Buffalo Bills Logo Source of Motivation for Denver Broncos Coach Sean Payton
The Buffalo Bills are hosting the Denver Broncos at Highmark Stadium on Monday night in a game that coach Sean McDermott's 5-4 squad needs in order to keep pace in a competitive AFC playoff race.
But seeing that red, white and mostly blue Bills logo will hardly be striking fear in the heart of first-year Broncos coach and one-time Super Bowl champion Sean Payton.
An interesting tactic that the head coach has apparently done "for years" crept up again this week, as he admitted to putting the Bills logo on the Broncos practice field as a way to get his players "in the mindset" for the AFC primetime matchup.
“I’ve done that for years,” Payton told reporters on Saturday. “It was always to acclimate our players. We used to do it all the time in New Orleans. ... It’s nothing to do with the opponent, it’s more of us just getting in the mindset. This is the logo, and we’re on the field trying to simulate. We started doing that. When you start building something, everyone wants to help.
Sean McDermott (left) and Sean Payton
USA TODAY
"A lot of it has to do with just getting prepared to play on the road," Payton continued. "You’ll see it the rest of the time I’m here, and any time we’re playing an away game. Then we don’t have to answer any more questions. It’ll just be the logo.”
The Broncos (3-5) had a bye in Week 9, but are coming off an impressive 24-9 win over the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8 despite starting 0-3. At 3-5, Payton hasn't exactly turned Denver into AFC contenders just yet, but it's clear the team is headed in the right direction despite being a laughingstock in the league since the end of last season's 5-12 finish.
The Bills, who have suffered an upset loss to the New England Patriots in Week 7 and barely survived at home against a woeful New York Giants squad in Week 6, will need to be well aware of what the Broncos are capable of as they welcome them to Orchard Park.
Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET.
