The Broncos appeared to be headed for another lost season after a 1–5 start. But a five-game winning streak has revived their chances and put them in contention for an AFC wild-card playoff spot.
What fueled Denver’s turnaround? The defense has been strong, allowing fewer than 20 points in three of the past five games. Quarterback Russell Wilson is playing better, but hasn’t passed for 200 yards in four of his past five games. More importantly, he hasn’t thrown an interception during the Broncos’ winning streak.
According to coach Sean Payton, the true inspiration is another team that recently rebounded from a 1–5 start to finish with a winning record last season. The 2022 Lions started even worse than Denver at 1–6 but went 8–2 in the second half of the campaign to compete for a playoff spot in the final week of the regular season.
“Detroit, a year ago, was sitting–and I watched it as a media member, covering a handful of tough losses,” Payton told reporters. “They were 1–6, I know Dan [Campbell] well. You keep fighting. There’s a grit element involved, some mental toughness that’s involved.”
#Broncos HC Sean Payton was asked on October 18, when they were 1-5, what his message to the locker room was.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 28, 2023
He said they need to get inspiration from the #Lions, who started 1-6 last year and then turned it around.
Since Payton said that, Denver has won 5 in a row and are now… pic.twitter.com/TJhKAwpEGT
Dan Campbell was an assistant head coach and tight ends coach on Payton’s staff with the Saints for five seasons. He also signed with Payton's Saints in 2009 but spent the entire year on injured reserve.
The two may still be close, and it’s possible that Payton talked to Campbell throughout the Lions’ rebound last season and the Broncos’ turnaround this year.
The two coaches will face each other and influence their respective playoff drives in Week 15 when the Lions play the Broncos in Denver.
