{"id":676097,"date":"2026-01-14T08:12:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T08:12:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/676097\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T08:12:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T08:12:24","slug":"broncos-hc-sean-payton-playfully-jabs-reporter-for-question-about-stopping-the-run","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/676097\/","title":{"rendered":"Broncos HC Sean Payton playfully jabs reporter for question about stopping the run"},"content":{"rendered":"

Broncos HC Sean Payton playfully jabs reporter for question about stopping the run<\/a> appeared first on ClutchPoints<\/a>. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Denver Broncos<\/a> saw their AFC Divisional Round preparation take a lighter turn this week as head coach Sean Payton<\/a> delivered a playful jab during his latest press conference. While the exchange drew laughs, it also provided clarity on a key defensive question as the No. 1 seed readies itself for a huge postseason matchup.<\/p>\n

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The Broncos are preparing to host the Buffalo Bills with a spot in the AFC Championship Game on the line. With defensive health a major storyline, a reporter asked Payton about linebacker Dre Greenlaw<\/a> and his ability to attack downhill against the run. The phrasing of the question prompted an immediate and memorable response.<\/p>\n

A video clip shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) by The 33rd Team\u2019s Ari Meirov captured Payton\u2019s reaction<\/a>, which quickly circulated among fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou want him to attack downhill? Like, what do you know about attacking downhill in the run game? You don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

The comment was delivered with humor rather than hostility and reflected Payton\u2019s long-standing tendency to challenge reporters when football terminology is used loosely. While the jab drew attention, the more important takeaway followed shortly after.<\/p>\n

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Greenlaw\u2019s return status appears nearly certain<\/a>. The veteran linebacker has returned to practice and is expected to play after missing the final two games of the regular season with a hamstring injury, a development that provides a significant boost to the Broncos\u2019 run defense ahead of a physical Bills offense.<\/p>\n

The downhill style, instincts, and physical presence of Greenlaw are expected to play a major role vs. the Bills, who rely on both designed quarterback runs and interior rushing plays. Denver\u2019s defensive staff views his presence as a stabilizing force on early downs and a tone-setter in high-leverage situations.<\/p>\n

The Broncos vs. Bills playoff matchup carries added intensity following last season\u2019s postseason meeting, with the team entering the divisional round confident, healthy, and composed under the leadership of the Broncos head coach.<\/p>\n

As kickoff approaches, the exchange became more than a viral moment, offering confirmation of Greenlaw\u2019s availability and reinforcing a sense of control and readiness throughout the organization.<\/p>\n

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Related: Why Broncos\u2019 Talanoa Hufanga wanted to see Bills in Divisional Round<\/a><\/p>\n

Related: Broncos\u2019 Brandon Jones could return for Super Bowl if Denver advances<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Broncos HC Sean Payton playfully jabs reporter for question about stopping the run appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":676098,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2062],"tags":[16938,232,53,231,258,2426,1160,7,6,1813],"class_list":["post-676097","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-denver-broncos","tag-ari-meirov","tag-broncos","tag-buffalo-bills","tag-denver","tag-denver-broncos","tag-denverbroncos","tag-dre-greenlaw","tag-football","tag-nfl","tag-sean-payton"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/115892449792794344","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/676097","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=676097"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/676097\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/676098"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=676097"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=676097"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=676097"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}