Sean Payton believes the Denver Broncos are a better team than they were in 2025, when they got the AFC's top seed. The Denver Broncos are just a few days away from kicking off their 2026 preseason slate as they prepare for the upcoming NFL season. Recently, Broncos head coach Sean Payton was asked by Kay Adams why he thinks the Broncos are a better team this year than they were in 2025, when they secured the top spot in the AFC. We just have to figure out how we get to that ending,'” he said, per Kay Adams on X, formerly Twitter. Still, the Broncos have plenty of reason for optimism heading into the new season, and Payton's leadership is a big reason why.