DENVER — Sean Payton wants his players to experience the Super Bowl. And he wants to be the coach who gets them there.

Following the Denver Broncos’ 19-3 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday that clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye, Payton opened up about what drives him as his team prepares for a divisional-round matchup Jan. 17 or 18 at Empower Field at Mile High.

“I know there’s never been a Super Bowl won by a coach with two different teams,” Payton said. “But that’s not it.”

For Payton, the mission is personal. He still carries the weight of that infamous 2018 NFC Championship no-call in New Orleans, when a blatant pass interference went unflagged, and the Saints lost to the Rams in overtime.

“The thing that was hardest about that Championship loss, with the no-call, was that you’re so excited for those who have never experienced it,” Payton said. “You try to tell them whatever you think it is, it’s a million times different. Like the first five minutes of playing in that game, your feet are floating, you’re really not present.”

Payton recalled getting lectured about ensuring his team ran a simple play to begin Super Bowl XLIV against the Indianapolis Colts. They called a slant belly on the opening play. Two weeks later, someone questioned the call.

“You have two weeks to think of that, and you ran a freaking slant,” Payton recalled being told. His response: “Well, you told me to.”

The 14-3 Broncos now have a bye week before hosting the lowest remaining AFC seed.

Payton acknowledged quarterback Bo Nix was pressured multiple times Sunday, and that he himself wasn’t as sharp as he’d like on the playcalling. Nix finished with just 141 passing yards — his fewest of the season — and took four sacks.

But the defense held up. Payton said his biggest concern entering Sunday was containing Chargers quarterback Trey Lance and his mobile skillset.

“How are we going to handle that? I thought we handled that well,” Payton said.

The defense forced a Ja’Quan McMillian pick-six in the first half and held Los Angeles to three points.

Payton also credited the home crowd, which created enough noise to draw procedure penalties on the Chargers.

“I love it. It’s loud,” Payton said. “They obviously are” a part of this run.

Because McMillian and the defense again held the fort on Sunday, the Broncos secured the best seed and will now host the Divisional Round and AFC Championship games, if they advance. Meaning Broncos Country will stay a part of this run.

And fans will have happy memories about where the Super Bowl is this year. It’s at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara — the same venue where Denver won Super Bowl 50 a decade ago.

Payton, who won a championship with the Saints after the 2009 season, could become the first head coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl with two franchises.

First, though, he’s focused on ensuring this group experiences what that stage is like.

“There are so many great players in our league that’ve never even been to one,” Payton said. “We’re in this thing.”