Payton puts Broncos special teams on notice after sloppy showing

The Denver Broncos were among the best special teams units in the league during the 2024 season, but that hasn't rung true in the first half of 2025

BY JAKE SHAPIRO

Nov 2, 2025, 3:07 PM Updated: 5:55 pm

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The Denver Broncos were among the best special teams units in the league during the 2024 season. Fast forward a year, and Payton fired their successful coordinator, Ben Kotwica, and installed his guy, Darren Rizzi from New Orleans — a decison that he may be regretting nine games into 2025.

Though the Broncos are 7-2, their special teams have struggled at times. It popped up during the Broncos’ 18-15 win in Houston on Sunday, which, funny enough, was won on a special teams play — a 34-yard field goal by Wil Lutz. Though the kicker has been good, with a make rate over 90% this season, the unit hasn’t always been.

On Sunday, Lutz had his first attempt from 51 yards that would’ve taken an early lead blocked. Because of that, the Broncos spent much of the game playing from behind. The Texans extended their lead just before halftime on a muffed punt by the Broncos, close to their own end zone. It led to an easy field goal and a five-point lead for the home team.

There was also a bad moment from the team’s long snapper, Mitchell Fraboni, a poorly downed ball on a kickoff that cost the team yards, among some other issues that popped up during the game on the special teams unit.

“All of that, without watching on tape, my concern was just the late subs. It was a little bit sloppy in the kicking game,” Payton said of the special teams blunders. “We’ll get that cleaned up, or we’ll find someone else who can do it.”

The Broncos are unlikely to make a major change on a short week, with the Raiders coming to town on Thursday. Then the Broncos get the mini-bye before their first matchup with Kansas City. Their full bye comes after followed by a Monday Night game, so there are some chances soon, especially with the trade deadline, for the Broncos to make a big change and get a new person up to speed.

Denver’s struggles in this phase have shown up a few times this season, notably against the Jets and Colts.

It’s unclear who Payton was exactly talking about, but Pro Bowler Marvin Mims Jr. being out with a concussion certainly hurt the team’s special teams game.

Mims celebrated Lutz’s game-winner with a post from home.