The Sean Payton/Nathaniel Hackett drama was front and center during Sunday’s game in Denver, with the Jets, both before and after the game, not hiding in their desire to win for their offensive coordinator as a payback for Payton’s comments towards Hackett before the season.
So, as the Jets celebrated and gave Hackett the game ball after picking up a big win over the Broncos, Payton faced reporters and credited Gang Green’s staff without mentioning Hackett’s name.
“Listen, they played better than us,” Payton said. “I credit Robert [Saleh] and that staff. They won the game and that's how I look at it.”
Asked if he regretted calling Hackett’s job as Broncos head coach last year “one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL,” Payton pointed to his comments shortly after, when he did say he regretted making them.
“I already addressed that, though,” Payton said. “It’s a fair question, but I already addressed that the next day.”
As for the Jets, they took to social media to troll Payton and the Broncos after the win, while standing up for Hackett when speaking with reporters.
“We wanted to come in and get a win today for him and we did that,” Breece Hall said. “The better coach, the better team won.”