk with Russell about is none of your business.” Play-by-play broadcaster Kevin Harlan called Payton and Wilson’s interaction “a very animated” and “one-sided discussion.” For his part, Wilson viewed his interaction with Payton as a non-issue. “The problem is when you start challenging spots, it becomes difficult.” The whole chain of events was ultimately academic given Detroit’s dominance, but the sideline blowup by Payton at Wilson, whose fumble in the first quarter proved costly, illustrated the frustration resulting from a thoroughly squandered opportunity to move further into playoff position.