DENVER -- Broncos coach Sean Payton had the relieved look Sunday night of a man who had just been pulled out of deep water after Denver rebounded from a dismal first half to score 30 points in the second in a 30-26 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Empower Field at Mile High.
The Broncos (2-1), who were a league-record 11-2 in one-score games last season, are now 2-0 in one-score games this season. Quarterback Bo Nix was behind center for his 10th come-from-behind, fourth-quarter win since the start of the 2024 season -- the most in the NFL over that span.
But Payton still would like for such comebacks to not be a habit.
"I'm pleased with how we responded,'' Payton said. "But we can't, like -- that'll cost us in bigger games.... It will be something we're frustrated about later if we can't clean it up.
"I'm comfortable with the grit of a team that can play well in the fourth quarter,'' Payton continued. "I'm uncomfortable with how we play at the start of games.... You're going to be in tight games, but as the head coach you can't possibly be comfortable with the way the first half unfolded.''