The Denver Broncos are off to a horror start in the Sean Payton era with two losses. The relationship with star quarterback Russell Wilson is already clearly in crisis and threatening to tip.

“I’m going to be pissed off if this isn’t a playoff team.”

With these clear words, Sean Payton unmistakably set the course for his first season as head coach of the Denver Broncos at the end of July.

After years of suffering, the turnaround was finally to be initiated under the new saviour. After the Super Bowl victory in the 2015 season, Denver had missed the postseason in each of the following seasons.

However, after two game days and two defeats in the 2023 season, the spirit of optimism in Denver has long since fizzled out and the proclaimed goal of the playoffs is already a long way off after the sobering start.

And Coach Payton is not the hoped-for miracle worker either.

“Winning! It’s the cure for the whole organisation. It makes everybody feel better,” the 59-year-old had also stressed to “USA Today”, looking back on his era with the New Orleans Saints, which he was able to lead to a division victory in his debut season in 2006 and to the title three years later.

Denver Broncos: Sean Payton statements blow up in his face

In Denver, they were hoping for a similar paradigm shift from second one. But there hasn’t been much of Payton’s winning mentality on the court yet.

Much worse: The full-bodied promises of acute improvement are already blowing up in Payton’s face.

Apart from the first quarter and a half against the Commanders, when the Broncos literally ran over their opponents offensively and defensively and it looked like a clear pack, the team under the new leadership still lacks consistency and penetration throughout the entire game.

Ironically, it was star quarterback Russell Wilson himself who allowed Washington to get into the game with a lost fumble after a brilliant start and an early 18-point lead, thus opening the door for the collapse.

Relationship between Payton and Wilson in crisis

Meanwhile, the pressure in Denver is already rising noticeably. Payton’s reaction after the loss to the Commanders shows that, as he shifted the blame for the debacle away from himself and playmaker Wilson got his licks in.

The communication with his quarterback had been inadequate. Against Washington, the coordination of play calls took far too long, so that the coach had to call several timeouts in the first period with the clock running out.

Payton said he was not used to this from his past, and the coach then suggested that Wilson wear a wristband with the various plays.

This almost bordered on insulting his majesty.

Wilson himself, however, played down the problem afterwards.

What stands out, however, is that it was not the first clear criticism of Wilson by Payton in recent weeks. “Will you fucking stop kissing all the babies? You’re not running for public office,” Payton reportedly sharply criticised Wilson’s activities off the football field and his focus recently, according to “ESPN”.

Signs of an early break? It is probably still too early for an answer. However, the image of the hoped-for coaching QB dream duo in Denver has already suffered some deeper cracks in a very short time.

But the very fact of publicly ticking off a Super Bowl winner and nine-time Pro Bowler with reference to such basics paints a questionable picture.

Denver Broncos: Coach Payton under pressure early on

The two losses in the opener against teams that are not among the league leaders are far too few overall and set alarm bells ringing early in Denver. No question: Payton is sitting on the biggest powder keg in the NFL right now.

For him, that means he has to deliver results and not just look for excuses in others. Otherwise there is the threat of history.

Only one Broncos head coach began his tenure worse than with a record of 0-2, and that was Vic Fangio, who lost his first four games of the 2019 season, eventually finishing at 7-9.

It’s now imperative that Payton get multiple wins in his next three games against the Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears and New York Jets, or he’ll be very uncomfortable early on.

After that, the schedule gets much tougher with two clashes with the Kansas City Chiefs and a visit to the Buffalo Bills in just four games starting in week six.

But what was already clear before week three: Even Payton’s experience and much-rewarded coaching qualities won’t make the Broncos even close to contenders overnight.