Sean Payton's quest to bring a Super Bowl to the Denver Broncos ended in the AFC Championship game. Losing quarterback Bo Nix to a broken ankle in the divisional round was the catalyst behind his undoing, but their defeat against the New England Patriots was still decided by fine margins. Even with the mitigating circumstances attached. Even with the torrential blizzard over the second half. Even after the Broncos reached the final four, Payton decided that he needed a scapegoat for the team's failings.