The Denver Broncos punched their ticket to the AFC Championship Game with a dramatic overtime win over the Buffalo Bills - but the celebration was quickly tempered by a gut punch. Starting quarterback Bo Nix went down late with a broken ankle, ruling him out for the biggest game of the season. Now, with the stakes at their highest, it’s Jarrett Stidham’s turn under center - and head coach Sean Payton is no stranger to this kind of moment.
Losing your starting quarterback in the postseason is about as rare - and as daunting - as it gets. But if there’s a coach who’s prepared to handle it, it’s Payton.
He’s been here before. Back in 2019, during his tenure with the New Orleans Saints, Drew Brees suffered a thumb injury in Week 2 against the Rams.
That injury sidelined the future Hall of Famer for five games. In stepped Teddy Bridgewater, and with him, a whole new approach from Payton.
What Payton did then is exactly what he’s channeling now. He didn’t just hand Bridgewater the keys and hope for the best.
Instead, he put the onus on the entire team to raise their game. It was a clear message: this isn’t just about the quarterback - it’s about everyone.
“In our first team meeting after returning from L.A., I made the same comment: ‘I’m not worried about Bridgewater,’” Payton recalled this week. “I’m worried about everyone else in this room making sure their level is up to speed.”
It wasn’t just coach-speak. That Saints team responded with five straight wins, rallying around their backup and playing some of their most complete football of the season. And while Bridgewater did his part, it was the team-wide buy-in that made the difference - something Payton is now counting on again in Denver.
He even shared a moment from that 2019 run that speaks to the confidence he had in his backup. During Bridgewater’s undefeated stretch, Payton called Brees - who was chomping at the bit to return - and delivered a playful jab.
“I called Drew and asked how he was doing. He said, ‘I’m getting ready to come back.’ I replied, ‘Well, make sure you take your time - things are going well here.’”
That kind of levity, even in high-pressure moments, is classic Payton. But when it comes to game prep, he’s all business. And his philosophy on building around a backup is rooted in pragmatism and precision.
“I think the most important thing, similar to tight ends and receivers, is understanding what they like and what they do well,” he said. “From there, you build a game plan around that and figure out what kind of game you see this being played as.”
In other words, don’t try to make the backup fit the starter’s mold. Instead, tailor the offense to the quarterback you have - and trust the rest of the roster to do their job at a higher level.
That’s the challenge now for the Broncos as they prepare to face a battle-tested New England Patriots squad. The odds may not be in their favor, but Payton’s track record in situations like this is hard to ignore. He’s won big games with backup quarterbacks before - and not by accident.
Saturday’s AFC Championship Game will be a defining moment for Jarrett Stidham, no doubt. But it’s also a test for the rest of this Broncos roster.
Can they rally the way the Saints once did? Can they elevate their play and make this more than just a quarterback story?
If Payton’s past is any indication, don’t count them out just yet.