How Broncos HC Sean Payton Used an Extra Day to Prepare for Patriots

Legendary New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is bound to attack several Denver Broncos weak points the Detroit Lions exposed last week. If Belichick pulls off yet another coaching masterclass, it could prove to be the death knell on the Broncos' playoff hopes.

Entering Week 16, the element of fatigue is a big consideration for Broncos head coach Sean Payton, but that's no different for any team still in contention. With the extra day of preparation this week, Payton used it to rest his team's bones and brains in hopes of a rapid turnaround in energy levels come Sunday night.

"We had three games in 13 days and in three different time zones when you look at that stretch," Payton said of the logistic concerns Denver has faced with the preceding three straight road games. "I just felt like it was necessary. This has been good. We're healthy, for the most part. I thought the energy this week was good. We have a night game at home."

Finding some extra juice to power the Broncos over the finish line of qualifying for a playoff spot will require mental fortitude, and getting some extra rest in when possible can only help in that endeavor. Hopefully it has a rejuvenating effect on Denver's last-ranked rushing defense.

Stopping the run has been the Broncos' major defensive Achilles heel, and coordinator Vance Joseph knows it needs to be shored up in short order. Too many missed tackles and breakdowns in gap integrity rendered the Broncos' defense almost entirely toothless against the Lions' overwhelming onslaught.

That simply must change, starting this week. If the Broncos are going to get back to dictating the flow of a game, they get away from playing so passively. Joseph seems to recognize the need for a mighty change defensively, but he also understands the vagaries of scheming against NFL offense.

"That's playing defense in this league," Joseph said, via The Denver Post's Parker Gabriel, of being better against the run. "If you can't stop the run, they dictate. That's what happened to us on Saturday. Their running game was really good early, so when you're playing certain defenses, you get voids in coverage in the secondary. So stopping the run allows you to dictate and pressure on certain downs and play more coverage on certain downs. Stopping the run is always critical."

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After the seriously disjointed and often confused defensive performance last week in Detroit, it was predictable to see Payton fielding questions about Joseph's unit looking so passive against the run. Belichick's teams have always made a priority of running the ball, so Payton knows what to expect. Stopping the run on Christmas Eve would also help get his play-calling back on schedule.

"It's a good point he's making because I think the question had something to do with—when an offense can generate a consistent run game," Payton said of Joseph's comment. "Now, if it's 2nd-&-4, every call in the plan is up. If it's 2nd-&-8, I have to get back on schedule. Obviously, staying ahead of the chains—this is a pretty good first-down offense. Statistically speaking, they're one of the better first down offenses."

Payton and Joseph remain united on what needs to happen, and their combined efforts will be made much easier with Bailey Zappe under center for the Patriots. Having said that, against Detroit, the Broncos allowed Jared Goff to morph into a highly effective version of Joe Montana — all of which was sparked by the Lions establishing an effective running game.

Payton knows the Broncos are in the privileged position of being in a playoff race for the first time in years. The elevated stakes provide the adrenaline rush that he lives for.

"It's great. It's addictive," Payton said. "As great as it feels when you win and all the things that go into it, it's like the opposite when you don't. It's like misery—you can't wait for the next weekend. Let's get to—the big difference is, each hour matters. Right when you're in the production meeting, then back to—each hour matters, and when you're not in that track, there are a handful of things that matter—maybe six hours a week... It's just that's the thing—you're in it, and that's why it goes fast."

One misstep against a 3-11 team licking its wounds while still being led by the most successful coach in NFL history, and the Broncos will find themselves relegated back into the proverbial pit of misery Payton so dreads.

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