Sports analyst Colin Cowherd isn’t buying the narrative that Dak Prescott choked in Dallas’ shocking loss to the Denver Broncos this weekend. Instead, the outspoken host turned the spotlight on Sean Payton, calling the Broncos’ win “a coaching clinic from one of the best minds in football.”
“Denver’s got a lot of really good players,” Cowherd said on The Herd Monday morning. “And a lot of them have Sean Payton’s fingerprint on them. Don’t put this on Dak — there was nothing Dak could do.”
Cowherd pointed out how the Cowboys’ defense, missing its top three safeties, struggled to contain Payton’s creative offensive schemes. “That’s not an excuse,” he added. “Their defense isn’t good with safeties. But what Sean Payton did to that defense — it was surgical. I’ve never understood the critics of Sean Payton.”
The take instantly went viral on social media, dividing NFL fans as usual. Cowboys supporters praised Cowherd for “finally saying what needed to be said,” while others accused him of “protecting Dak again.” One fan on X wrote, “Bro acts like Dak’s allergic to blame. Cowboys fans live rent-free in Colin’s head.”
Still, many analysts agreed with Cowherd’s assessment. Payton’s game plan — a mix of quick reads, pre-snap motion, and punishing Dallas’ aggressive blitz calls — showcased the version of the veteran coach who once turned Drew Brees into a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
“Sean Payton reminded everyone why he’s one of the smartest offensive minds in the league,” one NFL insider told Fox Sports. “He exploited every weakness Dallas had — and he did it with surgical precision.”
Meanwhile, Dak Prescott, who threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns, faced another round of media scrutiny despite a solid individual performance. Cowherd’s message was clear: this wasn’t about Dak melting down — it was about Payton mastering the moment.
As the debate rages on, one thing’s certain — Sean Payton just made sure everyone remembers who’s calling the real shots in Denver.
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