Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Jaguars Upset Broncos 34-20, Payton's Comments Backfire

12/23/2025

31 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Liam Coen, the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach, used Sean Payton, the Denver Broncos head coach's "small market" comments as motivation and led a 34-20 Week 16 upset of the Broncos.
Payton clarified that his remarks about a "small market" team were meant as a compliment.
The Denver Broncos remain in contention for the AFC West title, needing wins against the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers to secure a playoff position.

History

Historical Context

The NFL merged with the AFL in 1970, creating a unified league with two conferences and significantly increasing team valuations. This merger followed decades of expansion and relocation, as the NFL sought to incorporate larger markets. By 2021, the average NFL team was valued at approximately $4 billion, reflecting the league's growth and ongoing market competitiveness, particularly regarding "small market" teams like the Denver Broncos.

1 of 2

Story summary

Liam Coen, the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach, used Sean Payton, the Denver Broncos head coach's "small market" comments as motivation and led a 34-20 Week 16 upset of the Broncos.
Payton clarified that his remarks about a "small market" team were meant as a compliment.
The Denver Broncos remain in contention for the AFC West title, needing wins against the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers to secure a playoff position.

1 / 2