The Broncos took no time in getting back to looking like the team that captured the AFC's No. 1 seed in the playoffs last year, jumping out to a 24-0 lead at the halftime break.
Sean Payton's Denver Broncos dominated the Atlanta Falcons in their preseason opener on Friday, with the visitors eventually capturing a 37-14 win. Payton, a veteran coach who spent years in New Orleans, was in high spirits at halftime, taking a swipe at the Falcons' fans.
"A lot of people dressed up as empty seats today," Payton quipped, as captured by @TroyRenck. The comment was met with a mixture of groans and laughter from the crowd, who had booed the Falcons at the end of the first half.
The Falcons' performance on the field didn't fare much better, with the team totaling just 192 yards of offense and turning the ball over twice in the loss. This hasn't painted a particularly optimistic picture of what the Kevin Stefanski era might look like, with many fans left feeling underwhelmed.
However, the Broncos looked every bit the elite defense that they were in 2025, indicating that their reign atop the AFC might not yet be finished. Payton's team will look to build on this dominant performance in their next preseason game.
The win marks a strong start to the preseason for the Broncos, who will be looking to carry this momentum into the regular season. Payton's ability to motivate his team and get the best out of them has been a key factor in their success, and it remains to be seen whether this can be replicated in the upcoming season.
The Broncos will next face the Dallas Cowboys in their next preseason matchup, a game that is sure to be closely watched by fans on both sides. With Payton at the helm, the Broncos are a team to watch in the coming weeks, and it will be interesting to see how they perform in their remaining preseason games.
Source: Yahoo Sports