Sean Payton says Broncos ‘good enough when it counted’ in epic OT win

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton lived what we all saw.

An absolutely insane game between the Broncos and Buffalo Bills on Saturday at Empower Field at Mile High.

Denver prevailed in OT, 33-30, and is going to the AFC Championship Game next weekend.

This was one for the history books, with so much drama and swings that sent anxiety and jubilation throughout Broncos Country. It was an insanely stressful four hours.

Sean Payton met with the media after Wil Lutz’s walk-off field goal sent the Broncos to the NFL’s version of the final four and he knew there were a ton of storylines from this epic contest.

“We were good enough when it counted. And, uh, man, there’s like a million things that you guys can ask about or I can talk about. Our fans were great,” Payton said.

The Broncos were up 23-10 in the third quarter before Buffalo went ahead 27-23. Bo Nix hit Marvin Mims Jr. to give Denver a late 30-27 lead before Bills kicker Matt Prater sent it to OT.

Neither team could score on their first possession of the extra period. Denver moved the ball down the field after a Ja’Quan McMillian interception and eventually set up Lutz to put them through to the next round.

“It’s kind of been the story of the season,” Payton said. “I gave you guys the myths, of the one seed on the bye, it doesn’t promise a fast start. The team you’re playing just came off one of their best wins of the year. But we earned a fast start and that was important.”

Basically, Sean Payton is saying the bye week as the No. 1 seed didn’t guarantee the Broncos anything. They had to fight for this win. But they had some gas left in the tank when the Bills looked empty.

“We felt like when you get into the second half, that’s where that bye week gives you an edge. And so it went back and forth, overtime,” Payton said.

And in OT, it was Denver pulling it out. They’re two wins away from a fourth Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Soak it in, Broncos Country, that’s a victory Sean Payton and the rest of us will never forget.

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