The Broncos just pulled off one of their biggest wins in recent memory - a statement victory that punched their ticket to the postseason for the second straight year, gave them 12 wins for the first time in a decade, and extended their win streak to 11 games, the franchise’s longest in nearly 13 years. But if you thought that kind of resume would earn the players a day off, you don’t know Sean Payton.
“Victory Monday” - that beloved NFL tradition where players get an extra day to rest after a big win - doesn’t really exist in Payton’s world. Instead, the Broncos were back in the building Monday morning, diving into meetings and postgame evaluations like it was business as usual. Because for Payton, it is.
“I don’t have a philosophy on Victory Monday,” he said. “I look at where we’re at.
Today we won’t be as long in meetings. We just finished a team meeting.”
In other words, yes, the schedule was lightened a bit. But this wasn’t a “see you Wednesday” situation. Not even close.
“Even in a good win like that, there’s some things we want to clean up,” Payton added. “There’s generally something here for the players treatment-wise… they’ll meet separately, may meet on their own, but I guess that’s my philosophy.”
That mindset - keeping the pedal down even after a marquee win - tells you everything you need to know about where this Broncos team is mentally. They’re not just happy to be here. They’re chasing something bigger.
And Payton made that crystal clear when he laid out the team’s three goals.
“First goal: Win the division. Goal 2: best seed.
Goal 3: Super Bowl,” he said. “So, none of those goals have been accomplished.
We’re focused on Jacksonville.”
Notice what’s missing? “Make the playoffs” isn’t even on the list.
That’s a major shift from a year ago, when sneaking into the postseason would’ve been considered a win in itself. Back then, the Broncos were coming off an 8-9 campaign and dealing with the financial fallout of Russell Wilson’s contract - a league-high dead-money situation that had them playing uphill from the start.
This year? Different story.
The expectations are higher, the margin for satisfaction slimmer. Simply qualifying for the playoffs isn’t enough anymore - not for a team that’s shown it can stack wins, handle adversity, and go toe-to-toe with the league’s best.
That’s why Monday felt like just another day at the office. Because for the Broncos and their head coach, the job’s not done.