Broncos HC Sean Payton Admits What Concerns Him About the Jets

Many people around the NFL are dismissing the New York Jets in Week 6 vs. the Denver Broncos. But not Sean Payton.

The Broncos' head coach echoed his quarterback, Bo Nix, on Friday, relative to the mythical "trap game" in the NFL (see the video above). Nix said he doesn't believe in trap games, while Payton emphasized how the talent level in the NFL is so off the charts that no opponent can be taken for granted.

The Jets signed quarterback Justin Fields, and they've stayed committed to the run game with Breece Hall. Plus, one of Payton's former coaching pupils, Aaron Glenn, is now the head coach in New York.

Glenn has been in the inner sanctum of Payton's coaching staff and knows how the sausage gets made. The truth is, the Jets present some threats that Payton finds concerning.

“There are a number of things. Obviously, they’re running the ball extremely well, really well. We’ve seen Fields and his explosiveness," Payton said on Friday. "He’s involved in the run game. I think the runner [Hall] is having one of his better seasons. The young receiver [Garrett Wilson] is explosive. The run game is going to be really important."

The Fields/Hall Tandem

Hall has 352 rushing yards and his averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Fields has more than double the rushing yards that Nix has through five games. The Jets rank third in the NFL, rushing for 144.4 yards per game.

New York's offensive has been sputtering when it comes to the pass, but they're a force to be reckoned with on the ground. And just when opponents start loading the box, and selling out to stop the run, that's when the Jets dial up a play-action shot for Wilson to hit Wilson for chunk yardage.

However, if the Broncos can stop the Jets' run game, it's hard to see Fields having himself a day. The Broncos have an excellent defense, but the unit has been inconsistent through five games.

The Glenn Factor

Payton also pointed to his own side of the street when it came to sharing some of the concerns he has about this game, before focusing on the challenge that is Glenn. Payton admires how hard the Jets are playing for Glenn, even if it's yet to come together.

"Offensively, that first half last week, eliminating some of the self-inflicted, the things that slow you down or keep you from getting momentum," Payton said. "They do a really good job in the special teams phase. The other thing is this, and I’ve known Aaron Glenn a long time. As a player, he was with us in Dallas, and then luckily, I was able to hire him as a coach. You see a team that’s playing their tails off. A different type team relative to their structure compared to last week. But nonetheless, the focus is really on us and being ready to go.”

Long story short, the Broncos can't afford to sleep on the Jets. And they won't — not with a veteran coach like Payton leading the way and keeping everyone's mind right.

Detroit Lions Rookie’s Heartbreaking Journey to the NFL: A Story of Resilience, Family, and Redemption

Detroit, MI – October 10, 2025 – For many, the journey to the NFL is one of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. But for Detroit Lions rookie,

Tate Ratledge, his road to the NFL is defined by something far more powerful: family, resilience, and the strength to overcome a childhood marked by hardship and separation.

Ratledge, now a promising young star for the Detroit Lions, has already faced a journey few can truly understand. At just 10 years old, he was thrust into a world of uncertainty when his parents divorced. The separation fractured his childhood, with both of his parents moving on to build new families, leaving Ratledge to navigate his youth without the conventional family structure many take for granted.

What followed was a life that many might deem tragic, but for Ratledge, it was the foundation of his character. Raised by his grandparents, Ratledge found love, stability, and guidance. They provided him with a safe space to heal and grow, even as the absence of his biological parents loomed over his daily life. Despite the challenges, Ratledge has always remained grateful for the support his grandparents offered, and it was their encouragement that helped him succeed both on and off the field.

“Growing up with my grandparents wasn’t easy, but it was full of love,” Ratledge shared. “They taught me the value of hard work, resilience, and kindness. I never really saw my parents after they divorced, but that didn’t matter. I had all I needed from my grandparents.”

Now, as Ratledge embarks on his NFL career, the very people who once left him have returned to congratulate him. His parents, who built new families and lived separate lives for years, have recently come back into his life to celebrate his success. In a touching moment, Ratledge received a heartfelt message from both parents after earning his first NFL paycheck.

“Getting that first paycheck was a huge milestone for me,” Ratledge explained. “But the moment that truly meant the most was when my parents reached out. It was like a full circle. They were there for me in a way I never expected.”

The emotional reunion is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of forgiveness. Despite the years of separation and heartache, Ratledge has allowed himself to heal and find peace. The love of his grandparents, coupled with the support of his parents as he begins his NFL journey, has become a symbol of how family—both the ones we’re born into and the ones we create—can shape our destiny.

For the Lions, Ratledge is not only a player with immense potential on the field, but he represents something far greater—a story of triumph over adversity, a testament to resilience, and a reminder that success is not solely defined by where we come from, but by how we rise above the challenges we face.

As Ratledge prepares for his future in the NFL, he is not only fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a professional athlete. He is also proving that no matter the circumstances, it’s never too late to rewrite your story—and that family, in all its forms, is what truly makes us whole.

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