In just three seasons, Sean Payton has flipped the script in Denver - and it's not just about the win column, though that part speaks volumes. After inheriting a team that went 5-11, 7-10, and 5-12 in the three years prior to his arrival, Payton has guided the Broncos to records of 8-9, 10-7, and now 12-2 with three games still on the table. That’s not just a turnaround - that’s a culture shift.
And now, with one more win this season, Payton is on the verge of joining rare company. Only Bill Belichick has ever posted 13 wins in five different seasons.
Payton could become the second coach in NFL history to do it, and he’s doing it while chasing something even more elusive: a Super Bowl title with a second franchise. No coach has ever pulled that off.
Payton already brought New Orleans its first Lombardi Trophy. Now he’s got Denver dreaming big.
But before we start penciling in playoff scenarios, there’s business to handle - and it’s a big one this week. The Broncos are set to host the Jacksonville Jaguars, who come in at 10-4 and very much in the thick of the AFC playoff race themselves. This one has major seeding implications, and the Broncos know it.
“They’re doing a lot of things really well,” Payton said of Jacksonville. “They’re scoring. Mondays, I look at the touchdown reel, and there are a ton of good schemes.”
That’s high praise from a coach who’s built his career on offensive creativity. Payton pointed to Jaguars offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who came up under Sean McVay, as a key reason for Jacksonville’s versatility. “There are certain beliefs relative to what you’re going to get in the run and the pass game,” Payton noted.
But what really jumps off the tape for Denver’s head coach? Turnovers. Jacksonville is +10 in turnover differential and ranks second in the league in interceptions - that’s the kind of stat that wins games in December and January.
“They mix it up defensively,” Payton added. “They have a really, really talented punt returner. As you look at them and you watch the tape, it’s a smaller market, but you see a real good team.”
Translation: don’t let the market size fool you - this Jaguars squad is legit.
Sunday’s matchup kicks off at 2:05 p.m. MT and will be regionally televised on Fox. The Broncos enter as home favorites, but they’ll need to be sharp in all three phases to keep their push for the AFC’s No. 1 seed alive.
With Payton pulling the strings, Denver isn’t just back in the mix - they’re a problem for the rest of the AFC.