The Denver Broncos made their first big offseason move on Tuesday, two days after their 10-7 loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. A 14-3 regular season, the AFC’s No. 1 seed, and an end to Kansas City’s nine-year reign in the division could not save three assistants as Sean Payton pressed reset on parts of his staff.

The team fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, wide receivers coach Keary Colbert, and cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch. The move closes Lombardi’s three-year stint in Denver alongside Payton and, more broadly, a 15-year working partnership between the two that stretches back to New Orleans. It also signals a new direction for a roster built to win now.

Why the Broncos moved fast after the AFC Championship

Payton did not hide his frustration after the loss. He said the offense “didn’t do enough to earn a Super Bowl trip,” and pointed to the opening 30 minutes as a major miss: “I think the big thing, that first half, momentum and field position didn’t yield what it needed to yield, we needed more than that.” For a unit that had been efficient all year, those words landed with weight.

Denver’s offense finished 14th in scoring at 23.6 points per game. The advanced numbers tell a mixed story: 10th in offensive EPA and 12th in QBR signal a unit that created value and got solid quarterback play, yet the Broncos were also 29th in three-and-outs, punting after 25% of their drives. In tight playoff games, those dead possessions are killers.

“Top-10 in EPA but 29th in three-and-outs — that’s the gap that cost them.”

Joe Lombardi out, but Sean Payton still holds the play sheet

Lombardi’s title was offensive coordinator, but Payton calls the offensive plays. That distinction matters. The Broncos did not remove the play-caller; they removed the architect around him. Lombardi handled game-planning, install, and the weekly process that feeds the call sheet.

Payton’s statement read like a respectful goodbye to a trusted ally: “I want to thank these coaches for playing an important role in elevating our program over the last three seasons. I’ve been fortunate to work with Joe Lombardi for 15 years and am particularly grateful for his many contributions to our success as offensive coordinator. We sincerely appreciate Joe, Keary and Addison’s hard work and wish them all the best in the future.”

Lombardi’s past includes OC stops with the Lions (2014-15) and Chargers (2021-22) along with 12 years on Payton’s Saints staff. The partnership in Denver never fully clicked in the postseason. The divisional-round 33-30 OT win over the Bills came at a cost when Bo Nix suffered a season-ending ankle injury, and the offense could not find rhythm a week later against New England.

“Accountability or scapegoat? The OC didn’t even call the plays.”

Wide receivers under the microscope: Keary Colbert’s exit

The Broncos’ pass catchers had talent but not steady output. Payton acknowledged the drops plainly: “Yes, there were too many [drops] even down the stretch.” Colbert’s room — featuring Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin and others like Bryant — flashed big-play ability but struggled to stack clean series. In the playoffs, every missed third-down catch and every drop widens the margin for error.

Removing the position coach does not fix catches on its own, but it can signal a shift in technique, rotation, and developmental focus. Expect the next hire to bring a strong detail-first profile and an emphasis on third-down execution.

Defense led in sacks, but the cornerbacks room also changes

It might surprise some that Denver also cut ties with cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch, given that the defense led the league in sacks. But pass rush and coverage are linked, and the staff is often graded as a whole. A new voice in the cornerbacks room could align with tweaks in coverage rules and how Denver marries rush to coverage on early downs.

Payton’s overhaul hints at a franchise that wants to squeeze a few more key plays out of high-leverage moments. If the defense holds its sack standard and the coverage unit tightens, the margin could shift in January games decided by one score.

Potential replacements: Davis Webb and Zach Strief in the frame

Two names to watch are already in the building. Quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator Davis Webb is viewed as a fast riser and has drawn interest elsewhere, including as a Raiders head-coaching candidate. Promoting Webb could both steady the quarterback room and help the Broncos keep a young coach they value.

Run game coordinator and assistant head coach Zach Strief is another logical option for a larger role. The Broncos have already met with him about boosting the run game. A stronger run identity could help reduce those dreaded three-and-outs and make life easier for whoever starts at quarterback next season.

“If Payton trusts Webb, stop waiting and give him the wheel.”

The season that raised the bar in Denver

This was not a lost year. Far from it. Denver snapped the Chiefs’ nine-year hold on the AFC West, posted a 14-3 record, and seized the AFC’s top seed. The defense brought heat every week, leading the NFL in sacks. The Broncos won a thriller in the divisional round, 33-30 in overtime against the Bills, showing they could survive chaos and make clutch plays.

But the AFC Championship turned into a field-position chess match, and Payton’s own words told the story: the Broncos didn’t cash in early chances. A few wasted drives, a few drops, and a struggling first half were enough to end a Super Bowl push.

What this shake-up means for Sean Payton’s offense

Payton still holds the call sheet. That means the next offensive brain trust must sharpen execution and sequencing rather than reinvent the system. The numbers show a good unit that stalled too often: top-10 in EPA, top-12 in QBR, but too many three-and-outs. Fixing that split is the assignment.

• Find a steadier run game on early downs.
• Reduce drops with technique and clearer roles among receivers.
• Trim the dead possessions with higher-percentage first-down calls.

Do that, and a 23.6-points-per-game team can nudge toward elite territory without dramatic scheme changes.

Bottom line

Three firings just days after an AFC title loss send a loud message: 14 wins and the No. 1 seed were not the end goal. Denver believes its window is open right now, and small gaps — drops, three-and-outs, lost field position — kept a good team from becoming a great one in January.

Whether the Broncos promote Davis Webb, expand Zach Strief’s role, or look outside, the task is clear. Keep the defensive edge, keep the identity Payton wants, and turn those empty drives into points. The names changed on Tuesday. The standard did not.