Sean Payton says Broncos will plan for all four potential playoff foes

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton knows he’s leading the team next weekend in a playoff game.

He just doesn’t know who the opponent will be.

The Broncos practiced on Friday during their bye week, ready to watch the wild-card round of the postseason like the rest of us. Denver earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC with an outstanding 14-3 regular season.

There are four teams who could come to Empower Field at Mile High next Saturday or Sunday. It’ll either be the Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans or Pittsburgh Steelers.

If the Chargers beat the Patriots on Sunday, they’re headed to Denver as the No. 7 seed and lowest remaining. If New England wins and the No. 6 Bills beat the Jaguars, it’ll be Buffalo.

But if the division winners take care of business on Sunday, the Broncos will wait for the winner of the No. 5 seeded Texans and No. 4 seeded Steelers on Monday Night Football.

Sean Payton was asked about how he and his coaches approach this and let it be known Denver is getting ready for any of the four.

“We’ll break down, kind of, all four. We’ll have personnel reports on the four,” Payton said. “But you do have enough time to look at third-down, look at personnel packages (and) study situational football.”

But these guys won’t just be on their couches like the fans. They’ll be at the facility preparing and keeping an eye on the action.

“It’s one of those where you just, you watch them. You’re working while you watch them, working on each plan and then you go from there,” Sean Payton said. “Look, I don’t know what time the games are, but we’ll be in here prepping.”

The luxury of being the No. 1 seed is of course the bye and only having to win two home games to go to the Super Bowl. The only downside is waiting to see who you play.

For Sean Payton and the Broncos, that doesn’t seem to be an issue. Denver will be ready for whoever’s next in the divisional round, with a spot in the AFC Title Game on the line.

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