Minutes after the franchise’s biggest win in a decade, Sean Payton brought up hurricanes to explain why the Broncos are no longer blowing hot air.
They have the right culture, the right locker room — “They specifically hand-picked this team to get us to where we want to be,” edge rusher Nik Bonitto said — and the right mentality.
“You get 139, 150 or 189 (window/siding) protection. As you go up it costs more. It’s about finding the 189s (in players),” Payton said. “Sometimes you have to pass on something that might look attractive. It’s about finding guys who can tune out the noise. There’s been a lot of noise. I hear some of the narratives, and I just want to cry.”
Sunday was supposed to serve as a reminder that the Chiefs run the AFC. That the Broncos were nothing more than bugs on their windshield as they raced to another division title.
Well, you can stop debating the biggest win of Payton’s three-year tenure in Denver.
This is it. Broncos 22, Chiefs 19. Doubters 0.
“We don’t listen. Everyone has an opinion, rightfully so. That’s the world we live in,” defensive end John Franklin-Myers said. “Naturally, they try to qualify every win. This team is not that good. That team had guys injured. Well, we were missing guys. So I am really curious to what people are going to say now.”
A game that was supposed to deliver an uncomfortable answer — the Broncos were frauds — ended with a definitive question: Who is going to beat Denver in the AFC?
The Patriots? Please. Their schedule is softer than Charmin, including everyone but CU and Colorado State.
The Colts? Yes, they beat the Broncos. But do we really trust Daniel “Indiana” Jones to stay on this level for three more months?
You tell me who they should be afraid of now after watching the Broncos go anaconda and squeeze the life out of the Chiefs.
Payton did it without defensive player of the year Patrick Surtain II, whose absence was felt every time Patrick Mahomes threw deep. He did it without J.K. Dobbins, a top-five running back in the NFL this season. He did it without linebacker Alex Singleton, the pulse of the defense. He did it with the Chiefs as a 4.5-point favorite, winning his 60th career game as an underdog.
And when it came to an exhausting conclusion, he did it by running out Wil Lutz to do what the Broncos could not do last season in Kansas City, make a chip-shot field goal.
“I think that game grew us up a lot. Knowing what it takes to get to that level. We were close a year ago but not quite there,” defensive end Malcolm Roach said. “We know who we are now. Just have to keep chopping, man.”
The Broncos rewarded deafening cheers of 75,911 on a sun-splashed afternoon — Payton called it the loudest home crowd in his time here — with a win 10 years in the making. Sure, the Broncos ended their embarrassing 16-game losing streak to the Chiefs in 2023. But it became hollow when Denver missed the playoffs, leaving the game memorable only because it was the moment Payton decided he was moving on from Russell Wilson.
This victory resonates because of what it means in the standings.
The Broncos moved 3.5 games ahead of the Chiefs and two in front of the Chargers with six games to play.
Barring a gag flex associated with first-time parents and diapers, Sunday will be known as the day the West was won.
For all their frailties, the Broncos look legitimate going into their bye week. All that was required was to feature a functional offense.
The defense is championship caliber. Any doubt about that was removed when Ja’Quan McMillian picked off a pass near the goal line in the third quarter. It was cemented when the Broncos forced a three-and-out after the Chiefs took possession with 4:05 remaining. The defense’s mad men turned this team into made men.
The Broncos did not just win. They did the unthinkable, shrinking Mahomes with a merciless, menacing attack. Mahomes is one of the greatest players ever, but he would have rather eaten tinfoil than deal with the Broncos’ pass rush. He looked for quick hitters. Coach Andy Reid moved the pocket. Anything to keep his star out of harm’s way.
And when the Chiefs needed him the most, Mahomes went three-and-out.
“(Defensive coordinator) Vance Joseph is insane. We have the best defense in the league,” tight end Adam Trautman said. “To do what they did? They are at such a high level, we never feel like we are out of it.”
While Mahomes was trying to stay upright, Bo Nix, for the first time in weeks, was not uptight.
He went Nixcavating, digging Payton out of a ridiculous mistake early in the game — the trick play throw back from R.J. Harvey was indefensible, other than by Nix, who broke up the pass.
While the operation remains a work in progress — Nix made it clear that the plays were not coming in fast enough — the Broncos found traction. Nix was 7 for 8 in the third quarter for 131 yards. He took off when necessary. And he followed up mistakes with mettle.
“He is the toughest guy on the team,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey said.
He has to be in order to deal with Payton. Getting coached by him requires elephant’s skin and a snake’s ears. But when the two are in sync, it works. With 54 seconds left, Payton dialed up a play that reflects his confidence in Nix and in his team.
Nix stood in the pocket and connected on a 32-yard completion to Troy Franklin.
“It was a ballsy play,” McGlinchey said. “But that is Sean. He believes in us.”
It doesn’t matter now what happens with the Chiefs. Or if the Chargers ever get healthy. The rest of the schedule is under Denver’s control. This roster, these players just need to finish the calisthenics.
Payton has their back. And the Broncos are back.
And that means after Sunday, everyone else is running into the wind, giving chase.
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.