Sean Payton Roasts Falcons Fans Over Sparse Crowd During Preseason Game

There was a very meager turnout at the preseason opener between the Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos.

Sean Payton Roasts Falcons Fans Over Sparse Crowd During Preseason Game

Sean Payton (Image via IMAGO/X)

The low attendance at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta tickled the funny bone of Sean Payton. The Denver Broncos head coach could not stop himself from cracking a joke before heading back to Boulder County.

On Friday, the Falcons hosted the Broncos in a preseason opener at home. Unlike in the World Cup a few weeks ago, a friendly game did not attract a large crowd.

Payton took this chance to take a sharp jab at the Falcons fanbase. Payton said at halftime:

There’s a lot of people dressed up as empty seats today.

Although the official game book for the Broncos-Falcons contest lists attendance at 68,183, that’s mostly how many tickets were sold, not used.

Honestly, Falcons fans didn’t miss much. By halftime, their team was trailing 24-0, and at the final whistle, the game finished 27-7.

The Falcons debuted Tua Tagovailoa, Cooper Rush, and Jack Strand. Tua, whom the Falcons signed in the offseason, completed three passes for 22 yards. Rush had 7 completions and a couple of turnovers. Undrafted former FCS star Jack Strand scored Atlanta’s only TD using the infamous quarterback sneak.

On the other side, Jarrett Stidham started proceedings for the Broncos. Stidham threw 9 of 15 completions for 131 yards and a touchdown pass to Jaleel McLaughlin. Stidham also set up fullback Adam Prentice for a rushing score. Former Texas Longhorns and Indianapolis Colts QB Sam Ehlinger completed 10 passes for 67 yards.

The Broncos close out their preseason adventure by hosting a couple of NFC North teams: the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. The Falcons travel to Indiana to play the Colts, then to Miami to play the Dolphins.

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Sean Payton was pleased with the Broncos’ run game

The Broncos’ new offensive coordinator, Davis Webb, utilized the run game to great effect. Besides McLaughlin and Prentice, Denver gave runs to RJ Harvey, Tyler Badie, and Cody Scharder. The Broncos also debuted Cam Ross and Jonah Coleman. With the quarterbacks chipping in a few yards with their feet, the Broncos crossed 100 yards on the night.

Sean Payton Roasts Falcons Fans Over Sparse Crowd During Preseason Game
Bo Nix and Sean Payton (Image via IMAGO)

Sean Payton was really impressed by the run game that led to one of the Broncos’ touchdowns. Payton said via SB Nation:

I was pleased with that. I thought the runners played well and I thought we blocked them pretty well. It’s kind of a heavy front; they’ll play some base. I know we had one fumble, but those guys ran hard.

Will Bo Nix play in preseason for the Broncos?

Broncos starting quarterback Bo Nix did not get a run against the Falcons. However, the Broncos already knew that Payton would rest the third-year signal-caller. So, would Nix not play in the preseason at all? Payton said before the Falcons game:

Expecting our starters to play around 15 plays [against Atlanta]. Bo [Nix] won’t play. He’ll play next week [against the Packers].

The Broncos drafted the former Auburn and Oregon man 12th overall in 2024. In two seasons, Nix has logged a 24-10 record in the regular season. He has thrown 764 completions for 7706 yards, 54 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions. He has also added 9 scores using his legs.

Denver won the AFC West last year (first divisional crown since 2015, when the Broncos won the Super Bowl). In the divisional round, Nix led the Broncos to a33-30 overtime victory over Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. However, late in the game, Nix suffered a broken ankle and missed the AFC Championship matchup against the New England Patriots. Stidham replaced Nix. The Patriots won 10-7.

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