Broncos fire OC Joe Lombardi after AFC title game loss

The Denver Broncos fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi on Tuesday, just two days after head coach Sean Payton said the team's offense "didn't do enough'' to earn a Super Bowl trip. Wide receivers coach Keary Colbert and cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch also were fired.

"I want to thank these coaches for playing an important role in elevating our program over the last three seasons," Payton said in a prepared statement. "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."

With backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham in the lineup for an injured Bo Nix , the Broncos gained just 32 yards in the second half of Sunday's 10-7 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, had only one first down after halftime and didn't have a possession in the third or fourth quarters longer than 17 yards.

After the loss, Payton was asked what he would be most critical of in the aftermath, and he said he would start with himself, adding: "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. It'll start there.''

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47747655/sources-broncos-fire-oc-joe-lombardi-afc-title-game-loss