The Denver Broncos wrapped up their final practice of the week ahead of Sunday’s AFC Championship against the New England Patriots. Sean Payton spoke to us for the final time until Sunday as his team put the finishing touches on their in-week game prep.
Denver Broncos team maturity a standout trait under Sean Payton
The last practice of the week ahead of the AFC Championship has wrapped up as the Denver Broncos gear up for Sunday’s matchup against the New England Patriots.
Friday’s practice was their typical style with offensive linemen, defensive linemen, and outside linebackers receiving extra treatment while the media observed quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, inside linebackers, and defensive backs stretch.
One thing that has stood out about this year’s team is the level of maturity this young roster possesses, which Sean Payton said is something that stands out about the four remaining teams in the NFL Playoffs.
“I think ultimately all these teams, these four teams playing, they begin to… They lead themselves,” Payton said. “There’s veteran presence, there’s a combination of young players. Each team, the dynamic is different. You can’t point to one game, but there’s a real good mix of veteran leadership and young leadership.”
Sometimes a young team can fall into the trap of worrying about the national media overlooking them or get too caught up in the narratives, but that hasn’t been present with this Broncos team, with an entirely new culture under Payton, with the seed being planted at the end of 2023, watered in 2024, and now it’s blooming with this 2025 roster.
It’s safe to say that this Broncos team is player-led, and the mix of young and veteran voices is prevalent in the culture Payton has created. I’ve seen it firsthand. Perhaps that’s one of the most important ingredients for championship-contending teams, and it’s one that will likely stay around as long as Payton is in Denver.
Friday’s practice was the final full go session of the week, with Saturday leaving room for one final walkthrough before kickoff on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. MT on CBS and Paramount +.