The Denver Broncos have ended one long losing streak and are now close to ending another. After a tough start, they beat the Indianapolis Colts comfortably, 31-3, to secure their first winning season since 2016.
The Broncos (9-5) are now more than 90% likely to end their eight-year playoff drought. Since the 2015 season, when Von Miller, Peyton Manning, and John Elway led the team to their third Super Bowl win, the Broncos have failed to make the playoffs, cleaning out their lockers and watching from home each year.
This moment is what Sean Payton had in mind when he became head coach last year.
“The appeal to me was the tradition here, the years of sustained success here and the importance of this game here,” he said. “You can only find a few cities you can say that about and then you find the right ownership group.
There were certain things that were really important. The football tradition and history here was very appealing to me.
“I have known Peyton and John forever but it was somewhere where the fan base’s expectations were high. You want to be in New York, Los Angeles or Las Vegas if you’re in entertainment; you do not want to be in Rhode Island. If you are in this industry, you want to be somewhere where it is really important and the expectations are high.”
Payton added, “It is nice to get the ninth win.” Quarterback Bo Nix also spoke about the win in his first season with the team.
“Good teams respond on a day like today,” Nix said after the Broncos overcame a slow start, his first three-interception game, and several mistakes.
“Good teams find ways to win, and playoff teams find ways to win these close ones,” Nix said. “It’s a good sign that we’re winning these close games, the tough ones that don’t necessarily look pretty, but we’re just finding ways to win.”
After the Chargers lost on Sunday, the Broncos moved into the sixth playoff spot, and the Chargers dropped to seventh. The two teams will play each other on Thursday night in Los Angeles.
The Broncos may be without their top two cornerbacks for that game, though Patrick Surtain II walked without a noticeable limp at a charity event on Monday. He had partnered with Raising Cane’s restaurant chain to give away 100 bicycles to kids in need during the holiday season.
“It’s better,” Surtain said of his sprained right ankle. “I’m taking it day by day. That’s about it.”
With Riley Moss (knee) not expected to return until next week in Cincinnati, the Broncos may need to rely on two young players who replaced Levi Wallace, who was inactive after a poor performance against Cleveland.
Damarri Mathis played in the base defense, while rookie Kris Abrams-Draine made his first career start as the Broncos began the game in the nickel formation.
Payton was pleased with both Abrams-Draine and Mathis but avoided discussing their roles further with the short week and Surtain’s injury.
“No. 1, I thought those guys played well. That’s the easiest way I can answer the question,” Payton said. “You guys know we don’t talk about injuries, but I also don’t want to talk about hypotheticals, either. But those two guys really played well and I was encouraged.”
Abrams-Draine stepped in for Wallace late in the Broncos’ 41-32 win over the Browns on Dec. 2.
“The last two weeks, he showed some moxie, stayed with his guy, didn’t panic when the ball’s in the air,” Payton said. “There’s something about him.”
