Tag: Sean Payton

Broncos release depth chart for Week 12 vs. Raiders

Here’s a look at the Broncos’ depth chart going into their game against the Raiders this week.

The Denver Broncos have released their depth chart ahead of Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

So far, there are no changes from last week, but the Broncos might make some changes to the bottom of the roster later this week.

Here’s a look at how the depth chart stands going into Week 12.

Broncos offensive depth chart

WR Marvin Mims Troy Franklin
LT Garett Bolles Matt Peart
LG Ben Powers Calvin Throckmorton
C Luke Wattenberg Alex Forsyth
RG Quinn Meinerz Alex Palczewski
RT Mike McGlinchey Frank Crum
TE Adam Trautman Greg Dulcich Lucas Krull
WR Courtland Sutton Lil’Jordan Humphrey Devaughn Vele
RB Javonte Williams Jaleel McLaughlin Audric Estime
FB Michael Burton Nate Adkins
QB Bo Nix Jarrett Stidham Zach Wilson

Broncos defensive depth chart

DE Zach Allen Jordan Jackson
NT D.J. Jones Malcolm Roach
DE John Franklin-Myers Eyioma Uwazurike
SLB Jonathon Cooper Jonah Elliss
WLB Nik Bonitto Dondrea Tillman
ILB Justin Strnad Levelle Bailey
ILB Cody Barton Levelle Bailey
LCB Pat Surtain Levi Wallace Tremon Smith
RCB Riley Moss Damarri Mathis Kris Abrams-Draine
NCB Ja’Quan McMillian
S P.J. Locke JL Skinner
S Brandon Jones Devon Key

Broncos special teams depth chart

PK Wil Lutz
KO Wil Lutz
P Riley Dixon
H Riley Dixon
LS Mitchell Fraboni
KR Marvin Mims Tremon Smith Jaleel McLaughlin
PR Marvin Mims Tremon Smith

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (TV map). Despite playing on the road, the Broncos are considered favorites this week.

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Sean Payton has been teasing John Elway about Bo Nix breaking his records

Bo Nix continues to break Broncos rookie records previously held by John Elway. “I just have to give Elway a hard time,” Sean Payton said.

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix continues to break franchise (and NFL) records this season. With just one touchdown pass in Week 12, Nix will break the team’s rookie record for the most passing touchdowns in a season with 15.

As Nix makes rookie history and passes Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway in numerous categories, coach Sean Payton has been ribbing the three-time Super Bowl champion.

“We’re hitting these milestones and I just have to give Elway a hard time like, ‘What the heck?’” Payton said Sunday. “The future is bright. He’s young, and I’m sure each week there will be something — or each month maybe — that elapses. I think the most important thing is this — and I mean this because you guys, you spend a lot of time with him — it’s getting the win. We’ve won some games there year where maybe his numbers weren’t [great], and you’ve heard me say, ‘It doesn’t have to be aesthetically pleasing to be effective.’

“Our job is to win each week, week after week. There are midseason goals and then ones that you want to attain [in the] postseason if that’s an opportunity. I always feel that way with him, and quite honestly feel that way with a lot of the skill players. It’s an unselfish group, and they’re playing pretty good team football.”

Nix has already set the franchise record for the most wins by a rookie quarterback with six, and there are six games remaining this season. As Payton noted, wins are the stat that matters most. He’s got a long way to go before matching Elway’s 148 career wins, but as far as rookie seasons go, Nix is already one of the best in Broncos history.

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Sean Payton downplays sweeping NFC South with Broncos

For the first time since Peyton Manning’s retirement, the Broncos swept a division. “We’re just focused on winning,” Sean Payton said.

Sean Payton won seven NFC South division titles during his time with the New Orleans Saints. He’s now coaching the Denver Broncos and while an AFC West title might be out of reach in 2024, the Broncos are on pace to make the NFL playoffs as a Wild Card team this fall.

Denver’s playoff chances are helped by the team’s perfect record against Payton’s old division this season. Following a 38-6 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, the Broncos are now 4-0 against the NFC South in 2024.

Before the Falcons game, Denver previously beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (26-7), New Orleans Saints (33-10) and Carolina Panthers (28-14). Combined, the Broncos outscored NFC South teams 125-37.

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So, does Payton have it out for his old division?

“No,” Payton said after the Falcons game. “We’re just focused on winning. I could say something smart, but I’m not going to right now.”

This marks the first time Denver has swept an entire division since Peyton Manning’s retirement. Before this season, the team’s last division sweep came in 2015 when the Broncos went 4-0 against the NFC North.

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Drew Brees chimes in on Bo Nix, says QB’s confidence is at another level

“His confidence level was just at another level,” Drew Brees said of Bo Nix’s performance against the Falcons on Sunday.

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix has been turning heads with his play in recent weeks, and former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees recently weighed in on the rookie’s rise.

During an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd on Monday, Brees noted that Nix’s big game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday was actually set up by a loss last week.

“The biggest thing for Bo Nix is what happened last week against the Kansas City Chiefs,” Brees told Cowherd. “Even though they lost that game, it certainly was through no fault of his own. He put his team in a position to go win that game in the end and they got the field goal block. But from a confidence perspective, you basically went into Arrowhead and playing against the gold standard of organizations here over the last few years and you put your team in position to go win that game. So I think coming into this game, I think his confidence level was just at another level.”

Brees went on to praise Nix for making plays without having elite weapons around him, and he noted that the rookie has a great coach and playcaller in Sean Payton (who coached Brees in New Orleans).

Nix is certainly trending in the right direction, and getting praise from a future Hall of Famer will only increase the QB’s stock going forward.

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Bill Belichick says Sean Payton should be a Coach of the Year candidate

“They don’t even have a full team here from a salary cap standpoint,” Bill Belichick said of what Sean Payton is doing with the Broncos.

The Denver Broncos are 6-5 and within reach of making the playoffs, and former NFL coach Bill Belichick has taken notice.

During his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, Belichick suggested that Broncos coach Sean Payton should be in consideration for Coach of the Year honors.

Technically, Belichick said “Executive of the Year” for the way Payton has managed the team, but that’s not an award Payton would qualify for.

“I think Sean really should be in the running for — whatever, Executive of the Year or whatever you want to call it,” Belichick said. “I mean, to play with, you know, a team that’s 30% under the strength based on the salary cap and the dead money that they had to carry.

“They don’t even have a full team here from a salary cap standpoint. But these guys are playing really well and they’re in a tough division, but seems like they’re getting better. And they’re good on defense.”

The Broncos took on a $53 million dead money cap hit this spring when they released quarterback Russell Wilson. Despite that, Denver’s been competitive this fall, which is no small feat.

Belichick also spoke about the fit Nix has been in Payton’s offense as a rookie.

“Sean runs a tough offense,” Belichick said. “He does. They substitute almost on every play. They change formations a lot. They don’t repeat plays — they repeat concepts but not plays. There’s a lot for the quarterback to do to get things organized cleanly, and it seems like Nix is doing a good job of it. … It’s a pretty smooth operation.”

Notable praise from one of the best coaches in NFL history. Payton and Nix appear to have the Broncos back on track.

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Broncos QB Bo Nix making a real case of Offensive Rookie of the Year

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is building a strong case to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award this fall.

After a slow start to his pro career, Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix has been red-hot in recent weeks.

Nix posted a record-breaking performance in a 38-6 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, completing 28-of-33 passes for 307 yards with four touchdowns and no turnovers.

“I thought he played well,” coach Sean Payton said after Sunday’s win. “You feel like you’re in good hands. He’s smart with the football. He makes plays with his feet. A lot of times you’re calling plays for certain looks [and] the looks aren’t there. He has that ability to create and all the while protect the football. I thought he played really well.”

Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles also gushed with praise for Nix.

“I think he’s incredible,” Bolles said. “Bo is my dog, and he leads his team. He leads this offense. We go as far as his play. Us five up front just needed to handle business and that’s what we did. What makes him so special is when he has time to throw the ball, he gets the ball to our playmakers. He’s a deadly quarterback in this league.”

Nix is now gaining steam as a legitimate Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate, joining Jayden Daniels in the conversation.

“He’s been on fire all year,” receiver Troy Franklin said. “He’s been doing really well, especially his confidence and the way he carries himself in the locker room. We really didn’t feel like we had a rookie. He just feels like an experienced veteran, and he’s been on the field every play.

“With his elusiveness and being able to extend plays, he doesn’t quit on any plays. He’s Bo Nix. He wants to make the most of every play so it’s a lot of fun playing with him.”

Nix has scored 19 total touchdowns this season (14 passing, four rushing and one receiving). The next-closest among rookies is Daniels (14).

“The dude should be in conversations for Rookie of the Year,” veteran receiver Courtland Sutton said. “There should be no hesitation. He shows up week-in and week-out, he’s only been able to progress each weekend. That’s all you can ask for. For a young guy to continue to progress, continue to meet the challenges that are faced in front of them, and that is what he continues to do.

“It’s a lot of fun to be a part of. A lot of fun to watch him go out there and just have fun. You can tell he’s like a kid, he is just enjoying himself. For your quarterback to be out there enjoying himself and not panic, there’s not one ounce of panic that goes upon him, no matter what part of the game we’re in. It’s a lot of fun.”

Oddsmakers have also noticed Nix’s ascension. Before the season started, BetMGM had Nix listed with +1700 odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. He’s now all the way down to +400, only trailing Daniels (-600).

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“I haven’t seen a quarterback, a rookie quarterback, like him, in a long time,” running back Javonte Williams said. “And just the way he keeps composure, the way he treats people, and just the way he plays on the field. I mean, he’s the full package.”

Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain took it a step further by suggesting Nix is in the conversation for NFL MVP this fall.

It’s probably too early to talk NFL MVP, but Nix has certainly put himself in the mix to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Nix will look to build on his 2,572 yards and 19 touchdowns when Denver goes on the road to face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12.

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Sean Payton gives strong take on Mike Shanahan’s Hall of Fame candidacy

Sean Payton said Mike Shanahan has a better resume than some of the recent coaches that have reached the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan is one of nine coach semifinalists for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Sean Payton, Denver’s current coach, gave Shanahan a strong endorsement during his conference call with Broncos reporters on Monday.

“I’ve had a long friendship with him,” Payton said. “What he’s accomplished though in our game, he has two Super Bowl championships. He’s been behind, I would say, the minds behind so many coaches working right now. I’d say almost a third of the league at one point has been impacted by Mike. Not only the coaching tree, I’m talking about the offensive tree.

“When I got into the league, there were two or three teams that you studied, and Denver was one of them. We’re sitting here in 2024 and we’re looking at a guy — a candidate — who quite honestly has a lot better credentials than maybe some others [who] have gone before him as coaches. He was one of the guys. [He’s] extremely intelligent and then the Super Bowls, the quarterbacks, the success and all those other things. I don’t know when the vote is or how that all unfolds, but his candidacy for someone like myself, it’s easy.

“It’s all there right in front of you. Then go ahead and look back at the last — just take the last six coaches that have gone in. Just use that number and then throw their numbers at Mike and their accomplishments and I think that’s a simple way to look at it and arrive at the right decision.”

This certainly isn’t the first time Payton has backed Shanahan. Denver’s current coach previously noted that elements of Shanahan’s offense are still used in the NFL today, and Payton said last summer that Shanny should already be in the Hall of Fame.

We should find out soon if Shanahan is advancing in the voting process.

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Broncos coach Sean Payton had a funny response to the Bo Nix hype

Broncos coach Sean Payton is also excited about Bo Nix, but he had a funny response to the growing hype on Monday.

Following the Denver Broncos‘ big win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon, the Bo Nix hype has been off the charts (understandably so).

Nix had a record-breaking performance in a 38-6 win over the Falcons, completing 28-of-33 passes for 307 yards with four touchdowns and no turnovers. So it’s no surprise that coach Sean Payton was peppered with questions about Nix’s rise during his conference call on Monday.

Four of the first five questions during Payton’s call with reporters on Monday were related to Nix. After the fourth question, Payton had a funny response.

“Let’s not send this kid to Canton quite yet,” Payton said.

It’s an understandable stance for the coach to take. Nix has shown incredible improvement from earlier this year, but there’s still plenty of room for more improvement.

“We’re sitting here in the middle of the season,” Payton said. “He’s playing well. I’m excited. The film showed that he’s playing well. The film showed a few things though that I wanted to scream at him about. We’ll keep correcting those things.

“I like the way he prepares. I love the way he comes to work. I love his enthusiasm. I think it’s naturally contagious. I think he’s a winner. It’s interesting because you guys [in] real-time are seeing it just like we are. I’m real encouraged by that.”

Through 11 games this season, Nix has completed 65.5% of his passes for 2,275 yards with 14 touchdowns against six interceptions. He has also rushed for four touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass this season.

Nix is making a strong case for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, but Payton doesn’t want the hype to get out of control. After years of waiting for their next franchise quarterback, though, it’s hard to blame Broncos fans for being excited.

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Broncos released frustrations from Chiefs game on Falcons

Being the next team on the Broncos’ schedule after the Chiefs loss was very bad news for the Falcons.

After suffering a heartbreaking 16-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last week following a blocked field goal, the Denver Broncos were motivated to bounce back in a big way in Week 11. 

Unfortunately for the Atlanta Falcons, they were next on Denver’s schedule following the game in Kansas City.

The Broncos dominated the Falcons in a 38-6 victory on Sunday.

“That’s a thing that I was really most proud of and excited about was obviously the response coming off of a tough loss,” Denver coach Sean Payton said after the game.

It appeared that Broncos players stored up their emotions from the Chiefs loss and unleashed their frustrations against the Falcons.

“I think it started early in the week,” Payton said. “It still gets back to the players and the make-up. It gets back to the things we keep talking about: the grit, the toughness. This is a team that [is] different from a year ago and kind of has that. Their response was really good.”

Denver left tackle Garett Bolles said the team was “relentless” on Sunday.

“The more time we spend together, we’re just a tight-knit group of dudes,” Bolles said. “That’s what happens to teams with a tight group of dudes, we put points on the board, and we win games like that.”

Denver’s offense scored a season-high five touchdowns against Atlanta. The defense also dominated, holding the Falcons to just two field goals.

“It’s great because we’ve been talking about having our first complete football game,” wide receiver Troy Franklin said after the win. “A full four quarters where everybody’s playing, giving effort and executing. I think we did that today.”

Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix said the team was eager to bounce back after last week’s last-second loss at Arrowhead.

“It kind of felt like last week at the end of the game we could have lined the ball up and played another four-quarter game against another team,” Nix said. “We just wanted to go right back into the fire. It is hard when you lose a game like that. You feel like that one was stolen from us, but I want to get right back on the field. I want to go out there and play again. That is kind of how we felt this week.

“We had a great week of practice. The preparation was phenomenal. Offense, defense, special teams, we prepared like crazy. We fixed our mistakes that we wanted to fix. We came out and played with great effort, great intensity and great love for the guys around you. You can just see our sidelines and see everybody on the field. When another guy has success, you can see all the fun and enjoyment we get out of it.”

Following the big win, Denver is now 6-5 and currently on pace to make the NFL playoffs. Up next is a road game against the Las Vegas Raiders (2-8) in Week 12.

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Sean Payton moved to Denver and still owns the NFC South

Sean Payton swept the NFC South, proving nothing’s changed but his address. Unfortunately, his dominance now includes the Saints:

The Atlanta Falcons were painfully reminded of something that has been true for nearly 20 years. Sean Payton has partial ownership in the Atlanta Falcons. Maybe they hoped things changed since Payton was no longer leading the New Orleans Saints.

However, when the Falcons visited the Denver Broncos, Payton showed the new emblem on the hat doesn’t lessen his dominance over the Falcons. Payton improved his record to 22-9 against the Falcons with a dominating 38-6 victory.

Atlanta wasn’t the only team to get this reminder. Payton swept the NFC South this year and showed them why they all felt relieved by his temporary retirement. This included Payton’s first career victory over the Saints.

The games haven’t been too close either. The Carolina Panthers kept it the closest, and they lost by 14 points. At the end of that game, Payton flat out said Carolina isn’t a good team. Maybe that was the jolt Carolina needed because they haven’t lost a game since those comments.

During his 16-year run with New Orleans, Payton had a winning record against every team in the division. As the coach of the Denver Broncos, he’s undefeated against his former division.

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