Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Sean Payton opens Broncos coaching tenure with bold move

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 9/10/23

The Sean Payton era began in Denver on Sunday with the boldest possible move from the new head coach.

A surprise onside kick on the opening kickoff of the season.

It almost worked.

The Broncos attempted to catch the Las Vegas Raiders off guard, and initially appeared to recover the kick off the foot of kicker Will Lutz much to the delight of the Denver sidelines and crowd. There was just one problem.

Denver's Tremon Smith touched the ball before it went 10 yards, resulting in an illegal touching penalty and giving the Raiders the ball at midfield.

Have a look.

TRICKERY IN DENVER.

Broncos start the season and the Sean Payton era with a surprise onside kick. It seems to work.

But Tremon Smith touches the ball just before it goes 10 yards and it penalized for an illegal touch. pic.twitter.com/kQNNjdOiWK
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) September 10, 2023

Las Vegas responded with a 10-play, 44-yard touchdown drive that was capped off with a three-yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Garoppolo to Jakobi Meyers.

Payton is no stranger to surprise onside kicks in big moments. When he was coaching the Saints he famously opened the second half of Super Bowl XLIV with a surprise onside kick that actually worked in his favor. It was one of the major turning points in the game and helped bring the Saints their first ever Super Bowl championship by defeating Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.

This moment was not quite as big, but it is still bold to open a season -- and your first game with a new team -- in such a way.

Payton has his work cut out for him in trying to get the Broncos back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2015 season.

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