Sean Payton, Broncos counting on Broncos Country

Good morning, Broncos Country!

The Denver Broncos have always had one of the best home-field advantages in the NFL.

Going back to the 1970s at old Mile High Stadium, Broncos Country would bring the Rocky Mountain Thunder. Since then, Broncos fans have helped to create one of the loudest stadiums, best environments, and toughest places to play in all of sports. Even in the last 10 years, fans at the current Mile High still brought that energy despite having no earthly reason to do so.

Enter Sean Payton, Bo Nix, and a Broncos team in contention for the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs. A Denver team leading the AFC West. A team with an opportunity to get home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

To accomplish that, the Broncos will host a team with a chance to win the NFC North and is a legitimate contender for the Super Bowl in the Green Bay Packers. A team with a strong offense and an even tougher defense.

Needless to say, today will be a battle. What could put Denver over the top is that raucous home crowd bringing the Rocky Mountain Thunder.

“We know we’re playing a good football team, so that’s something that we have no control over,” Payton said to the media this week. “We have four tough opponents the next four weeks, three of the four of them are at home. We’re counting on our crowd this week, not just at the line of scrimmage, but while they’re in the huddle.

“I go back to a few weeks ago and … That communication that exists from the opponent when they’re in the huddle, you’d be surprised when some teams, stadiums have it figured out, that the quarterback to the group in the huddle, it all gets blurry. You have problems. I thought our last home game with Kansas City was significant. I’m counting on it being at an even higher level. Yes, we’re playing a good team.”

That may sound like a bit of exaggeration, but it’s true. Coupled with the challenges of playing at altitude, Denver is a very tough place to play when the home crowd is at full blast.

Now, you have a Broncos team that has everything in front of it. For the first time in a decade, the fans finally have a reason to raise their voices again, get up and scream, stomp their feet, and help their team to a big victory.

When Nix was asked if he enjoys the atmosphere for a game like this, he said:

“I think the atmosphere is going to be electric. I think our fans are going to be extremely motivated and very hostile. It’s probably going to be similar to the Chiefs’ game a few weeks ago. This will be what seems to be a playoff game, so this will be an intense game on the field. It’ll be an intense environment.

“Anytime you play a home game like this, you would love the environment to be what they say is loud as anybody has ever heard, and I feel good after what happened in our last home game. We’re going to be ready to go on our side, and I know they’re going to come in with a really good plan. I know it’s going to be a really good football game. It’s pretty much going to be like playoff football, and that’s what you get in December. At the end of the season, that’s what you’re playing for. We’re extremely excited about it and happy to be in this position this year.”

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to play in what has the potential to be a helluva matchup with two great teams.

“I feel like each week you kind of have to take the mindset of each week is a playoff game in a sense,” Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton said to the media. “I think that in the past, like three weeks, I’ve gotten a similar question. You can’t overlook any team. Whatever team we’re playing against that week is the most important team, no matter what their record is. I think that’s something that a lot of people don’t give credit to. I’ve spoke at nauseam about it doesn’t matter if a team is 3-whatever or 9-whatever, you’re going to get their best shot.

“Obviously, records play a part in how teams are portrayed in the media, but at the end of the day, you’re dealing with a group of guys that are very prideful and want to go out there and be successful, whether their record reflects it or not. To be able to go out and play against a team like the Packers, obviously, them being in the other conference, is going to be different. They’re a really good team. They just came off of a really big win at home against Chicago, who is another really good team. They’re playing some really good football. It’s going to be on us to be able to have the mental and physical discipline to have a good week of prep this week.

“Go in and continue to build on what we’ve been doing week-in and week-out so far. Not overlooking anyone and not making any game any bigger than the next. Each game and each week is as equally important because it’s the now. It’s the now game. I think that’s the biggest thing we have to understand, and that everybody needs to understand, is just that it’s the most important game because it’s the next game. We’re going to be preparing ourselves to go play against this team, a really talented, well-coached team, and have a good game on Sunday.”

The only thing left for Broncos Country to do is add to one of the best home-field advantages in the NFL. Make it so loud that the Packers can’t think straight. Make this a classic game in Denver, where the camera shakes due to the fans’ intense enthusiasm.

That could be what pushes the Broncos to a big win.