You Won't Believe the SHOCKING Turn of Events in Bills vs. Broncos: Who Will Survive the NFL Playoffs?

What started as a simple inquiry at the Denver Broncos' headquarters morphed into a profound self-assessment for head coach Sean Payton. When questioned about the challenges of maintaining a commitment to the running game—even when immediate results are lackluster—Payton, who is 62 years old, took a moment to reflect on his evolving approach as a play-caller.

“The thing that I have to continue (to do), that changes as you get older, is you still have to be quick,” Payton said. “Play just ran, (call the) next play. When I was younger, we’d run a reverse on the 8-yard line, and I think nothing of it. As you get older, you think about all the ramifications. So I have to also remove that. It was said as you get older, maybe you don’t drive in the rain at night. … I can’t let that happen as a play-caller. That’s something that I have to mentally make sure it’s quick. It’s quick and decisive, and it’s daring at the right time—not reckless.”

This introspective moment is particularly noteworthy as the Broncos prepare for their highly anticipated divisional round game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. The Broncos wrapped up their regular season with two unimpressive offensive performances, winning against both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers, who were featuring backup quarterbacks. Much of this was attributed to a conservative game plan that relied heavily on their defense to clinch the No. 1 seed. However, Payton himself acknowledged that the offense didn’t reach the sharpness it needed to in the playoffs, highlighting his own role in that outcome.

In light of these factors, fans and analysts alike are left wondering if Payton will take some “daring” chances in their upcoming matchup. Last year, Denver executed a fake punt successfully during a wild-card loss to the Bills, and Bo Nix connected with Troy Franklin for a 43-yard touchdown pass on the game’s opening drive. However, Denver’s inability to maintain offensive efficiency hampered their chances, contributing to a disappointing 31-7 loss.

As a head coach, Payton has not led a team to a playoff victory since 2020 and has lost four of his last five postseason games overall. Nevertheless, he boasts an impressive 4-0 record in playoff games after a bye week, including three divisional round victories and a Super Bowl win. He tends to excel when he has extra time to meticulously craft a game plan and find strategic advantages.

For the Broncos to succeed on Saturday, Payton's capacity for quick, decisive, and bold play-calling could very well be the key. With the stakes higher than ever and the weight of past playoff disappointments lingering, the team will be looking for Payton to channel his experience into a performance that breaks their recent playoff slump.