The Denver Broncos already checked off goal No. 1, and Sean Payton made it clear they’re not slowing down.
After Denver clinched the AFC West thanks to a Los Angeles Chargers loss to the Houston Texans in Week 17, Payton said the “immediate focus” shifted to what comes next: finishing the job and pushing for the AFC’s No. 1 seed and the lone first-round bye. His most recent comments came during a December 29 press conference.
Key details (why this matters today)
- Denver has clinched the AFC West.
- The No. 1 seed is still in play entering the final week, and Payton called it “extremely important.”
- Week 18 has direct No. 1 seed stakes, including a Broncos-Chargers matchup.
Sean Payton Barely Let the Broncos Celebrate the Division
Payton was asked Monday how much celebration the Broncos allowed themselves after winning the division.
His answer: basically none.
He said the AFC West gear got delivered, but his instruction was simple: “Just put them in the lockers.” Payton added the team didn’t really talk about it, joked he hadn’t even seen the hats and shirts yet, and heard “they’re pretty ugly.”
Instead, he said the meeting quickly turned to the “seeding ramifications” and what matters “down the stretch.”
That’s the clearest signal of where Denver’s head is right now: the division is nice, but it’s not the prize.
Why Payton Says the No. 1 Seed Is “Extremely Important”
Payton didn’t dance around it when asked how much the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage matter.
“Well look, just historically speaking, it’s extremely important,” Payton said.
He laid out the simple logic: the No. 1 seed skips a playoff game, which means skipping a full week where one bad afternoon can end your season. Then there’s the obvious: getting to play at home, with the crowd noise, the atmosphere, and a fan base Payton said deserves a playoff game in Denver.
And he’s not wrong about the setup. The NFL’s current format gives only one AFC team a first-round bye, making the top seed more valuable than ever.
The “One Area” Payton Highlighted: Turnover Margin
Payton also pointed to what he called the one area that has to improve: turnover margin.
He noted the historical trend that postseason teams that protect the ball tend to be the ones still standing at the end, calling it a defining marker when you look at Super Bowl winners over time.
In other words: if Denver wants to talk like a No. 1 seed, it has to play like one with the football.
What’s Next: Week 18 Brings a Real No. 1 Seed Test
Payton described the upcoming matchup as “very much like a playoff game,” and the stakes match the tone.
According to the Broncos’ published clinching scenarios and the broader Week 18 picture, Denver can still land the AFC’s top seed with the right combination of results, starting with handling its own business.
If the Broncos finish this run the way Payton is talking, the next headline won’t be about ugly hats in lockers.
It’ll be about a bye week, a home playoff game, and the AFC running through Denver.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Sean Payton Sends Clear Message to Chargers After Broncos Clinch AFC West appeared first on Heavy Sports.