Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton knows a thing or two about elite quarterback play. Payton was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 2006-21, where he coached future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees.
The pair had unparalleled success, winning one Super Bowl and Brees breaking multiple records.
Buy Commanders TicketsNow in his first season with Denver, Payton is tasked with resurrecting the career of former Super Bowl winner Russell Wilson. The Broncos opened the 2023 season with a Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
In Week 2, the Broncos face the Washington Commanders. Washington’s offense is led by second-year QB Sam Howell, who will make his third career start.
On Friday, Payton was asked about Howell and was very complimentary of the Commanders’ signal caller.
“He’s a playmaker,” Payton told reporters via Pro Football Talk. “He’s got this ability to extend plays, and that can become problematic. He’s a confident player, and you can see that they respond to him. I believe that’s one of the reasons [Commanders coach] Ron [Rivera] has confidence. You saw that when he came in last year and then this year. A different type of player than we saw last week, and we just have to understand what are the things he’s comfortable with and maybe what are the things he’s not as comfortable with.”
When Howell was asked which quarterbacks he idolized or modeled his game after, he acknowledged Brees was at the top of the list.
“Drew Brees was my favorite growing up,” Howell said when asked who he models his game after. “Big fan of his and just the way he played the game.”
Howell also acknowledged some similarities between himself and Wilson, such as their builds and playing style.
Howell has a chance to set an NFL record Sunday if he passes for a touchdown and runs for another. He’d be the first quarterback in NFL history to accomplish that feat in his first three career starts.
A win over Payton’s Broncos would also make Howell 3-0 in his first three starts.
