{"id":662103,"date":"2026-01-07T21:27:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T21:27:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/662103\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T21:27:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T21:27:15","slug":"sean-payton-ready-for-super-bowl-run-chews-on-playoff-past","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/662103\/","title":{"rendered":"Sean Payton ready for Super Bowl run, chews on playoff past"},"content":{"rendered":"

DENVER \u2014 Sean Payton wants his players to experience the Super Bowl. And he wants to be the coach who gets them there.<\/p>\n

Following the Denver Broncos\u2019 19-3 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday that clinched the AFC\u2019s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know there\u2019s never been a Super Bowl won by a coach with two different teams,\u201d Payton said. \u201cBut that\u2019s not it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe thing that was hardest about that Championship loss, with the no-call, was that you\u2019re so excited for those who have never experienced it,\u201d Payton said. \u201cYou try to tell them whatever you think it is, it\u2019s a million times different. Like the first five minutes of playing in that game, your feet are floating, you\u2019re really not present.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have two weeks to think of that, and you ran a freaking slant,\u201d Payton recalled being told. His response: \u201cWell, you told me to.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 14-3 Broncos now have a bye week before hosting the lowest remaining AFC seed<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Payton acknowledged quarterback Bo Nix was pressured multiple times Sunday, and that he himself wasn\u2019t as sharp as he\u2019d like on the playcalling. Nix finished with just 141 passing yards \u2014 his fewest of the season \u2014 and took four sacks.<\/p>\n

But the defense held up. Payton said his biggest concern entering Sunday was containing Chargers quarterback Trey Lance and his mobile skillset.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow are we going to handle that? I thought we handled that well,\u201d Payton said.<\/p>\n

The defense forced a Ja\u2019Quan McMillian pick-six in the first half and held Los Angeles to three points.<\/p>\n

Payton also credited the home crowd, which created enough noise to draw procedure penalties on the Chargers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love it. It\u2019s loud,\u201d Payton said. \u201cThey obviously are\u201d a part of this run.<\/p>\n

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

And fans will have happy memories about where the Super Bowl is this year. It\u2019s at Levi\u2019s Stadium in Santa Clara \u2014 the same venue where Denver won Super Bowl 50 a decade ago.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

First, though, he\u2019s focused on ensuring this group experiences what that stage is like.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are so many great players in our league that\u2019ve never even been to one,\u201d Payton said. \u201cWe\u2019re in this thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Follow @Shapalicious<\/a><\/p>\n

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