Broncos HC Sean Payton not expecting 'flowers and warm fuzzies' in return to New Orleans

DENVER — Sean Payton is glad for the short week.

Not only does the Broncos head coach have less time to dwell on an ugly, 23-16 loss Sunday to the Los Angeles Chargers, but there’s also less time for considering all of the emotion and history that will come with his return to New Orleans when Denver plays there Thursday night.

“It will be unique. One of the things we talk about with our players is trying to handle all this stuff ahead of time,” Payton told reporters Monday. “I have a great wife — (the) tickets are done with, family, my children. I think those around us know how challenging the short week is as compared to as if it was a full week.

“Certainly, there will be emotions going back there. … The amount of time I was there, I understand it.”

The history, of course, barely needs to be revisited. Payton spent 2006-21 coaching the Saints, won a Super Bowl in 2009 and paired with Drew Brees to form one of the most prolific coach-quarterback duos in NFL history.

Thursday night, naturally, includes a celebration of Brees, who is being inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame.

Payton acknowledged all of that but figured most of the adulation will be for the retired quarterback rather than the head coach standing on the visiting sideline.

“I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of flowers and warm fuzzies for yours truly, and I get it,” he said. “Listen, I can’t stand losing. It’s about our team and me as the head coach of the Broncos getting ready to play on an early week and trying to play one of our better games.”

Payton knows that challenge well. The Superdome is one of the louder venues in football. Both Denver and New Orleans are coming off losses and need to win to get back on track.

Then there’s, well, everything else.

“Fortunately it’s a short week because I haven’t had the chance to dive into all the other stuff,” he said. “Drew is going into their Hall of Fame. They also have a ring of honor, so that’s a separate event — (and soon he’ll be inducted into) the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I’ve already reached out to him, congratulated him, and said, ‘This is the first of many.’

“I say this, but it’s about the game. It’s about the win. The significance of us playing our best football on a short week. It’s about our team. I’ll address that with them tomorrow morning. ‘Hey, let’s understand the significance of getting our fourth win.’ I think that’s the No. 1 thing and then go from there.”

Payton last week said one of the keys he’s learned over the years of playing Thursday nights is to make sure the game plan is full of stuff that the players “know by heart,” though on Monday he added, “that doesn’t mean that there’s not a wrinkle. That doesn’t mean there’s not a couple of ideas that we want to walk through and put in.”

Off the field, it’s a race to recover in a little more than 72 hours between the end of Sunday’s game and the team charter to the Bayou.

“We had recovery stations even after the game yesterday and all day today,” he said. “It’s IV recovery, guys coming in to get a lift and get some film work done. Obviously, the practices get altered greatly, so trying to be as physically and mentally fresh for the game. The other thing that stands out when you do some studies, halftime leads on Thursday generally have a higher percentage of wins than on a normal Sunday.

“Fatigue can obviously take place, so playing well early is important.”

Secondary hurting

The Broncos didn’t practice Monday but they did put out an estimated injury report to start their short week of preparation.

Cornerback Pat Surtain II is in the concussion protocol and was listed as a did not participate, which is no surprise. Fellow corners Riley Moss (hip) and Ja’Quan McMillian (ankle) were estimated as limited, as was right tackle Alex Palczewski (ankle).

Inside linebacker Justin Strnad has a ribs issue but was estimated as a full participant and Damarri Mathis (ankle) continues to work toward being activated from injured reserve.

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