ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The job is not finished.
Even after the Broncos recorded their largest win of the season in Week 7 against the Saints, Head Coach Sean Payton said Monday there is still plenty of room for the team to improve.
"I think the focus really always starts inward, not as much outward," Payton said. "Certainly, we have to study the opponent, but our preparation — all the things we have to do to get ready to play games, to play our best game — is what the focal point will be, in the details. There's still a lot of things that we have to be better at."
Denver's Week 7 performance featured many season-highs and represented the team's top rushing performance in over a decade. But as the Broncos look ahead to a matchup with the Carolina Panthers, Payton believes it will be important to keep a mindset of self-improvement as Denver looks for another win in Week 8.
The Broncos will look for this steady improvement as they aim to flip the script at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday. While the Broncos have not lost a game on the road since Week 1 in Seattle, the team has secured just one victory at home so far this season, a record they will look to improve upon this weekend.
And while Payton noted that there isn't "any specific one thing" that the team can do to secure more victories at home, he does believe that leaning into the advantages of playing in front of a home crowd can be a difference-maker moving forward.
"Generally speaking, the teams that I've been a part of that have been really good on the road or at home have been really good teams," Payton said Monday. "Being more consistent, obviously taking advantage of playing in front of our own fans, the crowd noise — all those things that can help you win."
QB BO NIX'S ATHLETICISM A KEY PART OF BRONCOS' OFFENSIVE SUCCESS
Rookie quarterback Bo Nix added another strong rushing performance in Week 7, and Payton acknowledged the benefit of having a quarterback who can make plays with his legs. The advantage, even to the Broncos' coaching staff, is a bit more pronounced than the team expected.
"I think that he's a little bit faster than maybe we anticipated even coming out [of college], from a running standpoint," Payton said Monday.
Nix's speed was on full display in Sunday's victory, as he rushed for a season-high 75 yards and averaged 7.5 yards per carry. His longest rush of the day came on a 32-yard designed run that led to a Broncos' touchdown on the next play.
And while Payton may not have necessarily expected this much production on the ground for Nix, he said it has certainly played a role in extending plays, and drives, for Denver's offensive unit this season.
"It does give you some flexibility, particularly on third down or in the red zone," Payton said.
Nix has shown his ability to escape pressure and create positive plays, and he has even found the end zone with his legs three times this season. His three rushing touchdowns are tied for the third-most among quarterbacks across the league in 2024.
As the second leading rusher for the Broncos this season, Nix should look to continue to use this skill set to fuel the Broncos' offense moving forward.
