Keeler: Sean Payton Says Broncos Would’ve Beaten Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes In Playoffs. Not Without A Better Running Back, Coach

The Nuggets are not invincible on 24 hours of rest after all. Neither is Nikola Jokic. Back home after blowing out Dallas in prime time, Denver was dealt an unexpected blow an hour before opening tip Wednesday when Nikola Jokic was ruled out due to right elbow inflammation, an injury he sustained while warming up.

Greg Penner throws shade the way Peyton Manning threw the out-and-go. The Chiefs caught more strays Wednesday at Dove Valley than the ASPCA. “Is Patrick Mahomes in your sights as you’re building this organization?” the Broncos’ CEO was asked during an end-of-season news conference at Broncos Park powered by CommonSpirit. Penner dropped back and hit Andy Reid right between the whiskers. “Absolutely,” he replied with a shot as straight and true as Wyatt Earp’s.

Nuggets center Nikola Jokic injured his right elbow while warming up Wednesday night and was ruled out before Denver’s game against the Houston Rockets. Related Articles Denver Nuggets | Nuggets blown out by Rockets at home after Nikola Jokic a last-minute injury scratch Denver Nuggets | Jamal Murray’s 45-point game powers Nuggets to win over Mavericks Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokic asked at training camp if he should shoot more 3s this season, Michael Malone says Denver Nuggets | Michael Malone almost shut down Jamal Murray at halftime in Dallas.

Even 53 weeks later, Sean Payton’s disgust with his first season as the Broncos head coach is palpable. Even after a 10-7 regular season and return to the playoffs — albeit a brief one after Sunday’s wild-card loss to Buffalo — established a new benchmark for success, the sins of the past lingered in the coach’s mind. Even as Payton said Wednesday that he was adamant about only looking forward, the extent of his optimism about the future is measured perhaps most colorfully by considering just how cloudy January of 2024 was. “We’re a lot closer than we were a year ago,” Payton said Wednesday in Denver’s season wrap-up news conference.

There’s a strong belief within the Broncos organization that the franchise’s revolving door of quarterbacks — 14 starters since Peyton Manning retired — has ended with Bo Nix in command. The rookie quarterback led the Broncos to a 10-7 regular-season record and their first postseason appearance since 2015. Even after Denver’s 31-7 wild-card loss in Buffalo, Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner was unequivocal in his assessment of Nix at the team’s end-of-season news conference on Wednesday. “It’s obvious that he’s the guy,” Penner said.

The Broncos’ stadium future remains undecided and owner and CEO Greg Penner said Wednesday that the team is considering all of its options. Penner, speaking after his team finished a 10-7 season that included a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2015, noted that ownership has visited with municipalities besides the city of Denver. “I’m sure you’ve all seen some rumors recently,” Penner said.