Sean Payton reacts to brutal first six games on Broncos’ schedule

If the Denver Broncos‘ schedule was the result of head coach Sean Payton pissing off the NFL league office, Payton admitted that if it were that easy, it would have been done years ago.

With at least one NFL pundit saying that the NFL may be punishing the Broncos with their first six weeks, Payton acknowledged it will be tough go.

“It’s really more about just the unique travel,” Payton said when asked about the schedule during the first week of OTAs. “When I look at the schedule, you just look at short weeks. It’s the nuanced games. Look, you know you’re going to be playing in them. If you’re playing every weekend Sunday at 2:30 [p.m.], or on the East Coast at 1:00, there’s probably not a lot of interest.”

Well, the Broncos are certainly drawing significant interest with their first six games, with three primetime games against some of the best competition in the NFL, including the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams.

After years where Denver struggled to gain the eyes of the nation, they are going to be pulled full-force into the spotlight going into 2026.

Can they live up to the expectations of once again being a perennial Super Bowl contender? Time will tell.

This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: Sean Payton reacts to brutal first six games