Sean Payton turned doubters into believers with huge Broncos win

Justin Edmonds/GettyImagesIt’s been 32 months since the Broncos traded for head coach Sean Payton. It’s rare for a team to give up premier draft picks for a coach, but Lord Wal-Mart and the Broncos ownership group recognized the unique opportunity to acquire a proven, culture-setting leader who knows what it takes to win a Lombardi Trophy.

Broncos fans were hyped that the coaching carousel had ended, but most knew January 31st, 2023 was only the beginning of a long process. Payton inherited a mess, including a past-prime Russell Wilson saddled with a terrible contract.

Now in his third season, Coach Payton has reforged the Broncos’ identity. The inconsistent start and 2-2 record prove there’s…