Sean Payton didn’t leave much room for doubt after the Broncos handled the Cardinals in Week 7.
Denver’s 5-2 start now includes a three-game winning streak, and with two games left before the Week 10 bye - at home against the Kansas City Chiefs and on the road against the Carolina Panthers - the Broncos have positioned themselves well heading into the middle stretch of the season. The Chiefs game looks like a big swing point, but this Denver team has beaten Kansas City at home three years in a row.
That kind of belief starts with the quarterback, and Payton made it clear where the Broncos stand on Bo Nix.
Here is the full quote:
Sean Payton stated the Broncos building never lost faith in Bo Nix
“He’s our guy” pic.twitter.com/9UeNzghokH
- Zac Stevens (@ZacStevens) October 25, 2026
"The confidence inside the building relative to his abilities hadn't changed at all... sometimes you're answering questions about whether or not... there's not one time where we were... he's our guy, and it was good to see him play well..."
Payton’s delivery had the usual stop-and-start rhythm, but the message landed cleanly: Denver has not wavered on Nix. He is the guy.
And while he’s not perfect - no quarterback in this league is - Nix has given the Broncos plenty to feel good about. He has done nothing but win since arriving in the NFL, and through seven games this season, he and Denver are on pace for a third straight 10-win year.
That’s why the conversation around the Broncos feels different now. Since Nix arrived in 2024, the early part of the season may not have been spotless on the stat sheet, but the bigger picture is hard to miss. He’s helped reshape the tone inside the organization, and he’s been a central part of a winning culture that simply wasn’t there before.
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The reality, though, is a little less dramatic on paper, since ESPN is the network that sets kickoff times rather than the league itself. There is also a broadcast wrinkle at play, with the matchup steered away from direct competition with the high-profile Miami-Notre Dame game on NBC, which at least helps explain why this one will unfold earlier than Alabama and LSU fans might have expected. [Read more 🡒]
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Daniel Hill has become part of that conversation in the backfield, Racin Delgattys role up front matters more as the pressure rises, and Keelon Russell remains one of the names to watch as Alabama tries to keep its offense on schedule. These are the kinds of overlooked difference-makers that can shape how far a team goes when the stakes tighten, and with LSU next on the list, Alabama does not have much room for passengers. The playoff case is still there, but it may rest on whether the Tide keep getting meaningful production from the supporting cast. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Heads Into LSU Week With One Encouraging Trend Under DeBoer
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There is also reason for confidence in how Kalen DeBoers teams have handled this kind of pause. Alabama has won all four games coming out of a bye under DeBoer, and those victories came by comfortable margins, a useful backdrop with LSU next on the schedule in a matchup that figures to carry real College Football Playoff weight. For a team trying to get back to full strength and keep its postseason path clear, the timing of the break could not be much better. [Read more 🡒]