Did Sean Payton Just Guarantee AFC Title Game Win Over Patriots?

Story byDakota RandallThu, January 22, 2026 at 2:36 AM UTC·1 min readSean Payton clearly isn’t worried about providing the Patriots with bulletin-board material. While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, the Denver Broncos head coach essentially guaranteed a victory over New England in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game. Payton delivered the remark after being asked whether he had a message for fans, whom he regularly encourages to be loud at home games. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“They’re going to have a lot of rest after this one — two weeks,” Payton said, alluding to the two-week break before Super Bowl LX. Payton might’ve been speaking in jest — but he still said it. And his comment certainly will be perceived as a guarantee inside the Patriots locker room. Still, it’s hard to blame Payton for pulling out all the motivational stops this week. The Broncos will play without starting quarterback Bo Nix, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury last week, leaving their fate in the hands of backup Jarrett Stidham.