Sean Payton's Strategy Sessions for the Denver Broncos

In the high-stakes world of NFL football, success is often decided long before kickoff—inside the meeting rooms where coaches craft game plans, analyze opponents, and align their teams around a shared vision. For the Denver Broncos, head coach Sean Payton has redefined what it means to run effective strategy sessions, turning them into dynamic, collaborative spaces that blend data, experience, and player input to outthink and outexecute opponents. Payton’s sessions aren’t just about X’s and O’s; they’re about building trust, fostering understanding, and ensuring every player knows their role in the team’s success. Sean Payton's Strategy Sessions for the Denver Broncos takes an inside look at these critical meetings—how they’re structured, what they prioritize, and why they’ve become a cornerstone of the Broncos’ 12-3 season. For Denver, these sessions aren’t just preparation—they’re the blueprint for winning.

Sean Payton's Strategy Sessions for the Denver Broncos begins with the pre-game preparation that starts 10 days before every contest. Payton’s process kicks off with a “scouting summit” on Monday mornings, where he and his coordinators—offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, and special teams coordinator Mike Mallory—review film of the upcoming opponent, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies. By Tuesday, the group narrows down a “game plan skeleton,” focusing on 3-4 core offensive concepts, 2-3 defensive schemes, and 1-2 special teams tricks that exploit the opponent’s vulnerabilities. For example, ahead of the Broncos’ Week 14 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, the summit identified that the Raiders’ run defense struggled with zone blocking—so Payton’s team built the offensive game plan around Javonte Williams’ zone-running skills. “We don’t try to do everything,” Payton said. “We pick 5-6 things we do better than the opponent, then practice them until they’re second nature.” By Wednesday, the strategy expands to include position groups: quarterbacks meet with Lombardi to go over passing reads, linebackers work with Joseph on run fits, and kickers review wind patterns with Mallory. This tiered approach ensures every player understands not just their role, but how it fits into the bigger picture. “The sessions make you feel prepared,” said Broncos quarterback Bo Nix. “You’re not just going out there guessing—you know exactly what the opponent will do, and exactly how to beat it.”

Sean Payton's Strategy Sessions for the Denver Broncos continues with the “mid-week adjustment” sessions that keep the game plan flexible. By Thursday, Payton’s staff has analyzed practice film to identify what’s working and what’s not—then reconvenes with position groups to tweak the strategy. For instance, during preparations for the Week 12 game against the Cleveland Browns, practice reps revealed that the Browns’ cornerbacks were overplaying Jerry Jeudy’s deep routes. Payton called an impromptu session with the wide receivers and quarterbacks, adding a “slant-and-go” variation to Jeudy’s route tree— a change that resulted in a 33-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. “Flexibility is key,” Payton said. “A game plan that works on paper doesn’t always work in practice—you have to adapt.” These adjustment sessions also include “what-if” drills, where coaches pose scenarios like “What if they blitz on third-and-5?” or “What if they switch to a nickel defense?” and walk players through the response. For rookies like wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr., these drills are invaluable: “The ‘what-if’ sessions take the pressure off game day. You’ve already practiced the response to every situation, so you don’t panic when it happens.” By Friday, the game plan is finalized—but Payton keeps a “toolbox” of 2-3 backup plays that can be deployed if the opponent adjusts unexpectedly. This balance of structure and flexibility has been critical: the Broncos have scored 40+ points in 5 games this season, with 3 of those wins coming from mid-game strategy shifts.

Sean Payton's Strategy Sessions for the Denver Broncos shifts to the in-game adjustments that happen on the sidelines and in the locker room. Payton’s sideline strategy sessions are brief—usually 60-90 seconds between drives—but hyper-focused. He gathers his coordinators and key players (like Nix and defensive captain Justin Simmons) to review the last drive, identify 1-2 opponent adjustments, and decide on a response. During the Broncos’ Week 16 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Chiefs switched to a “cover-2” defense in the second quarter to stop Denver’s passing attack. Payton called a 90-second huddle, telling Lombardi to shift to a “run-pass option (RPO)” heavy package that forced the Chiefs’ safeties to commit to the run. The adjustment worked: the Broncos rushed for 87 yards in the third quarter, including a 22-yard touchdown run by Williams that gave Denver the lead. “In-game sessions are about speed and clarity,” Payton said. “You don’t have time to overthink—you have to trust the data and the players.” At halftime, the sessions expand to 10-15 minutes, with coaches showing quick film clips of opponent tendencies and player mistakes. For the Denver Broncos, these halftime adjustments have turned games around: they’ve outscored opponents by 78 points in the third quarter this season, the second-highest margin in the NFL. “Halftime sessions are where we win games,” said Simmons. “Coach Payton doesn’t yell or blame—he shows us exactly what we need to fix, then gives us the plan to fix it. That clarity makes all the difference.”

Sean Payton's Strategy Sessions for the Denver Broncos delves into the role of player input in shaping the game plan— a key part of Payton’s approach that sets his sessions apart. Unlike some coaches who dictate strategy from the top down, Payton actively seeks feedback from veterans and position leaders. For example, ahead of the Broncos’ Week 8 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, defensive end Randy Gregory mentioned in a strategy session that the Chargers’ left tackle struggled with speed rushes. Payton adjusted the defensive game plan to feature more “speed-to-power” moves from Gregory—a change that resulted in 2 sacks and a forced fumble. “Player input is gold,” Payton said. “They’re the ones on the field, feeling the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. If a player says something isn’t working, we listen.” This collaborative approach extends to weekly “leadership meetings,” where 5-6 veteran players (including Nix, Simmons, and wide receiver Courtland Sutton) meet with Payton to review the game plan and offer feedback. “These meetings make you feel invested,” said Sutton. “It’s not just Coach Payton’s plan—it’s our plan. When you have a stake in the strategy, you play harder to make it work.” For the Denver Broncos, this collaboration has fostered a culture of accountability: players don’t just execute the strategy—they help build it. “When everyone has input, everyone buys in,” said Lombardi. “That’s why our strategy sessions are so effective—they’re not just about winning games, they’re about building a team that works together.”

Sean Payton's Strategy Sessions for the Denver Broncos concludes with the post-game review sessions that lay the groundwork for future success. Within 24 hours of every game, Payton’s staff compiles a “game recap” film that highlights both successes and failures—then meets with position groups to break down the film. The sessions aren’t about blame; they’re about learning. For example, after the Broncos’ Week 10 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the offensive line meeting focused on film clips of Bills defensive tackles beating blocks—then worked on technique adjustments to fix the issue. Two weeks later, the offensive line didn’t allow a sack in a win over the Minnesota Vikings. “Post-game sessions are where we get better,” said offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer. “Coach Payton doesn’t let us dwell on losses—he turns them into lessons. That growth mindset is why we’ve won 6 straight games since that Bills loss.” These review sessions also include a “looking ahead” component, where coaches start identifying early tendencies of the next opponent. For the Broncos, this forward-thinking approach ensures they’re never caught off guard: by the time Monday’s scouting summit rolls around, they already have a head start on the next game plan. “Success isn’t accidental,” Payton said. “It’s the result of 10 days of preparation, adjustment, and collaboration—all built around strategy sessions that put the team first.” As the Broncos head into the playoffs, these sessions will be more critical than ever. With a Super Bowl berth on the line, Payton’s ability to craft game plans that exploit opponents’ weaknesses and maximize his team’s strengths will be the key to Denver’s success. In the end, Sean Payton's Strategy Sessions for the Denver Broncos isn’t just a story about X’s and O’s—it’s a story about leadership, collaboration, and the power of preparation. For the Broncos, these sessions aren’t just part of the process—they’re the reason they’re contenders.