DENVER — The Kansas City Chiefs are not Sean Payton’s hump to get over, that much we know.
The Chiefs’ winning streak against the Broncos goes back to Peyton Manning. It predates Patrick Mahomes by two years. Payton himself was in the midst of a 7-9 skid with the New Orleans Saints when the Broncos’ Chiefs skein began in 2015.
Payton got out of his rut with the Saints. Only to fall into a sinkhole with the Broncos.
The Chiefs have defeated the Broncos 16 games in a row (No one beats Vitas Gerulaitis 17 times in a row!) entering another matchup between those AFC West Division teams Sunday afternoon at what is predicted to be a suddenly frigid Empower Field at Mile High. Payton has only been involved in one of those losses as the Broncos’ head coach – two weeks ago by a 19-8 score at Arrowhead Stadium.
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Payton said after the Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers this past Sunday that Denver’s skid of defeats despite leading at halftime was not his hump to get over because seven of the 10 such losses did not occur on his watch.
Same would therefore apply to the Chiefs’ hump.
Still, for many of the core players inside the Broncos’ locker room, this series against the Chiefs has perhaps left some competitive mental damage.
Justin Simmons wasn’t around for the first loss in the Chiefs’ skid, but he has otherwise been part of 15 consecutive losses. Garett Bolles has been here for 13 straight defeats to the Chiefs. Courtland Sutton and Josey Jewell have witnessed 11 in a row. Even 2020-drafted players Jerry Jeudy, Lloyd Cushenberry III and Justin Strnad are 0-7 against the Chiefs.
How does Payton get these players who may have some psychological scars from this series go into this next game without carrying in a measure of doubt?
“I don’t think anyone has psychological scars,’’ Payton said this week in an interview with 9NEWS for the Broncos Huddle (6:30 p.m. Friday, 9NEWS). “They probably have bad memories. It’s football and you’ve got to work to overcome that and win. That’s just how it is.
“They’re a fantastic team. Shoot, we just played them two weeks ago and now we have them again. We’re playing them at home. So we look forward to the challenge.”
Counting the preseason, the Broncos are halfway through their 2023 schedule. There were some creative pass designs through the first five games as quarterback Russell Wilson was playing like Russ again. They’ve run the ball consistently throughout, averaging 5.1 yards per carry that ranks fourth in the league. And since the fourth quarter of game 4 against the Chicago Bears, the Denver defense has played pretty well, allowing an average of 22.3 points over its last three games.
Are the Payton-coached Broncos beginning to form an identity?
“I hope, and there’s a certain thing you just have to be able to do,’’ Payton said. “I think you have to have a running game. And that has to be a part of – not every week because some weeks you’re going to have to throw it more than others but then you have to — you have to — be able to defend the run.
“Now all those things sound easy because there’s 31 other teams but the commitment to doing that with your personnel, scheme, I just think it’s important relative to winning in our league. So we’re beginning to doing some things better, I would agree. Yet there’s some things like even last weekend where you drive home and you want more.’’
Ah yes, the ever-unsatisfied football coach. Payton was circling the parking lot of a local sushi restaurant last Sunday, trying to release steam from a 17-16 win against the Packers. A win, mind you. As he circled, Payton became introspective, asking himself why he couldn’t be happy. Maybe if he ate something he liked? He’s not a sushi fan.
If the Broncos somehow manage to beat the Chiefs and end the skid …
“I’ll be happy,’’ Payton said, smiling.
And maybe his family and friends can meet him at a steak or seafood place? Or how about some good ole Colorado BBQ if his Broncos should beat Kansas City?
“We’ll get something else,’’ he said, smiling. “Maybe some Italian.”
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