Sean Payton is often his own toughest critic, and Sunday was no different. Even after the Denver Broncos cruised past the Los Angeles Chargers with a 19–3 win at Empower Field at Mile High, the head coach was far from satisfied.
The victory pushed Denver to a 14–3 record, earning the franchise the No. 1 seed in the AFC for the first time since their Super Bowl-winning 2015 season. It also matched the team’s all-time record for most wins in a single year. Despite those achievements, Payton wasn’t in a congratulatory mood.
“I didn’t feel as sharp as I should have been,” Payton admitted, according to Broncos reporter Zac Stevens.
Denver’s defense carried the day, recording four sacks and finishing the regular season with a team-record and league-leading 68 sacks—just four shy of the NFL record set by the 1984 Chicago Bears.
Los Angeles rested several key players, including Justin Herbert, Derwin James, and Tuli Tuipulotu. On offense, Bo Nix had a quiet outing, completing 14 of 23 passes for 141 yards with no touchdowns, while taking four sacks.
With the win secured, the Broncos will now prepare to face the winner of the Chargers–Patriots wild-card matchup next weekend. As the playoffs approach, Payton is expected to raise his level, knowing that sharp play-calling and quick adjustments are even more critical. His high expectations for himself could set the tone for the entire team heading into postseason action.
